Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird And Through The Tunnel By Harper Lee

One theme in To Kill a Mockingbird and Through the Tunnel by Doris Lessing is coming of age/loss of innocence. In to Kill a mockingbird, Scout Finch is seen going from a little girl who’s only fear was Boo Radley to someone who not only sees Boo Radley as human, but understands that others deserve empathy. “I ran by the Radley place as fast as I could, not stopping until I reached the safety of our front porch.” (Lee, 37) In the beginning, Scout sprints home everyday, without looking back. All of the rumors and stories told to her by her brother Jem had filled her with fear. There was no doubt, Boo Radley was a monster. After Boo has saved Scout and Jem from Bob Ewell, Heck Tate (the sheriff) and Atticus are talking about what to do with Boo

This is a coming of age story because of Jerry’s sacrifice, “That night, his nose bled badly. For hours he had been under water, learning to hold his breath, and now he felt weak and dizzy.”(Lessing, 128) Jerry gives up his blood to achieve his goal. He gives this sacrifice because it will enable him to breathe longer under the water and allow him to go through the tunnel. This is meant to display the hardships that one must go through to grow up. To come of age is not easy, it requires a loss of innocence. An additional example of this in Through the Tunnel is when Jerry decides he does not want to be part of the group. In the beginning, that was all he wanted; but by the end, he realizes that he does not have to be part of the group. “To be with them, of them, was a craving that filled his whole body.” This is what motivates Jerry to go through the tunnel in the first place. He wants to fit in with the group. As the story goes on and Jerry develops, there is a change in his mindset, “He could see the local boys diving and playing half a mile away. He did not want

The ability to keep going in the face of adversity. In To Kill a Mockingbird, this theme is portrayed through the words of Atticus Finch. The author continuously uses his words to get her point about courage across, “I wanted you to see what real courage is…It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” () Atticus tells this to the kids after Mrs. Dubose has died. He wants to show them that what Mrs. Dubose did was real courage, not Atticus shooting the rabid dog. Mrs. Dubose knew she was going to die, but if she was going to die, she was going to die morphine free. This is what the author wanted to get across the whole time. Courage was not defeating the powerless, but continuing to try even when you are powerless. Furthermore, this theme is enhanced when Atticus is talking to Scout and Jem about the trial. He asks them (especially Scout) to not fight anyone no matter what they say about Him. “You just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anyone says to you, don’t let ‘em get your goat.” (Lee, 87) To keep their fists down is a very difficult thing to do, and yet that is what they do. When Scout faces the boy who has been saying things about Atticus, he says more things, but Scout walks away. The theme that the author has been trying to express is that having courage is hard. Sometimes it is