essay on innocence in to kill a mockingbird

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — To Kill a Mockingbird — The Symbol Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee

The Symbol of Innocence in to Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

• Categories: Childhood To Kill a Mockingbird

About this sample

Words: 754 |

Published: Mar 5, 2024

Words: 754 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

The Symbol of Innocence in "To Kill a Mockingbird"

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr. Karlyna PhD

Verified writer

• Expert in: Psychology Literature

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

1 pages / 522 words

4.5 pages / 2035 words

3 pages / 1407 words

3.5 pages / 1498 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on To Kill a Mockingbird

Prejudice is a prevalent theme in Harper Lee's novel "To Kill a Mockingbird," set in the racially divided American South during the 1930s. Through the eyes of the young protagonist, Scout Finch, the novel explores various forms [...]

A rhetorical analysis is a critical examination of a text to understand how the author uses language and devices to persuade, inform, or entertain the audience. It involves analyzing the text's structure, language, and style to [...]

In Harper Lee's classic novel "To Kill a Mockingbird," the story follows young Scout Finch as she navigates the complexities of race, class, and morality in the segregated American South. The novel's themes of justice, empathy, [...]

In Harper Lee's classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, the character of Atticus Finch is one that has captivated readers for generations. His appearance in the novel is not just physical, but also symbolic of many important [...]

As a youthful and curious child, the small town that Scout Finch lived in seemed like the world. Since the book To Kill a Mockingbird was set in the south during the course of the 1930s, where she lived included a lot of [...]

Description of Maycomb, Alabama Introduction to the Finch family: Scout, Jem, and Atticus Mention of Dill Harris and their fascination with Boo Radley Scout starting school The Radley Place and the [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

Experience the Joy of Learning

• Just Great DataBase

"To Kill A Mockingbird": Innocence

In 'To Kill a Mockingbird', innocence is portrayed through the character of Scout. Her childish innocence shown throughout the book projects enormous effect on people and the outcome to various situations. The innocence shown also develops as the book goes on. First, it was the conflict at school where she did not quite understand what was going on. Second, there was the gang encounter where she showed them that there is much more to life. Scout's curiosity portrays her innocence, as she seeks to grasp many aspects of life that she has yet to understand.

Author: Erica Morris

Innocence in to Kill a Mockingbird

This essay about Harper Lee’s “To Vanquish a Mockingjay” explores the theme of innocence within the setting of Maycomb, Alabama. Focused on Scout Finch and her brother Jem, it discusses how their childhood innocence is tested by racial prejudices during the trial of Tom Robinson. Additionally, the character Boo Radley represents lost innocence, while their father, Atticus Finch, embodies moral integrity. The narrative illustrates innocence as an active, hopeful force against injustice, highlighting the importance of empathy and moral courage.

How it works

In Harper Lee’s timeless classic, “To Vanquish a Mockingjay,” the essence of innocence isn’t merely a fleeting notion but a foundational element intricately interwoven into the tapestry of its characters and themes. Journeying through the quaint streets of Maycomb, Alabama, readers are whisked away alongside Scout Finch, a spirited young girl whose innocence serves as both a shield against the harsh realities enveloping her world and a mirror reflecting the intricate complexities of human nature.

Right from the start, Scout and her brother Jem emerge as quintessential embodiments of childhood innocence, their days brimming with the simple delights of games and escapades.

However, as the ominous cloud of racial prejudice looms larger over Maycomb, their innocence becomes a fragile construct, imperiled by the pervasive bigotry that tarnishes the very essence of their community.

The trial of Tom Robinson emerges as a crucible wherein not only Scout and Jem but the entire town undergoes a test of innocence. As they bear witness to the glaring injustices inflicted upon Tom, their illusions of a fair and just society are mercilessly shattered, leaving them to grapple with the stark realities of racism and inequity. Yet, in the face of such adversity, their innocence evolves into a beacon of hope, a steadfast reminder of the innate goodness residing within each individual despite the shadows encroaching upon them.

