When Scout and Jem receive guns for Christmas, they learn why they shouldn't kill a mockingbird. “The Mockingbirds do nothing more than create music for us to enjoy. They don't devour people's gardens, they don't nest in corn cages, they don't do anything but sing their hearts out to us. Therefore it is a sin to kill a mockingbird” (103). Mockingbirds represent happiness. They do not cause any harm to anyone or anything. So it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. Tom Robinson, a black man, is the man who was falsely accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman. “He compared Tom's death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children” (275). Tom Robinson is one of the symbols of the mockingbird. He was convicted and murdered for the rape of Mayella Ewell. He didn't rape Mayella but he was blamed for it. Since this took place in the 1930s, black people have been disbelieved over white people. So when Tom was killed, it was like killing a mockingbird. He only helped people, but he was killed. He only brought joy and happiness, not hatred. Tom Robinson was not the only symbol of the mockingbird in the novel. Boo Radley was also the symbol of a mockingbird. Boo Radley saved Scout and Jem from Bob Ewell. He ended up killing Bob while trying to save the children. Heck Tate, the town sheriff, could prove that Bob fell on his knife. He did this so Boo wouldn't get in trouble. "Well, that would be a bit like shooting a mockingbird,