text: what does the mockingbird symbolize? i'm reading to kill a mockingbird for my english class and i still don't get what the mockingbird symbolizes.  can anyone help? the mockingbird is a symbol of innocense. mockingbirds don't hurt anyone, therfore it is a sin to kill one. the mockingbirds in this story are tom robinson and boo radley. they are innocent people or innocent mokingbirds