Mockingbird Motif

When I first started To kill a mockingbird I had no idea what a motif was. I understood the concept but not the application,the mockingbird motif within the story has helped me to understand this. A motif is simply a symbol used to stand for an idea like how the idea of " its a sin to kill a mockingbird"( a bird that has no adverse qualities)equates to that the exploitation of innocents is wrong.
This also helped to further the theme of hypocrisy in the story. the trail of Tom Robinson is the slaying of a mocking bird , Tom Robinson is convicted of a crime he never committed simply because of his skin color. Where as it is suspected that Bob Ewell however is guilty of abuse and rape and is not brought to trial about it.