... the racial prejudices of the town. The central symbol of the novel, the mockingbird, further develops the theme of racial prejudice. For Christmas, Scout and Jem are given air rifles by their father, who warns that, although he considers it fair to shoot other birds, he views it a "sin to kill a mockingbird" because they "don't do one thing but sing their hearts out ... for us." The mockingbird represents victims of oppression in general, and the African-American ... narrates much of the novel. Critical reception of the book has primarily centered around its messages concerning issues ...

• Word Count: 2287
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: Undergraduate