Examples Of Loss Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

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

Mrs. Dubose put Jem to the test when she stepped out of line with remarks about Jem’s father, Atticus. Atticus had told Jem “ You just be a gentleman, son” (102). Atticus told him this in hopes Jem would be mature enough to see the sometimes you have to be the bigger person or in this case a gentleman. After one too many rude comments from Mrs. Dubose, Jem finally snapped and what Atticus had told him, did not matter anymore. “He did not begin to calm down until he had cut the tops off every camellia bush Mrs. Dubose owned, until the ground was littered with green buds and leaves” (103). Jem had lost it because he did not fully understand why people would hate Atticus and call him names for defending an African American. Jem knew in his heart that Atticus was doing the right thing and he was sure the trial would only prove that. As Atticus defended Tom Robinson throughout the trial, Jem was only more sure they would find him innocent. Jem believed it so much he told Reverend Sykes “...but don’t fret, we’ve won it” (208). Jem was naive and still had to learn that society had its own codes to follow, even if they were not the morally

Jem now understands that it is not the law that is the problem with society. The law was not what failed Tom Robinson and his family, it was society itself that failed the Robinsons. With knowledge of this, Jem now sees that society does not always do the right thing, but society is not going to change over night. If Jem still obtained his innocence he probably would not understand how a white man’s word vs a black man’s word can be so powerful, because his innocence was blinding him from the truth of society. Atticus told Jem “As you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men everyday of your life…” (220). With knowing the problem starts with color of skin and not what is right or wrong, Jem is now able to see why it will be difficult to change society. He now knows he has to change the way society sees people who com from a lesser class. Jem’s experience will hopefully allow for him to start fixing the problems of