In the thought-provoking novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses epiphany, point of view, and symbol to convey that we become more desensitized the older we get.
On page 285 Tom Robinson has just been convicted by his jury and the Finches have made their way home from the trial. Jem is deeply affected by the jury’s decision and is crying because of the injustice he has witnessed in the courtroom a few minutes before. Jem asks Atticus how the jury could convict Tom Robinson to which Atticus replies, “‘I don’t know, but they did it. They’ve done it before and they did it tonight and they’ll do it again and when they do it--seems that only children weep’” (285).
In this deeply affecting scene, epiphany is used so that we see the impact of Atticus’ statement on himself as he realizes this upsetting reality. Atticus is trying to explain to Jem that the jury’s decision wasn’t fair, but it was a step in the direction of justice and then defend his choices of letting the children see the trial to Aunt Alexandra. When Atticus is finally asked why exactly the jury convicted Tom instead of acquitting him, the answer Atticus gives Jem (see the above quote from page 285 in To Kill A Mockingbird) is blunt but is also very clearly a realization for Atticus. When people realize something they often speak bluntly without thinking for a long time about what is coming out
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Today we see hundreds of mass shootings a year all around