Yet, it’s not solely the innocence of children that takes center stage in “To Vanquish a Mockingjay.” The enigmatic presence of Boo Radley serves as a poignant emblem of lost innocence, a recluse whose existence has been marred by the callous whispers and speculations of the townsfolk. Through Scout’s perceptive gaze, Boo undergoes a metamorphosis from a mysterious specter into a figure of quiet dignity and compassion, underscoring the notion that innocence can often be found in the most unexpected of corners.

At the heart of the narrative beats the unwavering moral compass of Atticus Finch, whose unwavering dedication to justice and empathy serves as a guiding beacon for Scout and Jem. His unwavering resolve to defend Tom Robinson, notwithstanding the personal and professional risks at stake, stands as a testament to his belief in the inherent innocence and dignity of every individual, irrespective of race or societal status.

In “To Vanquish a Mockingjay,” innocence emerges not as a passive state but as an active force, a radiant beacon of hope that illuminates even the darkest of hours. Through the trials and tribulations faced by Scout, Jem, and Atticus, Harper Lee imparts a poignant reminder of the enduring potency of empathy, compassion, and moral fortitude in the face of prejudice and injustice. In a world where innocence is often mistaken for naivety, “To Vanquish a Mockingjay” stands tall as a powerful testament to the indomitable resilience of the human spirit and the transformative potency of empathy and understanding.

Cite this page

Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird. (2024, May 01). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/innocence-in-to-kill-a-mockingbird/

"Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird." PapersOwl.com , 1 May 2024, https://papersowl.com/examples/innocence-in-to-kill-a-mockingbird/

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/innocence-in-to-kill-a-mockingbird/ [Accessed: 8 Jun. 2024]

"Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird." PapersOwl.com, May 01, 2024. Accessed June 8, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/innocence-in-to-kill-a-mockingbird/

"Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird," PapersOwl.com , 01-May-2024. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/innocence-in-to-kill-a-mockingbird/. [Accessed: 8-Jun-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/innocence-in-to-kill-a-mockingbird/ [Accessed: 8-Jun-2024]

Don't let plagiarism ruin your grade

Hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs.

Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+!

Please check your inbox.

You can order an original essay written according to your instructions.

Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide

1. Tell Us Your Requirements

2. Pick your perfect writer

3. Get Your Paper and Pay

Hi! I'm Amy, your personal assistant!

Don't know where to start? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert.

short deadlines

100% Plagiarism-Free

Certified writers

Themes and Analysis

To kill a mockingbird, by harper lee.

The theme of race and injustice is a powerful element of 'To Kill A Mockingbird' by Harper Lee that makes the novel a great sensation.

Article written by Onyekachi Osuji

B.A. in Public Administration and certified in Creative Writing (Fiction and Non-Fiction)

Race is the most prominent theme in To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. However, Lee also explores other important themes like innocence, reputation, and parenting in the novel. The novel is written in the first-person narrative, but Lee’s genius shows in how she balances the limited perspective of the first-person narrator and the need to give readers a complete picture of events.

Race is a major theme in To Kill A Mockingbird . We see racial inequality and injustice in the Depression-Era South throughout the novel . The most striking evidence of racial injustice is the unfair accusation of rape on Tom Robinson—Mayella Ewell and her father Bob contrive to accuse Tom of rape because they cannot stand it being known by the public that Mayella who is white tried to seduce a black man. Then we see the racism of the people in the mob that attempt to lynch Tom Robinson before his trial and ultimately, in the jury who pronounce him guilty despite strong evidence and a brilliant argument by Atticus Finch in his defense.

Aside the prominent case of racism against Tom Robinson, we also see other instances of racism in the social structure of the South at the time. The blacks live in separate neighborhoods from the whites, most of the black people are illiterate because there are no schools for them, and the career options available to the blacks are limited to domestic servants, field hands, and garbage collectors.

Another subtle indication of racism is Aunt Alexandra’s outrage that Scout lacks a female influence in her life despite knowing that Calpurnia is a female and has been in Scout’s life since birth. Calpurnia’s feminine influence on Scout counts as nothing to Aunt Alexandra because Calpurnia is a black woman and Scout a white girl.

