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Loss Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee

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In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the Mockingbird is the main symbol in the story representing how the loss of innocence influences Scout Finch and the society she sees. With the story, To Kill a Mockingbird is to destroy innocence. This shows how evil and the realization of the truth can truly show society the cruel nature of what they do. Without this realization society will become blind of their actions and negligent. In beginning of the story Scout as a “normie” does not realize the true nature of her town. This can be see when she asks “‘…what’s rape, Cal?’” Notably, Scout does not know what rape is thus she is unaware of the people and the negative things they can do. The Mockingbird is seen as innocence which would be a sin to kill. In a deeper sense however it reveals that Scout has not been aware about her town being addicted to racism and the horrible acts people can commit. In addition, after Tom Robinson’s death, Scout has a thought, “…if Aunty could be a lady at a time like this, so could I” (237). This shows that the Mockingbird is taking into effect with Scout having realized the situation took action and …show more content…

At the trial when the verdict is read which is “…guilty…guilty…guilty…It was Jem’s turn to cry… ’It ain’t right,’ he muttered…”(211-212) As an innocent boy Jem does not understand why Tom Robinson was found guilty, everything seems to go in his favor up until the verdict. What is more is, after the death of Tom Robinson Scout says Jem told her that “Mr. Ewell was more hot gas than anything” (241). This is made obvious when the Mockingbird reveals that Jem has somewhat grasped the situation of the verdict and Tom’s death and trying to make the best of it. All things considered, the Mockingbird reveals in Jem that he has realize why Tom Robinson had to be convicted and that his death was just part of the racism of his

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Throughout the book, Atticus tries very hard not to expose his children to Maycomb’s disease, but his attempt in sheltering them from the racism flowing throughout the town isn’t as successful as he had hoped; Jem and Scout are picture perfect examples of what the loss of innocence can do to children. On Scout’s first day of school, she is about as excited as a child can get; naturally, she would think her teacher would be amazed at her astounding reading capabilities, but upon reading the alphabet and quotes about the stock-market from The Mobile Register; and explaining that her father, Atticus, taught her what she knew Miss Caroline simply said that Atticus, “does not know how to teach” (23). Just by telling her this Scout felt as if it

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