What are symbols in 'To Kill a Mockingbird'?

In this story the author uses the Mockingbird as a symbol for innocence. The title seems to have very little to do with the actual book but it is highly symbolic to the plot. Throughout the book many innocent people are hurt or destroyed by evil. Probably Atticus' most famous quote is 'Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird' pg 99. What Atticus meant by this statement was that mockingbirds aren't harmful at all, they only do one thing, sing their hearts out for people to enjoy and that is why it is a sin.

Mockingbird sings just before Bob Ewell attacks Jem and Scout pg 281. Boo Radley is even referred to as a mockingbird by Scout when she says 'Well, it'd be sort of like shootin' a mockingbird, wouldn't it?' pg 304. Boo Radley, for example, was an innocent person who is kind to the children and helps them when they really need him. First when Atticus give Scout and Jem air guns for Christmas and tells them not to kill Mockingbirds pg 99. The mockingbird is also used to link to two main plot elements in the novel, these are Boo Radley, who is not seen as a mockingbird until right at the end of the book and Tom Robinson which is a more obvious example. These people are innocents who have been hurt or destroyed by evil. Finally, when Scout tells Atticus that exposing Boo Radley for killing Bob Ewell would be like killing a Mockingbird pg 304. He is destroyed by evil as he is locked away in his house never to be seen again and had mean stories made up about him by the town folk. Underwood writes about Tom Robinson's death in his Newspaper pg 265. Tom Robinson however, is very badly treated when he is accused of something he hasn't done and is convicted, only because he is black, despite the fact there is no circumstantial evidence. These two characters are linked together as a mockingbird in three different ways, both are innocent, Boo of is evil persona and Tom of his crime, both are victims of prejudice, and both are kind, Boo to the children and Tom to Mayella.

Also, guns symbolise false strength. Atticus says at one point that a man with a gun is not a brave man.

The mad dog is a symbol for the madness of racism. It also bears some parallels to Bob Ewell.

The house fire that destroys Miss Maudie's house AND importantly melts the snowman is a symbol for the firey stance the town takes against the mixing of races since the snowman is made up of snow(white people) and dirt (black people)