Examples Of Protecting The Innocent In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Protecting the innocent is a major theme in To Kill a Mockingbird. It is shown in many ways. Some ways include how Atticus tries to protect Tom Robinson, how Boo Radley saves Jem and Scout, and how Heck Tate tries to protect Boo. Harper Lee may be trying to show how society should protect the innocent through her characters and their actions.

One way that protecting the innocent is shown in To Kill a Mockingbird is how Atticus tries to protect Tom Robinson from getting sent to jail. Atticus tries to use his knowledge of being a lawyer and the system of the courts to protect Tom. This is shown when Atticus says, “...there is one human institution that makes a pauper the equal of a Rockefeller, the stupid man the equal of an Einstein, and the ignorant man the equal of any college president. That institution, gentlemen, is a court.”(Lee 234) Although his way does not work, he believes in the system. This is how Atticus tries to protect the innocent. …show more content…

In Chapter 28 of the novel, Jem and Scout are attacked by Bob Ewell. Boo Radley had been looking out for them and keeps them from being killed. After the attack Scout sees “...someone carrying a load too heavy for him. He was going around the corner. He was carrying Jem. Jem’s arm was dangling crazily in front of him.”(302-03) Even though Scout does not realize it yet, this man is Boo Radley. He is trying to protect two innocent

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