To Kill A Mockingbird addresses the interplay between what the public perceives a person to be and what a person truly is. In the novel, we see that sometimes, people are truly what their reputation says they are, while some other people are different from what they are reputed to be.

Atticus Finch is a man whose reputation is consistent with his true personality. He is known across town as a ”n****r lover” which he truly is, and every other aspect of his character is public knowledge. In Maudie Atkinson’s words: ”Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public streets.”

For some other characters, their reputation is a misrepresentation of their personality. For instance, Boo Radley’s reputation as a monster is wrong because, in truth, he is a kind young man who is just shy and keeps to himself. Another instance is Mr Dolphus Raymond’s reputation as a drunkard, which is false as he is a sober man who is a happy and loving father and husband to his colored wife and children. He keeps up that reputation for giving society something to cling to as a reason to pity him while they condemn his decisions.

Childlike Innocence

Childlike innocence is a powerful theme in To Kill A Mockingbird. Childlike innocence exposes the folly of racial and class prejudice exhibited by adults. And the irony is that the adults are the ones who should know better but end up being the ignorant ones. Scout as a child does not see any reason to discriminate against people because of gender and class and she becomes saddened by the realization that the society in which she lives has such prejudicial sentiments.

We also see how the evil ways of adults can threaten and corrupt childlike innocence. For instance, Aunt Alexandra’s grandson Francis, learns racial slurs against blacks from his conventionally southern white grandparents.

At the end of the day, Scout’s experiences of hatred and racial prejudice in her hometown make her wise beyond her age but she still maintains her childhood innocence of regarding people as equal and protecting the helpless.

Gender is a social construct that comes with expectations and limitations in the South. There are expectations of how a girl ought to dress, and act, and standards of propriety for ladies.

Scout, a girl, dresses, and plays like a boy. Early in their childhood, her being a girl makes no difference to her brother Jem and friend Dill, but as they grow up, they begin to exclude her from their play and from their secrets for the reason that she is a girl.

Aunt Alexandra always disapproves of Scout for being a tomboy and insists that Scout ought to wear dresses and play with dolls with is a conventionally feminine way for a girl to behave.

Scout meets the white ladies of the County when her aunt Alexandra hosts them in their home and the hypocrisy of their speech and manners makes her feel more like an outsider to people of her own gender.

Injustice and Unfairness

In To Kill A Mockingbird, we see that there is injustice and unfairness in the world and that even the law sometimes cannot protect the innocent from injustice.

Tom Robinson is pronounced guilty and killed violently despite being an innocent good man. It shows that good does not always prevail over evil and that the cruelty of the world sometimes succeeds in destroying good harmless people.

Analysis of Key Moments

• Two siblings, Scout and Jem live in a nice neighborhood with their widowed father Atticus Finch. The siblings only play with each other as there are no other children in the neighborhood to play with until a boy named Dill visits one summer and they become friends.
• There is a house in the neighborhood that is always shut and never receives visitors. The occupants of the house are the Radleys and their son Boo Radley is never seen outside which makes children formulate many legends about him being a monster.
• The children devise various plots to see Boo Radley but never succeed.
• Atticus Finch’s sister Alexandra comes to live with them because she does not approve of Atticus’s unconventional parenting style
• Atticus is assigned to defend a crippled black man called Tom Robinson who is accused of raping a white young lady called Mayella Ewell.
• Atticus goes to guard the accused Tom Robinson in his cell following rumors that a mob is trying to lynch him.
• Scout, Jem, and Dill surreptitiously follow Atticus to the cell.
• When the lynching mob arrives, Scout unwittingly talks them out of their intention to lynch Tom Robinson.
• Tom Robinson goes to trial but is pronounced guilty by the jury despite Atticus Finch’s strong argument and defense.
•  Atticus promises Tom that they will appeal the decision of the court. But before that, Tom is killed while trying to escape from prison.
•  Bob Ewell, the father of the allegedly raped Mayella Ewell, who felt Atticus Finch humiliated him in court, attacks Jem and Scout on their way back from a Halloween party. Boo Radley rescues them from the attack and the children’s perception of him changes from phantom to hero.

