Answer:
In "To Kill a Mockingbird," Scout was told not to shoot mockingbirds because they do not harm anyone and only sing beautifully. Mockingbirds are innocent creatures that bring joy and beauty to the world, and it would be a sin to harm them. The mockingbird represents innocence and goodness, which should not be destroyed or corrupted. The idea is extended to the characters in the novel who are innocent and good but are mistreated and persecuted by society, such as Tom Robinson and Boo Radley.
At the end of the novel, Scout refers to believing what Mr. Tate said as "like killing a mockingbird" because she realizes that the truth about what happened to Bob Ewell would destroy Boo Radley's innocence and cause him to be persecuted by society. Mr. Tate's decision to cover up the truth and say that Bob Ewell fell on his own knife was a "little white lie" that would save Boo's life. Boo is an innocent person who has been misunderstood and mistreated by society, and revealing the truth about him would only bring harm to him. The mockingbirds in the novel are Tom Robinson and Boo Radley, who are both good people but are unjustly treated by society. The "little white lie" is necessary to protect them from further harm and maintain their innocence.