Innocence is the light in the world and each child is born with it. It’s only a matter of time until it’s ripped from them. In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill A mockingbird, Scout, Jem and Dill’s childhood innocence are slowly wore away as they realize the world isn’t as bright as they think. The word “Dibs” can be a child’s downfall or their triumph. Only three letters give a child the security of a certain fate, but in a court trial, Jem’s eyes are opened to the possibility of losing no matter how you play your cards. “Guilty… guilty… guilty… guilty…” I peeked at Jem: his hands were white from gripping the balcony rail, and his shoulders jerked as if each “guilty” was a separate stab between them” (Lee 215).With Jem’s unbiased eyes, the evidence in court had proved Tom’s innocence without doubt. …show more content…
No matter how well one plays their cards or positions chess pieces or how Atticus delivered the evidence, there is always the possibility of losing. Jem ignorantly believed that Atticus could win a case defending a black man, because he saw no chance of the racism outside of the court following them inside. Jem only saw the evidences as it was, just as how the jury should have seen it. The jury sworn to make decisions without bias, yet still decided to send a innocent black man to his death. Scraping knees on playground tan bark from jumping off the slides prove that no danger can stop a child’s play, but to what extent will Scout and Jem realize that danger can lead to losing their father. “He could—” “You know he wouldn’t carry a gun, Scout. He ain’t even got one—” said Jem. “You know he didn’t even have one down at the jail that night. He told me havin‘ a gun around an invitation to somebody to shoot you” (Lee 221). Scout is not unfamiliar with the dealings of playground fist
In life, innocence is associated with purity and the lack of corruption, and the loss thereof is inevitable. Chapter fifteen of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird and Robert Frost’s poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay”, illustrate how innocence is impermanent. Both Lee and Frost, portray the impermanent nature of innocence and how it is slowly replaced by wisdom from experiences as one ages. In Chapter 15 of the novel, Jem’s innocence is slowly replaced with an understanding of the social corruption and inequality that exists in Maycomb. For instance, after Atticus’s first encounter with Heck Tate and his men, Jem admits that he is “Scared about Atticus” and how “Somebody might hurt him.”
In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Tom Robinson’s innocence can be proven through Mayella's injuries, Bob’s history of neglect, and discrepancies between Bob and Mayelaa’s testimonies. First, Tom’s disability makes it impossible for him to have caused Mayella’s injuries. For example, Heck and Bob testified that all around her neck and the right side of her face is bruised. Tom could not have done this because his left hand is weak and mangled. Bob on the other hand is left-handed.
In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, innocence is represented in various ways. The society that the characters live in affects their behavior and are ultimately a product of their environment. There are four mockingbirds, they are Mayella Ewell, Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, and Jem Finch. The first mockingbird we have is Jem Finch.
In the novel "To Kill A Mocking Bird" written by Harper Lee in 1960, innocence is displayed and shown through some of the characters including Tom Robinson, Atticus Finch, and Boo Radley. Although these characters were innocent, they are all accused of doing something erroneous and are caused great shame because of it. The novel relates to a mockingbird because just like the bird, they had caused no harm and being punished was preposterous. One of the main characters in the novel, Tom Robinson, was charged with false accusations of raping the daughter of Bob Ewell, Mayella Ewell. Tom hires Atticus to defend him in court, even though Atticus knew he had a strong chance of being defeated, he still took the case for not only Tom, but his family too.
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
Every child lives in a fantasy world, they believe that everyone will always do the right thing with no hesitation. No one can say when a child will begin to mature and lose focus with this world they have allowed to believe is the same one, that everyone else is living in. Everyone goes through that one life altering moment as a child, that makes them realize their innocence has been taken, and it is only then that they are forced to see the world for its true colors. In the novel “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, Jem Finch was once living in a fantasy world, he then was force to lose his innocence by hearing the verdict of Tom Robinson’s trial, and by losing his innocence he gained knowledge that allowed him to understand Society better
Robert South a man known for his powerful preaching in the English church once said “Innocence is like polished armor; it adorns and defends.” In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird Scout Finch lives along with her insightful father Atticus, and brother Jem in the small town of 1930’s Maycomb, Alabama, a town of people stuck in their ways. Atticus, being one of the best lawyers in town takes on a major case, the rape of a white woman supposedly committed by a black man but the people just can’t seem to sense true innocence through their prejudice. Scout, and Jem as they explore their small town know of a child who everyone is terrified of, and jokes about
Atticus leaves the children at home and tells them to stay there, but they sneak out and watch the trial anyway. The kids strongly believe Tom will win, like when Jem says, “He’s not supposed to lean, Reverend, but don’t fret, we’ve won it. Don’t see how any jury would convict on what we’ve heard.” (209) Reverend Sykes explains how a white man has never lost to a black man, but the children are still hopeful.
A Loss of Innocence And A Gain of Maturity Have you ever experienced something that you still think about today? Or have you experienced something that you wish never would have happened? Throughout To Kill A Mockingbird Scout and Jem face many of these things, and at a young age too. During the story and the situations they find themselves in, a loss of innocence is evident.
Everyone goes through a period in their life where they are required to have responsibilities they are not prepared for. During To kill a mockingbird, Jem and Scout are beginning to see what the real world is like through their father’s eyes. The kids are starting to realize what they have to face when they reach the “outside world” such as segregation, racism, and differences. Atticus has to prepare them for what they have to face in the real world. Atticus has received a case to be a defense lawyer for a black man (Tom Robinson) accused of raping a young white woman (Mayella Ewell).
The Innocence Between Boo Radley and Emmett Till By Madison Wells In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Boo Radley is the mysterious character nobody knows anything about.
A Mockingbird’s Innocence In society, everyone is born at the same level. Everyone is born with the same innocence as everyone else. It is the experiences of one’s life that determines their outcome of innocence. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, Miss Maudie, an influential character mentions the meaning and symbolism of mockingbirds. She states that mockingbirds are described as “... [those who] don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us” (Lee 103).
Jem and Scout’s perception on Atticus changes from boredom to amazement when Atticus shoots the mad dog; however, their reactions to this realization differ from Jem’s pride and respect for his father, against Scout’s notion to brag in order to relate with her peers. Jem and Scout’s perception on Atticus is that he is “feeble”, and he “didn’t do anything”, and he is “nearly blind” (Lee, 102). Atticus is different from the other parents as “he never went hunting, he did not play poker or fish or drink or smoke” (103). The only thing Scout and Jem want is that notion to relate with their peers and state something amazing that their father accomplished. Then a conflict occurs, Atticus shoots the mad dog.
With Ignorance Comes Prejudice “Innocence involves an unseeing acceptance of things at face value, an ignorance of the area below the surface” (Collier 84). The short story “Marigolds” follows Lizabeth, a young girl who loses her innocence when she tramples a neighbor’s garden of marigolds. Through Lizabeth’s actions, Collier expresses that ignorance is a common trait of children’s innocence. Only when innocence is abandoned can you open your eyes and understand the truths of society. Similarly, in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee creates a story that follows the loss of innocence of two siblings, Jem and Scout Finch.
Though many people think that emotion helps make rational resolutions, often times it hurts one’s ability to do so. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Scout, the protagonist, and her family discover the need for logic when her father takes an important court case. Sadly, most of the people of Maycomb in the 1930s became corrupt because they do not use rationality in their lives. Throughout the novel, Scout and the reader both learn that one should not let their emotions rule their reason when making decisions. Even before the court case began, Scout learns about the recurring theme of logic being more effective than her feelings when forming opinions of others and in communicating.