Style, Tone, and Figurative Language

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is told in the first-person narration. The story is a flashback to childhood days of the past and a narration of those events in retrospect . The current age of the narrator is not specified but we know that the narrator is older and has gained more wisdom with age as she narrates the events.

Even though there are some complex words in the novel, the diction is generally simple. The writing style is not flowery or exaggeratedly artistic, the writing is direct and conversational.

The tone of the narrator is nostalgic and playful at the beginning but becomes progressively melancholic as she narrates grave events.

Sarcasm and euphemism are also prominent figures of speech used in the novel. For instance, on page 79, Harper Lee simplifies Aunt Alexandra’s sexual copulation with her husband, the conception and birth of her child as: ” Long ago, in a burst of friendliness, Aunty and Uncle Jimmy produced a son called Henry.” Read more quotes from To Kill a Mockingbird here .

Foreshadowing is a notable literary device deployed in the story. For instance, the climactic event of Scout and Jem’s attack is foreshadowed by the statement ”And thus began our longest walk together.”

Analysis of Symbols

The mockingbird.

The Mockingbird is a symbol of goodness and innocence that should be allowed to exist and thrive but is unfortunately preyed upon and destroyed by the wickedness and injustice in the world. The character Tom Robinson is a mockingbird—an innocent man who works hard, takes care of his family, does not make any trouble, and renders assistance to those in need of it without asking for anything in return. But unfortunately, the unjust society in which he lives destroys him with a false rape allegation and a violent death.

Boo Radley is another mockingbird whose personality is subdued by his family’s cruelty.

The Mockingbird gives the novel its title as Atticus teaches his children that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird.

The Rabid Dog

This symbolizes the unpleasant reality which looms in the South but that the average people would rather not confront. The rabid dog poses a danger to all but none of the people in the neighborhood take any decisive action to confront it, they rather retire indoors and shut their doors. Even the sheriff stalls and manages to place the task of killing the dog on Atticus Finch.

The rabid dog is just as unpleasant and as dangerous as racism but even the good people in Maycomb County are afraid to confront it and the fight is and so the responsibility is always left on Atticus Finch’s shoulders.

The Refuse Dump

The refuse dump is the abode of the Ewells. Living in the refuse dump symbolizes that the Ewells are trash both literally and figuratively.

What is the main message in To Kill A Mockingbird ?

The main message in To Kill A Mockingbird is that it is wrong to prey on the innocent and that racial prejudice is cruel and wrong.

Who is the narrator in To Kill A Mockingbird ?

The narrator of To Kill A Mockingbird is a girl called Scout. Her full name is Jean Louise Finch and narrates the story as she recalls the events that took place during her childhood. She is a white girl from a relatively wealthy home. She is playful, stubborn, and tomboyish and begins to realize that she lives in a racially prejudiced society as she comes of age.

Why is it a sin to kill a mockingbird?

The answer to this is given by Miss Maudie Atkinson when she explains to Scout that the only thing mockingbirds do is make music for others to enjoy, they do not destroy people’s crops, do not nest in corncribs, and so it is a kill to kill such a creature that does nothing but bring pleasantness to others.

Is To Kill A Mockingbird based on a true story?

No, To Kill A Mockingbird is not based on a true story, it is fictional.

Join Our Community for Free!

Exclusive to Members

Create Your Personal Profile

Engage in Forums

Join or Create Groups

Save your favorites, beta access.

About Onyekachi Osuji

Onyekachi was already an adult when she discovered the rich artistry in the storytelling craft of her people—the native Igbo tribe of Africa. This connection to her roots has inspired her to become a Literature enthusiast with an interest in the stories of Igbo origin and books from writers of diverse backgrounds. She writes stories of her own and works on Literary Analysis in various genres.

