Allusions in To Kill a Mockingbird
1. “’Let this cup pass from you, eh?’” (117).
This quote is an allusion to Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane
before he is crucified.
2. “’. . . Robert E. Lee Ewell!’” (227).
This quote is an allusion to the famous Southern General Robert E. Lee.
3. “’Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an’ then turn around and be ugly about
folks right at home—‘” (331).
This quote alludes to Hitler who is the Nazi ruler in Germany.
Harper Lee uses the above allusions for different reasons. The first one makes a
comparison to Christ’s sacrifice and Atticus’ sacrifice. The second, filled with irony,
is comparing Mr. Ewell to the famous Southern General Robert E. Lee for whom
Ewell is named. Mr. Ewell may have Southern views about blacks, but he certainly
does not have the reputation of a decorated war hero. As Scout studies Hitler in
school, she notices the hypocrisy of Americans against Hitler’s prejudice; however,
Americans fail to realize their own prejudice against African Americans, which make
this another example of allusion showing irony.