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Loss Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee

661 Words3 Pages

In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee it demonstrates the loss of innocence in many different situations. As Atticus has to take over Tom Robinson’s case, Jem and Scout witness the difficulties of defending a black man after being accused of raping a white woman. As a result, Scout and Jem lose their innocence throughout this trial. Over time Scout and a Jem realize that the world isn’t just in black and white, and that there’ll be different shades of gray in between. Children lose their innocence after experiencing traumatic events that force them to become more independent. In the novel, Harper Lee showcases how Scout, Jem, and Boo Radley were affected by certain events that caused their innocence to vanish and their paradigm …show more content…

One main point as to why Boo is never seen outside could be because of the situation he was involved in when he was younger. “Scout, I think I’m beginning to understand something. I think I’m beginning to understand why Boo Radley’s stayed up in the house all the time … it’s because he wants to stay inside” (Lee 304). To illustrate Jem’s point, he’s telling Scout that Boo prefers to stay isolated from the rest because he knows that if he were to step foot outside his safe place he’d constantly be feasted on by the eyes, ears, and mouths of Maycomb. Therefore, Heck Tate decided to sugar coat the fact that Boo had killed Bob, because Boo’s shy ways would make Maycomb critique him even more. Heck was trying to protect Boo from being placed in an uncomfortable situation that he knew he wouldn’t want to be a part of, because they’d constantly be pestering him as Heck mentioned on how the ladies would bring “angel food cakes” to his …show more content…

Jem grew up believing that Maycomb was a great place to live in, because he believed he knew the towns ways and never encountered a sour situation. As Jem witnesses the injustice that Tom went through, Jem starts realizing that the place he thought was perfect was not perfect at all.“It’s like bein’ a caterpillar I’m a cocoon, that’s what it is… Like somethin’ asleep wrapped up in a warm place. I always thought Maycomb folks were the best folks in the world, least that’s what they seemed like” (Lee 288). Jem slowly starts becoming more aware of his surroundings and starts portraying Atticus chapter by chapter. He suddenly becomes bothered with just hearing anything about courts which surprises Scout. He is distraught by the fact that Tom was charged guilty after Atticus’ explosive counter argument against the Ewells. Another example of this, was the night Scout was about to squish a roly-poly Jem was offended and yelled at Scout for trying to harm an innocent

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To begin with, the novel To Kill a Mockingbird demonstrates the idea that the effects of racism can result in loss of Innocence. Firstly, Scout is being bullied at school by kids who are annoyed that her father, Atticus is defending a Negro. As Lee writes, “He had announced in the schoolyard the day before that Scout Finch’s daddy defended niggers. I denied it, but told Jem. ‘what’d he mean sayin’ that?”

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