Throughout the novel Harper Lee explores the racism, prejudice, and innocence that manifest throughout the book. It shows these topics through its strong use of symbolism throughout the story. Even though To Kill a Mockingbird was written in the 1960s, the powerful symbolism this book brings to our society is extraordinary. This attribute is racism (Smykowski). To Kill a Mockingbird reveals the story of Scout's childhood growing up with her father and brother, in a Southern town accustomed to a strong belief in ethnological morality (Shackelford). Atticus was assigned to defend Tom Robinson in a court trial. Tom was a black man indicted for the alleged rape of Mayella Ewell (Lee 86). His father, Bob Ewell, accused Tom. From the rumors they've heard about him, he seems like a mysteriously strange human being. They want to get to know him as he leaves them surprises in the tree and even saves Jem (Best)'s life. Ultimately, Scout decided to put herself in Boo Radley's shoes. He began to see prospects on his side. Kasper says, "Scout finally starts to see Boo Radley as a human being." (Kasper). Another form of prejudice found in To Kill a Mockingbird is religious prejudice. This form is first shown when the children are with Miss Maudie while she tends her garden. Jem, Scout, and Dill kept asking questions about Mr. Radley. Miss Maudie tells them about Mr. Radley's religious beliefs, calling him one of the "baptist footwashers," believers who believe that anything that gives pleasure is a sin (Lee 49). Miss Maudie was not very religious like other people in the community. Baptists believed he spent too much time in his garden and not enough time reading the Bible. Therefore she would go to hell when she died (LeeMockingbirds doesn't hurt anything, she just sings. The two characters in this book who represent this symbol are Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. Tom Robinson is a "mockingbird" because he is unfairly accused of raping a white girl. Through the prejudice of the people of Macomb he then convicted and killed, even though he never did anything to Mayella. Boo Radley is also another great example of a "mockingbird" because no one accepts him at all the city which forces him to hide in his house. Rumors had spread about him that he was a bad boy, but he was nothing but kind to children and had even saved their lives (Dave Tom Robinson is the). perfect example of innocence. in this novel this man is accused of a crime he didn't even commit, yet was tried and convicted as guilty when he had nothing to do with the crime except being in the wrong place at the time wrong and with its color; skin. The jury never thought twice that Tom was innocent