About the Book

Discover literature, enjoy exclusive perks, and connect with others just like yourself!

Start the Conversation. Join the Chat.

There was a problem reporting this post.

Block Member?

Please confirm you want to block this member.

You will no longer be able to:

• See blocked member's posts
• Mention this member in posts
• Invite this member to groups

Please allow a few minutes for this process to complete.

Theme Of Childhood Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

In this essay, I'm going to talk about the theme of childhood innocence throughout the novel of TKAM by Harper Lee. Looking at the narrator, Scout Finch who is a young white girl who lives in Maycomb, Alabama during The Depression, and we follow her throughout the book as she begins to understand the prejudice and extreme racism towards people of colour.

In the beginning of the novel, Scout, Jem and Dill have a simple idea of what is good and what is bad and are naive about the world they live in. However, by the end, they have lost all of their childhood innocence and have a better understanding of how the world is. This is shown clearly thanks to the narrator Scout who is six when we meet her and read the novel in the perspective of, but as she gets older and the novel progresses she loses her childhood Innocence.

Scout, Jem and Dill are innocent in the beginning of the play. This is shown by how they imagine Boo Radley to look like, with Scout and Jem saying “Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall, judging from his tracks; he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch...what teeth he had were yellow and rotten” These descriptions seem to us as readers as childish, but it also proves the point of how the children are very innocent because they are only imagining which is what a child does without knowing the truth about him.

Another example of their childhood innocence is shown when Scout and Jem show up at the jailhouse and casually walk towards the lynching mob, who were intending  on killing Tom Robinson and Scout begins talking to one of the mobs members : Mr Cunningham saying “Hey, Mr. Cunningham.”  and she begins to talk about his entailment and also says "Tell him hey for me, won't you?". By casually having a conversation it shows us her innocence as she does not realize that there is tension in the air or that the stake of this moment is high, which in this case was the life of an innocent man.

However, the children lose their childhood innocence once the jury reads the verdict of the trial, stating that Tom is found guilty. Everyone, especially Jem who is affected the most, starts crying and denying the results as he believed that the verdict would be fair, saying that “You can't just convict a man on evidence like that-you just can't”. During the trial the children find Mr Raymond who is an outsider because of his relationship with a black woman as a white man. He tells Jem, Scout and Dill that what is happening to Tom is horrible, but it will not be their last time witnessing such injustices as murdering black members of the Maycomb community happens all the time because of the deeply rooted racism and prejudice and that at some point they will get used to the injustices which happen around them, and they will just obey the rules of society (for white men/women).

Related Samples

• Essay on Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
• Addie Bundren in Faulker's "As I Lay Dying" Essay Sample
• Windows In The House On Mango Street
• Racism In To Kill A Mockingbird Analysis Essay Example
• The Secret History Character Analysis Essay Example
• The Grand Escape by Neal Bascomb Book Analysis
• The Concept of Integrity in Speak (Essay Example)
• The Effects of Isolation: Main Theme of Frankenstein
• Comparing and Contrasting Two Interpretations Of The Opening Scene Of A Midsummer Night's Dream
• Theme of Inhumanity in “Night”' by Elie Wiesel (Essay Example)

Didn't find the perfect sample?

You can order a custom paper by our expert writers

The Importance of Scout’s Innocence in To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, is a classic novel that tells the story of a young girl named Scout Finch who grows up in the small Southern town of Maycomb, Alabama during the 1930s. The novel is widely regarded as a masterpiece of American literature, and Scout is one of the most memorable characters in the book.

Scout’s Innocence

Innocence is defined as the lack of knowledge or understanding of something. Scout’s innocence is evident from the beginning of the novel . As a child, she does not understand the concepts of racism and prejudice that exist in Maycomb. She sees the world as a place where everyone is equal and fair. Scout’s innocence is also shown in her interactions with people. She is not judgmental and sees the good in everyone, regardless of their social status or race.

