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Examples Of Loss Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

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“Innocence is like polished armor; it adorns and defends.” This was said by Robert South and it portrays the loss of innocence of Scout Finch throughout the book. In the beginning of the book Scout is an immature 6 year old that does not use her head to solve problems she uses either her mouth or her hands, Atticus and Calpurnia are the mature figures in the house and they help her the best they can for her to grow up a mature young lady. In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the author uses characterization to reveal that the loss of innocence happens quicker to those who grow up in a more mature environment. Harper Lee demonstrates Scouts character as a young unsophisticated girl that reacts impulsively especially when Walter Cunningham …show more content…

When Scout, Jem and Dill followed Atticus to the jail to see what he was doing, they hid behind a bush and saw a bunch of unknown men arrive and surround Atticus, but their was one man that Scout did noticed that she has seen his face before. Scout jumped out of the bush ran through the men to Atticus. She recognizes Mr. Cunningham, the father of Walter that they had over for lunch the other day. She tried talking to them so nothing bad would happen to Atticus especially if she was there. “ Atticus had said it was the polite thing to talk to people about what they were interested in, not about what you were interested in.”(205) Scout as remeber something her father as told her and thought it was a good decision to use it in this difficult situation. Her character is now applying things to the real world and noticing how it works to get through life. After she remembered that she talked to Mr.Cunningham about his son Walter and that got Atticus out of danger. After a while the men left and so did they with their father. The quote reflects her maturity now that she has gained from her mature environment. At the very end of the book after Bob Ewell tries to attack the kids and Scout meets Boo for the first time she realized that her is very nice and that most people can be very different than how other people view them and how their reputation reflects on them as a person. Scout reaches out to her father and explains to him that she has learned that he was right that not all people are bad, and everyone could be different than you think they are or see them and Atticus replied to her “ Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them.”(376) As readers we have taken in that Scout has kept all of those lessons her father has told her or taught

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943 Words | 4 Pages

Some people isn’t as bad as they seem “You shouldn't judge people by what chapter you walk in on.” In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee shows or tells the story of scout and Jem Finch growing up in a small southern town called Maycomb. In this book the protagonist Scout goes through many of coming of ages experiences. Some of the important scenes where Scout matures up is on her first day of school, walking from a fight, and encountering Boo Radley or Aurther Radley.

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700 Words | 3 Pages

Atticus is a bold man considering he knew the mob would eventually come and he had to be prepared to protect Tom Robinson from harm. In addition, he was willing to risk his life for a black man which was very peculiar during the time but dared to stand his ground and fight for justice. Also, Atticus did not mind what other people thought of him or cared less about his reputation being ruined or his family being put on the line for defending a black man indicating he had the perseverance to fight for righteousness. When Scout sees that her father is in danger, or given that he is surrounded by unfamiliar faces, she realizes one of the men is Mr.Cunningham. In an attempt to cool the tension, Scout tries to find common ground with Mr.Cunningham by saying, "Entailments are bad" (Lee 205).

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588 Words | 3 Pages

Atticus brought a female figure as an influence for Scout in her life. As we read, we can tell that Scout didn’t agree with her father, she didn’t like the idea, but she lied anyways. She’s growing up in the way where she is being able to think things through herself. She is able recognize that sometimes you don’t have to always tell the truth. There are times where you have to tell a little lie.

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624 Words | 3 Pages

In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee tells the story of two kids as they grow up in the South during the Depression. Jeremy Atticus Finch, also known as Jem, and Jean Louise Finch, also known as Scout grow up with their father, Atticus in Maycomb, Alabama. The story takes place during three summers filled with life lessons about courage, justice, and friendship. Lee demonstrates that the loss of innocence occurs when one witnesses injustice. Jem loses his innocence by witnessing the prejudice against Tom Robinson, a black man.

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772 Words | 4 Pages

A Loss of Innocence And A Gain of Maturity Have you ever experienced something that you still think about today? Or have you experienced something that you wish never would have happened? Throughout To Kill A Mockingbird Scout and Jem face many of these things, and at a young age too. During the story and the situations they find themselves in, a loss of innocence is evident.

