Examples Of Loss Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

The lost of a child’s innocence is like taking training wheels off a bike. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the lost of innocence is exemplified through a prejudice society. Life experiences leads to the loss of innocence as you are exposed to the real world. At such a young age, Scout knew all of the flaws of Maycomb’s society. Scout is let in on racial inequality, “‘A nigger-lover. I ain;t very sure what it means, but the way Francis sad it- tell you one thing right now Uncle Jack, I’ll be -- I swear before God if I’ll sit there and let him say somethin’ about Atticus’” (Lee 86). Scout was exposed to racial slurs at a young age. Though she does not know what a nigger is, she knows it is something bad. No child should experience racial name calling at that age, but it was something they could not

Atticus tells Jem a life lesson, “‘in our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man;s the white man always wins. They’re ugly, but those are the facts of life’”(Lee 220). Jem is older than Scout, so he has seen more inequality within the society. Jem understands better than scout, as she is still learning. Atticus like to have adult talks with his kids so they have a well understanding of life. Next, Jem felt torn inside after he realizes the fault of injustice and prejudice within. Jem has questions, “‘How could they do it, how could they?’ ‘I don't know,but they did it. They’ve done it before and they did it tonight and they’ll do it again and when they do it - seems that only children weep. Goodnight’” (Lee 212-213). Just like Scout and Dill, Jem us shocked that Atticus lost the case. He is puzzled ion how Tom was found guilt after the evidence that Atticus presented. Jem now recognizes the inequality within society as well as the imperfections. Evidently scout and Jem have a father that is guiding them on the right path and is helping them