Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee

Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird is set in the mists of The Great Depression of the 1930’s, in the southern State of Alabama. This setting dictates the views and values that Lee discusses in her novel. Lee criticises racism because it was a prominent issue that was faced by African Americans specifically in this time. However, Lee endorses innocence and women in society because they were things that were prominent but good and needed in the novel's setting compared to racism, which is not needed or justifiable in any setting and context. In TKAM innocence is portrayed through the symbol of the mockingbird. Lee endorses innocence through the novel using the symbol of the mockingbird not doing “one thing but make music for us” (Pg.

Boo Radley’s character presents a clear example of innocence through his gentle approach towards Jem and Scout. The town idea of Boo is displayed through Lee’s description of “the [Radley] House [which].. was once white with a deep front porch and green shutters, but had long ago darkened to the colour of the slate-grey yard around it.” (Pg. 15). Lee’s use of the word “darkened” infers that the Radleys are isolated and unfriendly, which, paralleled to Boo’s later actions, is a prejudice claim towards Boo Radley in particular. A later action of Boo’s is when Jem goes back to the Radley’s house to retrieve his pants after losing them in the fencing, he recounts finding them “Folded across the fence” (Pg. 78). In Boo doing this, he presents himself as mis-interpreted by the community, hence, exhibiting his innocence to the crimes under his name. Another example of innocence in TKAM is Scout’s narration of the novel’s events, as her recount highlights her child-like mind and manners towards the affairs in the community. This is shown when she narrates her contest between her and her teacher, Miss Caroline Fisher, as on most sentences regarding her teacher she adds sass and sarcasm. For example on the first day of school while Miss

Lee celebrates the importance of a non-judgemental woman in society through the character of Miss Maudie, as she is described to be “a chameleon lady who worked in her flower beds..”(pg.46), though is also described to have some modesty as “after her five o’clock bath she would appear on the porch...in her magisterial beauty”(pg.46). Lee uses her character to endorse a good example of a woman who follows the social norms but does not comply with them fully. However, the character of Miss Stephanie Crawford is used in comparison, to show what a bad example of a women was like in the setting; as it is said that she is quite gossipy, which is highlighted towards the start of the novel when Lee is describing the town and its people she often puts “Miss Stephanie Crawford said…”, to display that the character talks a lot about everyone and seems to know everything about the town. Lee further criticises her by referring to her as “a neighbourhood scold”(pg.11), which implies that she doesn’t keep to herself and nit-picks others for little things. Furthermore, the different behaviours shown in the characters, highlights Lee's opinion on women in society as she openly puts down Miss Stephanie's character and makes her out to be untrustworthy while making the two main characters “..Jem and [Scout] ha[ve] considerable faith in Miss