To Kill A Mockingbird Innocence Theme Essay

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Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird is told in the point of view of a 6 year old child. Evidently, innocence and maturity are ongoing themes throughout her telling of the novel. In many ways, the theme of maturity and innocence is developed and demonstrated throughout the novel with Jem, Scout(Tom Robinson) and Boo Radley.
To begin, in the early stages of the book we meet Mrs Dubose, who inspires rage and fear just through the power of her words. As a matter of fact, Jem and Scout describe her as “pure hell”. Mrs Dubose was old, judgemental and rude and the children do not like her at all. For instance, when Jem ruins her precious camellias after she insulted him and his family, Scout considers Mrs. Dubose a distressing, barely human force that takes over their afternoons. It is not until after they have been stuck inside with her for a couple of weeks that they find out that she is in fact a very brave and courageous woman. Atticus helps the children see things from Mrs Dubose’s perspective, helping them mature. They lose some of the childish innocence that allowed them to take Mrs Dubose in only at face value. Jem’s whole experience with the supposedly evil Mrs Dubose allowed him to grow as a person.
Furthermore, Tom Robinson is not only innocent in the trial, but as a person living in …show more content…

Boo is later found out to be nothing more than what he really is; an innocent man who is afraid of facing the evils of society. For example, he enjoyed playing with Jem and Scout, which is proved early in the book when he leaves gums and two pieces of indian head coins in the oak tree. Boo also protected Jem and Scout when the time came. Although he was afraid, he defended Scout and Jem, and made sure they got home safe. Boo Radley represents a misjudged innocent man in Harper Lee’s To Kill A

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