The Role of Innocence in To Kill a Mockingbird

Innocence plays an important role in the novel. It is a contrast to the injustice and prejudice that exists in Maycomb. Through Scout’s eyes, readers can see the harsh reality of the world that surrounds her. Innocence is also used as a tool for social commentary. By showing how the children of Maycomb view the world, the author is able to make a powerful statement about the state of society in the 1930s.

Innocence is also a way to explore themes of coming-of-age and growth. Throughout the novel, Scout grows and matures, shedding her innocence as she learns more about the world around her. Her innocence is a valuable tool in this process, as it allows her to see things from a different perspective and learn important life lessons.

The Impact of Scout’s Innocence on the Story

Scout’s innocence has a significant impact on the story of To Kill a Mockingbird. It allows her to grow and develop throughout the novel. As she learns more about the world, she becomes more aware of the injustices and prejudices that exist in Maycomb. Her growth and development are important to the overall theme of the novel, as it shows that even a young child can learn and grow in a harsh and unjust world.

Scout’s innocence also has an impact on the trial of Tom Robinson. Her lack of understanding of racism and prejudice allows her to see the trial for what it really is – a miscarriage of justice. Her innocence is a powerful tool in the novel, as it allows her to stand up for what is right, even in the face of adversity.

Finally, Scout’s innocence has an impact on the character of Atticus Finch. Through Scout’s eyes, readers see Atticus as a kind, caring, and just man. Her innocence allows her to see the best in people and to understand the true character of those around her.

Final Remarks

In conclusion, Scout’s innocence is an important aspect of To Kill a Mockingbird. It is a contrast to the injustice and prejudice that exists in Maycomb and a tool for social commentary. Scout’s growth and development throughout the novel are a testament to the power of innocence, and her impact on the story is significant. Through Scout’s eyes, readers are able to see the world in a different light and to understand the true character of those around them. Scout’s innocence is a valuable tool in this process, and it is an important aspect of To Kill a Mockingbird that should not be overlooked.

Needs help with similar assignment?

We are available 24x7 to deliver the best services and assignment ready within 3-4 hours? Order a custom-written, plagiarism-free paper

We provide reliable and top-quality writing services with a great balance of affordability and professionalism with all types of academic papers.

Quick Links

• College Admission Essay Writing Services FAQ
• Nursing Case Studies Writing Services
• Buy Custom Research Papers
• Best Nursing Writing Services
• Literary Analysis Essay Writers
• Nursing Paper Writers for Hire
• Professional Paper Writers
• Cheapest Essay Writing Services
• Write My Essay for Me
• The Best Research Paper Writing Services
• Admission Essay Writing Services!
• Shakespeare Essay Writing Services!
• Rewriting Services
• Term Paper Writing Service

Useful Resources

Dissertation Writing Services

Essay Writer For Hire

Free Essay Maker

How to Study

Essay Service Examples Life Growing Up

Innocence And Growing Up In The Novel ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’

• Proper editing and formatting
• Free revision, title page, and bibliography
• Flexible prices and money-back guarantee

Our writers will provide you with an essay sample written from scratch: any topic, any deadline, any instructions.

Cite this paper

Related essay topics.

Get your paper done in as fast as 3 hours, 24/7.

Related articles

Most popular essays

• About Myself
• Single Parenting

Most people don’t know I was raised by a single parent, - a single father. Growing up without a...

• Transgender

The film, “Growing Up Trans”, identifies the internal battle of discovering gender identity. It...

• Personal Experience
• Personal Goals

Kenneth Slessor's suite of poetry enhances the complexities of the human experience and he invites...

• To Kill a Mockingbird

The novel ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ written by Harper Lee, accurately displays the racial injustices...

• Foster Care

The foster system is in place to aid children whose parents or families cannot take care of them,...

• Personal Growth and Development

This report looks at Reflective practice along with Personal and Professional development with a...

• Catcher in The Rye
• Literary Criticism

As many know it is a hard transition to go from being an innocent child to a teenager who is...

• Native American

According to Carol Geddes article, “Growing up Native”, there were and still are many hardships...

• Developmental Psychology

Developmental psychology is the study of how and why humans change throughout their life (Hurlock,...

