In To Kill a Mockingbird, how does Tom Robinson symbolize the mockingbird?

In
chapter ten,tells his children that it is considered a sin to kill a mockingbird, and Miss
Maudie elaborates on his comment by saying,

Your fathers
right . . . Mockingbirds dont do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They dont eat up
peoples gardens, dont nest in corncribs, they dont do one thing but sing their hearts out for
us. Thats why its a sin to kill a mockingbird. (Lee, 93)

In the novel, mockingbirds symbolically represent innocent, benevolent beings who are extremely
vulnerable and defenseless, which is why they rely on others to protect and defend them. Tom
Robinson is considered as symbolic mockingbird because he embodies the character traits of
mockingbirds and relies on Atticus to defend him against Maycomb's prejudiced society and
justice system. Similar to mockingbirds, Tom is a pleasant, kind man who goes out of his way to
help Mayella complete her chores and has a positive reputation for being a morally-upright,
respected man in...