Tom Robinson could be considered a symbolic mockingbird for various reasons other than generously helping out Mayella. Earlier in the novel, Atticus tells his children that they can shoot all the bluejays they want, but it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. Maudie elaborates on Atticus' directive by mentioning that mockingbirds don't nest in corncribs or eat up people's gardens like bluejays. Atticus distinguishes the difference between the "guilty" bluejays and the "innocent" mockingbirds. Jem and Scout can tell by looking at the two birds that they are physically different because the mockingbird is predominately grey while the bluejay is colored blue. Interestingly, Atticus gives his children permission to kill the bluejays that are notorious for wreaking havoc, which represents his ideology regarding punishing guilty individuals. Bob Ewell is symbolically represented as a bluejay because he has evil intentions and lives wickedly, while Tom is symbolic of the innocent mockingbird. Atticus is essentially teaching his children how to distinguish between "innocent" mockingbirds and "guilty" bluejays.
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