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584 Words | 3 Pages

Innocence often has two definitions; being young or of no wrongdoing. Both of these definitions are exemplified throughout the book. In the plot, Scout has an innocent outlook on the world. She doesn’t understand or take part in many of the “monsters” of Maycomb such as racism and sexism. The readers are shown throughout the book through Atticus that Tom Robinson is innocent.

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974 Words | 4 Pages

“‘You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…”’(Atticus 33). Atticus expresses this to Scout because he knows that everyone is equal, and every story has multiple sides and point of views. This is what makes Scout realize that everyone has a point of view on things, though it is most important to learn about the source first before accusing. Rumors and perspectives are what can ruin a life, this knowledge allows Scout to look at everything from multiple aspects rather than one. Throughout the entire story, there are different viewpoints on everything from everyone in this story, and Scout learns the biggest lesson of understanding another's story from their point of view rather than her

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493 Words | 2 Pages

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.

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1045 Words | 5 Pages

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.

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506 Words | 3 Pages

Alvina Dennis, Boles Childlike Innocence Reading a novel that shows the true essence of an innocent child's perspective leaves the audience to decipher its true meaning when the innocence fades away. If we view our society in an innocent manner it shields us from the dangers of racism, prejudice, and hypocrisy, unforgettably popular topics in the early 1930s. In Harper Lee's novel, To Kill a MockingBird, the audience perceives a childlike innocence portrayed by Jem, but later that innocence is “killed”, after a falsified sexual assault case that left an innocent man to his death. Jem is growing up in the town of Maycomb with his younger sister Scout and his father Atticus. Jem is shown to be naive, adventurous, and courageous- all childlike

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1234 Words | 5 Pages

Wanting to defend her father, Scout demanded that he take his words back but he refused. Scout then later tells Atticus everything about the incident and was told not to mind anything retaining with him. Scout is in conflict with both Cecil and herself. She wants to defend Atticus from Cecil’s terrible words and yet she has to prevent herself from initiating a fight due to her promise with Atticus. Scout was able to resolve her problem by following Atticus’s words and walked away.

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627 Words | 3 Pages

Atticus, Scout’s father, is appointed as Tom Robinson 's lawyer. This creates a conflict in the usually quiet town of Maycomb. Some angry men of Maycomb confront Atticus at night in the form of a mob. They want to kill Tom Robinson and they make it clear that they won’t let Atticus stop them. Scout runs to her father 's aid and speaks out to a familiar face she finds within the mob, “Don’t you remember me, Mr. Cunningham?

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792 Words | 4 Pages

When first faced with evil in the form of Walter Cunningham’s lynch mob, Scout’s response shows her lack of understanding of people. Speaking of Walter Junior, she states, “First day Walter comes back will be his last” (Lee, 158). She acts irrationally, as she does not understand that despite his father having done something cruel, Walter is not necessarily cruel as well. After observing cruelty such as prejudice at the trial, Scout is not as shaken as Jem, but also eventually gets to the point of understanding that everyone has a reason or a background that influences their actions, thus making them less purely vicious. Scout has a small epiphany when she acknowledges, “Atticus was right [...] you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them” (Lee, 279).

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955 Words | 4 Pages

Scout had a tremendous amount of respect and love for Atticus. Whatever Atticus told her, she took it to heart and actually listened. " Scout learns Atticus ethic completely. Looking at her life from Boo's perspective, she is able to see herself and her experiences in a new way. She also makes an act of comparison—and this is her gift, as the neighbor, to Boo: she sees the world from his point of view and gains an understanding of him that no one else in Maycomb has ever had and, since he enters his house never to emerge again, ever will have" (Jones 112).

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747 Words | 3 Pages

Innocence is a word used to describe someone 's purity. Children are prime examples of innocence, as they don’t have judgments and don’t understand mature topics. In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the reader can interpret innocence as the growing up of the children. Specifically, Jem Finch showed a loss of innocence as he grew up. He showed his loss of innocence by not playing games, his more mature use of words and body language, and his different view of the world around him.

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