To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, written by the very talented and influential author Harper Lee, was published in the 1960s. This novel was an immediate success. It won the Pulitzer Prize and became a popular book read throughout American literature. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee tells the story of a family growing up during the Great Depression through a series of symbolic events. “Symbolism is indeed used extensively by Harper Lee in her timeless classic, To Kill a Mockingbird. The symbolism reveals the prejudices and narrow-mindedness of the ordinary citizens of Maycomb County, the fears they have and all the immoral things they do” (Symkowski). It features characters such as Atticus, a lawyer and father of two children, Jem and Scout Finch. Atticus attempts to defend a falsely accused black man, Tom Robinson, during a major trial against Mayella Ewell, the accuser. Atticus, a white man, fought against racism in Maycomb in the 1930s. He struggled to demonstrate both emotionally and logically that Tom Robinson could not have committed such a crime. Atticus tells Jem, "As you get older, you'll see white men cheating on black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don't forget it: every time a white man does this to a black one. man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how beautiful his family is, he is trash” (Lee 224). This is said right after the Tom Robinson trial. This trial raises a very important question. Can one race of people stand out and be more superior to the other? In the 1930s, the answer would be yes, due to discrimination against black people. White people were known for being superior, which is why racism was such a problem. Yes, racism still exists in society today, so... middle of paper...... 1930s. Harper Lee herself faced these issues growing up during this time period, which had a big effect on how she chose to write her only novel; To kill a mockingbird. We learn that the title has a meaning in which we learn that Tom Robinson and Boo Radley represent these “mockingbirds”. We also learn the detrimental effects that racism and judgment can have on a person, and how this plays into the theme of loss of innocence, presented by Jem and Scout as they mature in the novel. Images are presented to the reader to reveal how horribly some people have been treated simply because of the color of their skin. Harper Lee's use of symbolism helps create the theme of the loss of innocence as the main characters experience extreme prejudice from their childhood town and learn, through the hardships endured growing up, that racism turns a blind eye to justice..