The word innocence has several different meanings. One of the meanings is freedom from guilt or sin. The other one is freedom from legal guilt of a crime. The last one is lack of worldly knowledge or experience. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee the dominant theme is the destruction of Innocence. The symbol in the book is a mockingbird and it’s the representation of innocence. This idea is summed up at one point in the book when Atticus tells his children “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”
Boo Radley is innocent in the way that he hasn't done any harm and has no guilt. He doesn't want to cause people any harm. In a way he’s like a mockingbird, he doesn't cause any harm to people just like a mockingbird. Boo Radley’s innocence is destroyed because of all the people depicting him like a monster. Also at the end of the book when Boo killed Bob Ewell by saving Jem and Scout Mr. Tate said to Atticus that “Mr. Finch, taking the one man who’s done you and this town a great service an’ draggin’ him with his shy ways into the limelight-to me, that’s a sin. Later on Scout clarified to Atticus by telling that “Mr. Tate was
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Equally important the children are innocent in the way that they lack of worldly knowledge and experience. They still don't know all the cruel and malevolent people in the world. Their innocence is destroyed because of all the racism and prejudice that they’re exposed to. Around the middle of the book dill was disgusted by Mr. Gilmer because of how bad he treated Tom. When Scout asked dill “Ain’t you feeling good?” dill answered “That old Mr. Gilmere doin’ him thataway, talking so hateful to him-” All of the children were affected by the decision of the jury and how unfair it was, however the one who was affected the most was Jem. It hit him hard. After that his innocence was