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To Kill A Mockingbird Innocence Quotes

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The Contrasts in Loss of Innocence In society, one can lose their innocence either in a heartbeat or over an extended period of time. William Golding’s novel Lord of the Flies, takes place in the 1950s during the Second World War with a group of boys stranded on an island with no signs of civilization. Golding explores the idea of losing innocence through one of the characters, Roger. Harper Lee explores the same concept in To Kill a Mockingbird through the main characters Jem and Scout. The novel is set in Alabama around the 1930s. Atticus Finch is Scout and Jem’s dad, who is also a lawyer and is working on a case with Tom Robinson, an African American man who is accused of rape. The novel follows the experiences of Jem and Scout as they learn …show more content…

One instance shortly before Scout and Jem hear the final verdict of the trial, when Jem talks to a man named Reverend and Jem says “‘He’s not supposed to lean, Reverend, but don’t fret, we’ve won it,”’he said wisely. “‘Don’t see how any jury could convict on what we heard—’”(Lee 279). Jem provides himself and Scout with reassurance that Tom isn’t guilty and will win the case. Lee emphasizes the fact that in this quote Jem and Scout have not been exposed to racism and injustice towards people of color. Another important moment in the book occurs shortly after the Tom Robinson trial, with the guilty verdict being given, Jem’s emotions reach a tipping point, and Lee states, “It was Jem’s turn to cry. His face was streaked with angry tears as we made our way through the cheerful crowd. It ain’t right,” (Lee 284). This crucial moment signifies the abrupt loss of innocence for Jem and Scout as they witness the blatant discrimination towards Tom Robinson. This quote from Jem also provides insight into his mind as he fights with the emotions of injustice and …show more content…

Golding writes, “Roger with a sense of delirious abandonment leaned all his weight on the lever”(Golding 180). When Roger kills Piggy by releasing the boulder, Golding demonstrates Roger losing his innocence through the conscious decision he is making. Earlier he was on the verge of throwing rocks at Henry and hurting him, but something in his mind told him not to, but releasing the boulder and killing Piggy is a decision he made on his own. On the other hand, Scout and Jem lose their innocence directly after the Tom Robinson verdict, after observing firsthand the racism towards Tom. In the last chapter of the book, as Scout is walking home, Scout states, “‘As I made my way home I felt very old... As I made my way home, I thought Jem and I would get grown but there wasn't much else for us to learn...’” (Lee 373-374). In this quote Scout is self-reflecting on how she has been emotionally drained and tested through the past few days. Even though Scout and Jem are eager to learn, Scout realizes that by losing her innocence, there is a harsh reality of society that she isn’t supposed to see at her

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