Join our 150k of happy users

• Get original paper written according to your instructions
• Save time for what matters most

Fair Use Policy

EduBirdie considers academic integrity to be the essential part of the learning process and does not support any violation of the academic standards. Should you have any questions regarding our Fair Use Policy or become aware of any violations, please do not hesitate to contact us via [email protected].

We are here 24/7 to write your paper in as fast as 3 hours.

Provide your email, and we'll send you this sample!

By providing your email, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy .

Say goodbye to copy-pasting!

Get custom-crafted papers for you.

Enter your email, and we'll promptly send you the full essay. No need to copy piece by piece. It's in your inbox!

• Social Sciences

Loss of Innocence in "To Kill a Mockingbird"

• Author: Jennifer Wilber

Gregory Peck played Atticus Finch and Brock Peters played Tom Robinson in the 1962 film adaptation of "To Kill a Mockingbird."

Wikimedia Commons

Scout’s Experiences of Loss of Innocence

Throughout Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird , Scout learns many lessons from the adults in her life that cause her to experience losses of innocence to varying degrees.

Her father, Atticus Finch, is the person to whom she looks up the most, so she learns many life lessons from him. Early in the novel, she also learns quite a bit about how the adult world works from her teacher, Miss Caroline. Boo Radley also plays a central role in teaching Scout valuable lessons in the novel.

First-edition cover of "To Kill a Mockingbird" (1960) by the American author Harper Lee.

Miss Caroline

When Scout first starts school, she is eager to learn. When her teacher, Miss Caroline, calls on her to read the alphabet written on the board, Miss Caroline becomes upset to learn the Scout already knows how to read. She tells Scout not to let her father teach her to read anymore because it’s “best to begin reading with a fresh mind (23).” Miss Caroline is proud of her new teaching methods and doesn’t want them challenged. She likely feels threatened by Scout’s abilities. This confuses Scout because she can’t understand how excelling at reading could possibly be wrong. This experience is one of her first encounters with an adult who thinks that their ways are the only correct ways and this represents an early loss of innocence in Scout’s life.

Atticus Finch

Scout learns many valuable lessons from her father throughout the novel. Atticus tries to teach his children about fairness in a world that rarely seems fair. Though the rest of the community has racist attitudes toward African Americans, Atticus teaches Scout and Jem to treat all people with respect. As a result, Scout has a great relationship with their African American housekeeper, Calpurnia, and sees her as a mother figure. Even when the rest of the town wanted the black man Tom Robinson killed for the alleged rape of Mayella Ewell, a white woman, Atticus took his case and did his best to defend him. Ultimately, the jury found him guilty, despite Atticus’s seemingly bulletproof defense. This resulted in a major loss of innocence for Scout when she saw firsthand that life isn’t fair and sometimes innocent people can lose. This also reinforced how awful and unfair the racist beliefs of the community really were.

Discovering the true nature of Arthur “Boo” Radley also represents a loss of innocence for Scout. Throughout the novel, Scout and Jem thought of Boo Radley as a scary, almost mythical, figure. Because they had never seen him, they let their imaginations run wild with every rumor they heard and thought he was a horrible and dangerous person. When they finally do get to know him, it is when he saves their lives. Scout and Jem find out that it was he who had been leaving them gifts inside the tree the whole time. The person they thought to be evil and dangerous turned out to be someone they could trust completely. This realization that people aren’t always what they first appear to be was a valuable lesson and represented a loss of innocence, but a positive one.

Gregory Peck (left) & James Anderson in (1962) film trailer

Positive and Negative Losses of Innocence

Throughout the novel, Scout learns many life lessons from the adults around her as she matures. Through several losses of innocence, she gains new perspectives on how the world works. Some of her experiences of loss of innocence were negative, such as when she learns that innocent people can still lose everything after Tom Robinson’s trial, but other losses of innocence had a positive impact on her worldview, such as when she got to know Boo Radley for who he really was. Through these experiences, Scout matured into a young woman with a good heart and a sense of fairness with the help of her father and the other adults in her life.

