Examples Of Loss Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

“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

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