How Does Lee Show Loss Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

The Plight of the Child

The struggle of the youth in judgemental environments can be incredibly taxing. The world is a complicated place, full of opinions and hatred for ideas that are unknown. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, the idea of a society’s effect on a child is evident through the theme of loss of innocence. More specifically, however, she highlights the contribution of adults to that theme. Adults have seen the prejudice of mankind, and because they have experienced it, they spread it as well, whether they want to or not. They thrust beliefs such as racism and classism upon children with their words and actions. Through many occurrences in the book, Harper Lee suggests that the loss of a person’s innocence is decided

At one point in the book, Scout wishes to invite Walter Cunningham over for dinner when school starts, but Aunt Alexandra forcefully tells her that is not an option. Scout becomes confused. She questions her aunt and tells her that they are “good folks,” but Alexandra snaps back saying that they’re not “our kind of folks.” The argument eventually leads to Alexandra yelling at Scout and stating that Walter is trash. Her words acquire a huge reaction from Scout. She narrates, “I don’t know what I would have done, but Jem stopped me. He caught me by the shoulders, put his arm around me, and led me sobbing in fury to his bedroom” (229). The fact that Scout is sobbing shows her innocence being lost through the symbolism of tears. Tears are water, and water is pure. When a person cries, they are progressively losing tears. In that sense, it can be said that Scout is actively losing her purity in that moment. Aunt Alexandra’s view of society and the people in it cause Scout to lose some of her innocence. Another example of classism shaping innocence is when Jem and Scout directly discuss it. Jem firmly believes that he has Maycomb County figured out. He tells Scout about the class system he thinks shapes their society, but Scout argues against his point, saying that everyone is the same no matter their upbringing or skin color. Jem becomes frustrated. Scout narrates, “Jem turned around and punched his pillow. When he settled back his face was cloudy” (231). Jem is provided with two different points of view in that moment: the one of the adult and the one of the child. He is stuck in the middle of the two. The imagery in the word “cloudy” emphasizes his confusion and conflict, suggesting that there is a storm occurring inside his brain. He wants to gain the view of an adult and believes he has, but then Scout’s innocence enters and he becomes lost in the tempest of his