Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

“We may think of children as being innocent, but the experience of innocence is a way of being, a chosen state of mind--and one that can be experienced at any stage of life.” (John B. Izzo). Harper Lee strongly supports this throughout the story about a small family containing, a father who goes by Atticus, and two children Scout and Jem. They're outlooks contrast differently than most of their town, who are problematic and racist. Both Miss Maudie and Boo Radley help the finch children by helping the kids when they're in need, and comforting them. In “To Kill a Mockingbird”, Harper Lee develops the characters of Boo Radley and Miss Maudie to consider that some people see the value of innocence in a corrupt society. Boo Radley the

Boo would leave small toys or gifts in a tree that he knew the kids would like and enjoy. The gifts included soap carvings, “miniatures of the two children” (Lee 80), a full package of gum “...later we found a whole package of chewing gum, which we enjoyed” (Lee 80), and a watch “Our biggest prize appeared four days later. It was a pocket watch that wouldn’t run…” (Lee 81). Their innocence is expressed through their value of these “prizes” (Lee 81). Only children would consider these toys to have that much personal worth. Similarly Boo cares for the children by folding Jem's pants after him leaving them behind. Furthermore, when Miss Maudie's house caught fire Boo unknowingly, draped a blanket around Scout as she was helpless, shivering by his front gate. “I thought I told you and Jem to stay put,” he said. “Why, we did. We stayed-” “Then whose blanket is that?” “Blanket?” “Yes ma’am, blanket. It isn’t ours.” (Lee 95). Boo repeated these small acts when folding Jem's pants for him after leaving them behind once getting caught on the broken