Editor's Choice
What is the meaning of the quote from To Kill a Mockingbird: "We were in front of the Radley place . . . High above us in the darkness a solitary mocker poured out his repertoire in blissful unawareness."?
Quick answer:
The quote from To Kill a Mockingbird symbolizes innocence and foreshadows upcoming danger. The "solitary mocker" represents innocent, vulnerable characters like Jem and Scout, who are unaware of the impending threat from Bob Ewell. Additionally, the proximity to Boo Radley's home highlights Boo as a protective figure. This passage underscores the children's loss of innocence and the presence of evil in their world.
At the beginning of chapter eight, Jem and Scout begin their walk to the Halloween festival on an extremely dark, warm October night. As they are walking past the Radley home, Scout mentions,
High above us in the darkness a solitary mocker poured out his repertoire in blissful unawareness of whose tree he sat in, plunging from the shrill kee, kee of the sunflower bird to the irascible qua-ack of a bluejay, to the sad lament of Poor Will, Poor Will, Poor Will. (Lee, 258)
Harper Lee utilizes symbolism by referring to the "solitary mocker" and the "bluejay" perching in the tree near the Radley home. The "solitary mocker" symbolically represents innocent, vulnerable beings like Jem and Scout, who are defenseless against Bob Ewell's attack later that night. The proximity of the mockingbird to Boo Radley's home is also significant. Boo Radley is a symbolic mockingbird throughout the novel and...
Unlock
This Answer NowStart your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
comes to Scout's and Jem's aid later that night. The bluejay is also symbolic of malevolent, harmful individuals like Bob Ewell, who is a threat to innocent, vulnerable children like Jem and Scout.
In addition to the symbolic significance of the "solitary mocker" and bluejay, this passage also foreshadows Bob Ewell's attack. The "blissful unawareness" of the mockingbird and the "irascible qua-ack" of the bluejay foreshadow the Finch children's unawareness of Bob Ewell's ambush on their walk home.
Videos
In this quote Harper Lee is using the "mocker" (mockingbird) as a symbol of innocence. The town has been through the trial and the children especially have been forced to grow up a little about what goes on in the real world. They have had to face the fact that things are not always fair, and the town they live in has unfairness and evil dwelling there. Scout, walking home hears the solitary mockingbird pouring out it's different songs in a "blissful unawareness." Her eyes have been opened to what is going on in her town and how some people hate others simply because of the color of their skin, but the mockingbird is still innocent. Tom Robinson is also innocent, but not in the eyes of the all male white jury.
A primary theme of ToKill a Mockingbird is the loss of innocence. This theme is developed primarily through the Finch children, especially Scout. At the same time, as the children mature, they develop compassion, along with an appreciation for the goodness in others.
The "mockingbird"—or the blameless, pure, artistic soul—is also the main symbol of that lost innocence. As Scout has been forced to acquire wisdom beyond her years, she can now distance herself from innocent creatures like she once was (which are identified with the bird).
There is a tone of longing or nostalgia in Scout's phrase "blissful ignorance" as she acknowledges how little she knew in the past (which, really, was just a few weeks earlier). Likewise, by focusing on the bird sitting "high above" and "solitary," Lee emphasizes that innocence places the individual outside of, or even in a superior position to, society.
The quote finishes with "...mocker poured out his repertoire in blissful unawareness of whose tree he sat in...."
The theme of "it's a sin to kill a mockingbird" has not only been established by chapter 28, but back in chapter 21, Tom became a mockingbird symbol when he was convicted of something he did not do. He did nothing but help Mayella and had the "nerve" to feel sorry for her. That was his demise. So in this chapter, which is only a couple hours before Boo becomes a mockingbird symbol, this "mocker" is significant because Lee is pointing him out. Not only do the kids hear the bird singing, Scout's narration tells us that he's in Boo's tree. This may in fact be foreshadowing the upcoming events. That is most likely Lee's overall purpose of putting the bird in this scene.