In Harper Lee’s classic novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” the snowman symbolizes a deeper message about racial prejudice and the unjust trial of Tom Robinson. The snowman is a physical representation of the societal expectation that a black person must conform to white standards in order to be accepted.
The rare snowfall in Maycomb County serves as a catalyst for Jem and Scout’s fascination with building a snowman. The fact that the county had not witnessed snow since 1885 adds to the significance of this event. It is a moment of pure joy and innocence for the children, as they see the world transformed into a winter wonderland. However, this joy is short-lived as they are confronted with the harsh reality of racial inequality.
Jem and Scout decide to build a snowman in their yard, but instead of using traditional materials like coal or buttons for the eyes and mouth, they use items that depict racial stereotypes. They use a black coal for the snowman’s face, and dress it with tattered and worn-out clothes, resembling the poor and marginalized black community in Maycomb.
This choice of materials and the way the snowman is constructed symbolizes the societal expectation that black people should conform to a certain image in order to be accepted. It reflects the idea that a black person is only deemed acceptable if they try to be like white people, regardless of their own identity and heritage.
The snowman also serves as a metaphor for the trial of Tom Robinson, a black man who is falsely accused of raping a white woman. The trial is a clear example of racial prejudice and injustice, where Tom’s guilt is predetermined by the color of his skin. Similarly, the snowman’s appearance and the children’s choice of materials pre-determine its fate, just as society pre-determines the fate of black individuals based on their race.
The snowman’s fate is sealed when Atticus, Jem and Scout’s father, insists that they dismantle it. He recognizes the offensive nature of the snowman and the harm it can cause. This action can be seen as Atticus trying to protect his children from perpetuating harmful stereotypes and promoting racial prejudice, even unintentionally.
The snowman in “To Kill a Mockingbird” symbolizes the societal expectation that a black person must conform to white standards to be accepted, as well as the unjust trial of Tom Robinson. It serves as a powerful reminder of the racial prejudice and discrimination prevalent in Maycomb County, and the need to challenge and dismantle such harmful beliefs.