The novel To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee is a unique piece of literature. The main character, Jean Louise Finch, commonly called Scout, lives in Maycomb County, Alabama with her brother Jeremy Atticus “Jem” Finch; her father (Atticus Finch) the family cook (Calpurnia), and her friend Dill. The classic discusses various events that occur in Scout’s life in the 1930s, however, the author emphasizes the most significant events. Accordingly, Scout is introduced to the idea that the world is not always kind and trustworthy. For example, Scout finds that not everyone appreciates her gifted talent of reading before she started school, like Miss Caroline. Moreover, the author introduces mature ideas into the story, such as Boo Radley and his ill treatment. The author also emphasizes the trial of Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman. Through these ideas, the author’s message is to inform the reader of the ill treatment and discrimination against others, which still continue to this day. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird emphasizes Scout losing her innocence due to the series of events occurring in her life, primarily those that have great significance. …show more content…
You can have a seat now’” (Lee 17). In this quote, Miss Caroline, Scout’s teacher, portrays her distaste in Scout’s gifted knowledge of reading. She is also aware that Atticus taught Scout how to read. When Miss Caroline interrogates Scout, the latter justifies that she was born reading; unfortunately, Miss Caroline did not believe her. Consequently, Miss Caroline promptly tells Scout that the latter’s father cannot teach well and tells her to sit down. In this scenario, Scout loses her innocence because she is exposed to the fact that some people in society will always criticize others and a critic’s tone and wording can be painful to