What characters in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird are like mockingbirds in that they "sing for us" but are shot? What is their impact on the...

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, one of the most obvious characters who is likened to a mockingbird in that he sings for us all day but is shot is Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson is wrongly accused of rape and convicted, despite all evidence proving his innocence, simply because of the color of his skin. Not only does the trial reveal his innocence, it reveals he was a goodhearted, helpful, contributory member of...

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, one of the most obvious characters who is likened to a mockingbird in that he sings for us all day but is shot is Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson is wrongly accused of rape and convicted, despite all evidence proving his innocence, simply because of the color of his skin. Not only does the trial reveal his innocence, it reveals he was a goodhearted, helpful, contributory member of society, just like a mockingbird.

Tom's goodhearted, helpful nature is revealed in his own testimony in Chapter 19. Here, he testifies that he is chivalrous enough to tip his hat at Mayella each time he walks past her house on the way to and from Mr. Link Deas's cotton fields and yard where he works. He further testifies that, over a year ago last spring, she once called him inside the fence to ask for his help in chopping up an old chiffarobe for firewood. After that, he continued to do odd jobs for her at her request, such as "choppin' kindlin' [and] totin' water for her" (Ch. 19). As Robinson explains, he was happy to help her out as nobody seemed to help her, not even the children under her care. All of the work he willingly does for Mayella shows that he is a caring member of society who likes to do what he can to help others out. In addition, during his testimony, Robinson's boss, Mr. Link Deas, feeling concerned for Robinson, interrupts the court to testify to Robinson's good and ethical character, further showing us just what a good-natured, caring member of society Robinson truly is.

Earlier in the novel, when Scout asks her father why he is defending Tom Robinson, having felt insulted by Cecil Jacobs, Atticus informs Scout that their housekeeper Calpurnia knows Robinson well and "says they're clean-living folks" and members of Cal's church, which further testifies to Robinson's goodhearted nature.

Since all evidence shows Robinson was a goodhearted, innocent man who liked to do what he could for society yet is killed regardless, we know Robinson is being likened to an innocent mockingbird that sings for others all day long.