Recommended

Wellington House: Britain's WW1 Propaganda Bureau

Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird . New York: Warner, 1982. Print.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2017 Jennifer Wilber

refilwe on May 23, 2020:

i need help with writing my essay

Jennifer Wilber (author) from Cleveland, Ohio on March 11, 2019:

I'm not sure what you mean.

LsASfvvF on March 10, 2019:

Hello. Can you please find connections to real life?

mactavers on December 21, 2017:

Good observations on this great American novel.

Loss of Innocence in "Sophie's Choice" by William Styron

An Anti-Hero's Loss of Innocence: "Rule of the Bone"

The Effects of Alcoholism on Marriage in "The Glass Castle" by Jeanette Walls

"To Kill a Kingdom": Summary and Book Review

6 YA Fantasy Novels With Bisexual Protagonists

An Analysis, Critique, and Comparison of "Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse and "Lilith: A Metamorphosis" by Dagmar Nick

• A Beautiful Noise
• & Juliet
• An Enemy of the People
• Appropriate
• A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical
• Back to the Future: The Musical
• Ben Platt: Live at the Palace
• The Book of Mormon
• Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
• Death Becomes Her
• The Great Gatsby
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
• The Heart of Rock and Roll
• Hell's Kitchen
• The Hills Of California
• The Lion King
• Maybe Happy Ending
• Merrily We Roll Along
• MJ The Musical
• Mother Play
• Moulin Rouge! The Musical
• The Notebook
• Once Upon a Mattress
• The Outsiders
• Romeo + Juliet
• The Roommate
• Stereophonic
• Sunset Boulevard
• Uncle Vanya
• Water for Elephants
• The Who's Tommy
• A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical
• Beetlejuice
• Girl From The North Country
• Kimberly Akimbo
• The Kite Runner
• Les Misérables
• Mrs. Doubtfire
• Some Like it Hot
• Tina - The Tina Turner Musical

To Kill a Mockingbird

Please wait...

The Broadway League’s official on-line headquarters for Broadway information in NYC and across North America.

• List of Shows
• Ticket Guide
• Performance Times
• Search by Location
• International Shows
• London, West End Shows
• London, West End Information

On Tour | Play

Currently playing at, upcoming cities.

All performance dates and information subject to change.

For a complete schedule of upcoming events, or for box office hours and tickets by phone options, visit the theatre’s website .

Advertisement

Supported by

Businessman Tells Jury He Bribed Senator Menendez With a Mercedes-Benz

Jose Uribe said he had provided the car to Senator Robert Menendez’s future wife in exchange for gaining the senator’s “power and influence.”

• Share full article

By Tracey Tully and Benjamin Weiser

Until recently, Jose Uribe was an obscure New Jersey businessman who had been caught up in what prosecutors say was a sprawling and lucrative bribery scheme involving Senator Robert Menendez and others.

But after Mr. Uribe pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with the authorities, he vaulted into a more prominent position: star government witness.

On Friday, minutes after taking the witness stand in Manhattan federal court, Mr. Uribe said he had bribed Mr. Menendez. He said he had given the senator’s wife, Nadine Menendez, a Mercedes-Benz in exchange for gaining “the power and influence” of the senator.

“When you bribed Robert Menendez, did you do that alone or with other people?” Lara Pomerantz, a prosecutor, asked.

“With other people,” he responded.

Mr. Uribe, 57, said he had complained to Wael Hana, a longtime friend, about insurance fraud investigations in New Jersey that implicated Mr. Uribe’s businesses and family members.

Mr. Hana, who founded a company that prosecutors say was being used to funnel bribes to the senator and his wife, told him that — for a price — he had “a way to make these things go away.”

Who Are Key Players in the Menendez Case?

Senator Robert Menendez, Democrat of New Jersey, and his wife, Nadine Menendez, are accused of taking part in a wide-ranging, international bribery scheme that lasted five years. Take a closer look at central figures related to the case.

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .