Examples Of Loss Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

Alissa Grisler

6/4/14

English Period 6

Mr. Mahan

Loss of Innocence in To Kill A Mockingbird Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, provides a coming-of-age story in which Scout and Jem Finch experience a loss of innocence as they grow up in the deeply prejudiced Southern Alabama. This loss of innocence stems from their exposure to discrimination, their increasing knowledge of justice versus corruption, and their awareness of social stratification. Throughout the story, their father, Atticus, serves as their guide and rigid advocate for morality. Harper Lee shows racism in Maycomb through dialogue and character’s actions. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Scout and Jem are robbed of their childlike innocence during the trial of Tom Robinson, a black

Scout is again being taunted by a peer for her father’s defense of a black person. Although Atticus has tried to instill in his children a sense of morality, it is tested by the racist residents of Maycomb. Scout here learns of prejudice that she doesn’t understand because Atticus has raised his children to be logical and to value a person for themselves rather than their skin color. Blatant racism is also demonstrated on page 135 when Ms. Dubose says to Scout and Jem, “‘Your father’s no better than the niggers and the trash he works for!’” The fact that an old woman is attacking young children for their father’s profession, shows how Maycomb is deeply rooted in racism. It isn’t just children who taunt Scout and Jem, it’s the adults. Scout and Jem must grow up with this constant berating of their father, and learn to ignore ignorance. On page 182 Aunt Alexandra says to Atticus, “‘You’ve let things go on too long Atticus, too long.’” Scout is overhearing in this passage Aunt Alexandra say that Calpurnia should be fired, that they don’t need her. Aunt

In To Kill A Mockingbird, Scout and Jem Finch discover that personal prejudice can influence justice, or the lack thereof. Growing up with Atticus in Maycomb is a contradiction in itself. Atticus encourages equality and raises his kids to be moral beings. However, the rest of Maycomb is very biased and racist. On page 296 Atticus tells Scout and Jem, “‘With people like us- that’s our share of the bill. We generally get the juries we deserve. Our stout Maycomb citizens aren’t interested, in the first place. In the second place, they’re afraid.’” Atticus is telling his children about juries in this excerpt. While legally, Tom Robinson should have been evaluated by a “jury of his peers”, his jury consisted of twelve, biased white men. A fair trial wasn’t possible. Scout and Jem are forced to realize in this discussion that the justice system doesn’t apply the same rules for whites