Cael Schofield Mrs. Lawson English 10 11 January 2023 The Innocence of Tom Robinson African Americans are often judged by the color of their skin. This is shown in the story To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, it takes place in the 1930s in Maycomb, Alabama where African American named Tom Robinson is accused of mistreating a woman named Mayella Ewell. Mayella is the daughter of Bob Ewell and they have one of the messiest home lives in the town.
Innocence is the light in the world and each child is born with it. It’s only a matter of time until it’s ripped from them. In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill A mockingbird, Scout, Jem and Dill’s childhood innocence are slowly wore away as they realize the world isn’t as bright as they think. The word “Dibs” can be a child’s downfall or their triumph. Only three letters give a child the security of a certain fate, but in a court trial, Jem’s eyes are opened to the possibility of losing no matter how you play your cards.
Innocence is the lack of knowledge of a person understanding towards certain subjects. Which often makes people react in many ways or it changes the person's point of views. Through the children one thing that makes them so pure and beautiful is there quality of being innocent in certain situations of the book. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, the author Harper Lee is showing that life is full of innocence whether it be through lack of knowledge, being unaware of the bias, or avoiding the selfishness of others opinions.
The loss of innocence is a difficult experience for many, but it is a challenge we all go through. Jem, Tom, and Boo all relate to the loss of innocence. Boo was labeled as an evil person, Tom was judged by the color of his skin, and Jem was exposed to the adult world. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses a mockingbird to represent innocence in an attempt to portray the cruelty in the world.
Tom Robinson best reflects a mockingbird, illustrated through his guilty conviction despite his innocence during the trial, the mob attempting to lynch him at the jailhouse, and his wrongful murder by a prison guard. In the book, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, many characters symbolize a Mockingbird, but Tom Robinson, hands down, most represents the characteristics and traits of a Mockingbird, which shows through his innocence and bravery. Tom Robinson is a Negro man who faces racism throughout his life and never has a fair shot because of the color of his skin. Tom Robinson is on trial, accused of beating and raping a white woman named Mayella Ewell. The prosecution has no substantial evidence to prove Tom was liable, however, a jury
Every child lives in a fantasy world, they believe that everyone will always do the right thing with no hesitation. No one can say when a child will begin to mature and lose focus with this world they have allowed to believe is the same one, that everyone else is living in. Everyone goes through that one life altering moment as a child, that makes them realize their innocence has been taken, and it is only then that they are forced to see the world for its true colors. In the novel “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, Jem Finch was once living in a fantasy world, he then was force to lose his innocence by hearing the verdict of Tom Robinson’s trial, and by losing his innocence he gained knowledge that allowed him to understand Society better
In the novel to Kill a Mockingbird the author believes that harming innocence is still trying even though you might lose your innocence when harming something. One example from To Kill A Mockingbird is when Atticus does not let his children torment Boo Radley. The author writes,” Give me those scissors” Atticus said,” they are no things to play with. Does this by any chance have anything to do with the Radleys' '
Loss of innocence is when someone comes to a realization through an event that alters their perception and understanding of reality. The novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is set in the small town of Maycomb in the 1930s, also known as the Great Depression. Many characters play a specific role in the novel, for instance, Boo Radley plays a mysterious character that scares children unintentionally because of events in the past. Atticus Finch, who is a white lawyer, becomes well-known to the black activists in the community because he takes on the case of Tom Robison, a black person accused of raping a white woman. The aftermath of taking the case was sizable.
In the beginning of the book we know Boo as the weird person that stabbed his father, but Mrs. Stephanie says “Boo wasn’t crazy, he was high-strung at times.” (11). As the story of Boo progresses, the children keep interacting with Boo without knowing it. His innocence is shown when he brings a blanket for Scout in the event of Mrs. Maudie’s house burning down, and when he saved Jem and Scout from Bob. His loss of innocence is shown earlier in his life when he was in a “gang” that did not always do the right things.
In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird the author Harper Lee creates a strong theme showing how two of the main characters represent the innocence of a mockingbird. The two characters that are portrayed as sinners are accused of by men who are blinded by pride to the point where lives are taken. The virtue of Tom Robinson is displayed throughout the course of this story. For example, a witness from the audience at Tom Robinson’s trial speaks out and announces, “I just want the whole lot of you to know one thing right now.
When one grows up, it is inevitable they will lose their innocence. Seeing the world through rose colored glasses can only take one so far, and eventually they will have to open their eyes to real issues in their lives. While this happens at different ages for everyone, Atticus in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee believes that his kids should not be sheltered from the real world. As Scout and Jem, Atticus’ children, grow up, especially in a time where Maycomb is so segregated, Atticus teaches his kids real life lessons and to not become like the rest of their town; racist and judgemental. This comes with a cost, however, as the kids “grow up” at an expedited rate.
An innocent perspective of a child has the potential to alter society's beliefs. The unique voice of a child has the ability to change humanity's preconceived ideas as they have not been corrupted by society's prejudice. Harper lee explores this notion within her novel "To Kill A Mocking Bird" through the protagonist Scout, who is a child growing up in the southern states of the U.S.A. During the novel Scout is oblivious to the prejudice that is present in the community around her. Scout is symbolic of the innocence of children and their ability to guide the way to a less discriminatory society. Colloquial language when Scouts teenage cousin said "it aint your fault Atticus is a nigger lover".
Jean Louise (Scout) Finch begins the novel as a curious and smart six year old and progresses into a mature and self-aware nine year old by the end. Sometimes the narrations of the important events surrounding her aren’t accurate. Scout is still a child, so it’s understandable for some actions or words to be misconstrued. Her innocence allows readers of the book a chance to see the events and characters in the novel clearly.
Being a lawyer is not the easiest thing to be, trying to prove one’s innocence or even guiltiness in the court of law. In Harper Lees To Kill A Mockingbird, A man by the name of Atticus Finch is a lawyer for the town of Maycomb County trying to prove the innocence of Tom Robinson for the rape of Mayella Ewell. Atticus’s arguments throughout the case make valid strong points to persuade the jurors to see his innocence by trying to prove that Tom never laid a hand on her and that Tom never raped her. During the first part of the trial in chapter 17, Atticus calls up Mr. Bob Ewell, Mayella father, to testify.
The Innocence Between Boo Radley and Emmett Till By Madison Wells In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Boo Radley is the mysterious character nobody knows anything about.