The Spiritual message to be found in Harper Lee’s beloved
bestseller “To Kill a Mockingbird” is, I believe, one of the main reasons this
book has endured for generations. The uplifting message is one that not only
appeals to young adults, but also to those who remember the book from their own
childhood. It contains a timeless message encapsulated in the most appealing of
messengers, children who are coming of age in small-town America.
I’ve written several essays in the past on the film version
of Mockingbird, which closely follows the book in style and tone. However,
there are some key distinctions that set the book apart from the film. The book
introduces us to the Finch children, Jem and Scout. As their names attest, Jem
is the jewel in the family, one who is prized by all. Scout is the lookout, as
she is always alert for any changes that come their way. And the father,
Atticus, is the abacus, he is the great leveler, who can make all things right.
The other characters have similar spiritual overtones. While
Dill is as his name implies, tart and comical, Jim Robinson, the Negro handyman
who has been wrongfully accused of rape, is a kind of sacrificial lamb in this
story.
One key difference that sets the book apart is the character
of Mrs. Dubose. In the book, an entire chapter is devoted to her story. Where
we see her simply as a crabby old lady in the film version, we hear a great
deal more to flesh out her story in the book. Atticus explains that she was terminally ill and had become addicted to morphine. Yet she decided to die on
her own terms, without drugs, and therefore she becomes an example of moral
courage and illustrates the power of free will in conquering her addiction. This also gives
a spiritual and moral aspect to the idea of conquering our baser instincts and
using our free will to overcome our human frailties and failings.
In the book, as in the film, the two pivotal events surround
the coming-of-age of Scout and the trial of Jim Robinson. In both, Atticus is
seen as the wise man and the judge, both guiding his children with wisdom and
seeking justice for those who are in peril.
Atticus is often seen as a Christ-like figure, although he
bears more resemblance to the angels of the Lord who were sent to guide us and
to bear witness as well as deliver God’s message to his people. In essence, by
taking on the case of Jim Robinson and working to deliver God’s justice, he is
“getting his hands dirty”, so to speak, meaning he is paving the way for others
to follow suit as they work to uncover prejudice and to seek justice for those
who are wrongfully accused.
The figure who represents the idea of Christ is Boo Radley.
Boo is shunned and misunderstood, and he’s only fully appreciated long after
the events of the story unfold. In the book, he protects and watches over the
children, and this can be seen as a metaphor for Christ who is watching over
us, his children. It was decided that to destroy a creature such as Boo, it
would be like “killing a Mockingbird”; the thing that was created only to bring
us joy and happiness.
It’s a sin to kill a Mockingbird, as it was a sin to kill
Christ. Therefore, we must do our best to protect the weak, and those among us
who are innocent and pure spirits. That is the core message of the book and the
key takeaway for Christians who seek a spiritual message in the text.
Whether there is a deeper meaning felt, or simply one taken
at face-value of selfless love, innocence, and the triumph of good over evil,
we still can revere the book as one for the ages with a timeless message of
enduring faith and love.
****
