...Loss of Innocence in To Kill a Mockingbird Children are born innately innocent and optimistic of the world around them. As they age they often come to recognize the injustice and corruption that occurs day to day. “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee is a novel that shows the discrimination, social inequality and preconceived opinions of others. A key theme is the Loss of Innocence. Jean Louis Finch “Scout” is the narrator and protagonist of the story. The story is told through the eyes of Scout as an adult however takes place when she's aged six to nine. At the beginning of the novel Scout see’s the world from this childhood perspective because she has not yet seen the evil and prejudice in Maycomb as the novel progresses she learns that the world is not as it seems. As a child Scout has always believed that everyone is good and kind and everyone is good and kind to one another although she has grown to realize that this is untrue. Scouts loss of innocence is partly due to her teacher Miss Caroline Fisher and attending school. (“I never looked forward more to anything more in my life” (Lee 20), she has been nothing but excited for school but once she finally enrols she has realized that she's nothing but disappointed. Miss Caroline is not pleased that Scout is above her level in reading and insists that her father Atticus stops teaching her. "You tell him I'll take over from here and try to undo the damage— (Lee 23) She is very poor with the students and this upsets Scout...
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...Loss of Innocence (A true story, to help others) By: L. Shields Many times, I wondered why I was the way I was with men and I decided to write this story to help others who may think they are alone. I was very young when my life began to change with men. At the age of four, my male baby sitter did something that would change my life forever. He raped me and touched me in a way that an “adult” should never touch a child. He took something away from me, that night. And, when my parents did nothing that was even worse than what he had done. I didn’t know at that age why my parents, who were supposed to protect me, did nothing. I learned as an adult, that the boy’s father had passed away and that is why my parents didn’t do anything. Even though, that was not a good reason and they should have protected me, I have forgiven my babysitter. About a year or so later, my father started to do things to me that no father should ever do. He molested me and once again took more away from me. This time, I thought it was something that I’d done to deserve this sort of treatment from him. He said, “You’re my special little girl.” Of course to a young girl, that sends all type of mixed signals and causes her to feel different about her daddy. This sort of thing went on until I was 10 years old; every night that my father would come into my room, he would do the same thing. All this time, no one knew about it. I didn’t know it at the time, but he was also doing the same to...
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...Throughout the novel The Outsiders, Ponyboy Curtis probably changes more throughout the course of the Outsiders than any other character. Ponyboy’s innocence plays a major part of the novel. In the course of the novel Ponyboy matures and feels many different types of feelings in certain events. One example of this is when Johnny and him saved the kids from the burning church and were part heroes part criminals. In this example Ponyboy’s actions describe how he is maturing and how he is witnessing important events unfold in the book. Towards the start of the Outsiders Ponyboy is an intelligent young teen, who is part of the track team. Although, he lacks the perspective to understand everyone around him. This means he can only see his part of the story and fails to see why others act the way they do. One example of this is how Darry, Ponyboy’s older brother, is always treating him bad. Ponyboy is constantly always thinking about how Darry bully’s him and is mean to him for no reason. Also,...
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...Memory is the faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information. An example used to describe memory in this video is about a girl who is exhausted and rushing to get home from work. During her drive home, the driver of a fruit truck was pushed down by a shadow figure who ran off with a crate of bananas. Bernice, the girl who saw while stopped at a stop sign, called the police and described this man; a few days later, she was asked to come back to the police station to identify him. At his trial, a memory expert was called to the stand and helped him prove his innocence. Humans have different types of memory such as implicit memory, which is how to walk or ride a bike, and explicit memories, which is based off of personal experiences...
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...He is also convinced that, during the trial, there will be enough evidence to prove Justine's innocence. So Frankenstein takes the decision to keep the secret and relies on the others. Then, when Justine is designated as the murderer, Frankenstein feels bad about the situation, but still doesn't say anything. In chapter 8, Victor sais : ''A thousand time rather would I have confessed myself guilty of the crime ascribed to Justine ; but I was absent when it was committed, and such a decleration would have been considered as the ravings of a madman, and would not have excultpated her who suffered through me''. Through this statement, Victor affirms he would have confessed himself guilty but he is defending himself by saying that he was absent during the events and that people would take him for crazy if he told the truth. But Victor had several...
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...Loss of Innocence Ones loss of innocence can be over time or lost by an abrupt choice. In the two books Fahrenheit 451 and Catcher in the Rye both characters lose their innocence over time by the choices they make. Guy Montag the main character in F451 loses his innocence over time by collecting books without even knowing which is against the system he lives in. Holden Caulfield also loses his innocence over time by growing up into an adult and tries to save children’s innocence throughout the book. Even though ones loss of innocence can be made by an abrupt choice, ones loss of innocence in these two books is a gradual experience. The concept of innocence is one that is applied to childhood. Children, for example, are innocent because they have not been tainted by the idea that the world is not as it seems to be. But, as children grow up and mature fully into adults, the loss of this pure quality of innocence begins to be noticed in a person’s life. As this awareness comes forth, it shows that life is not always easy, it is complicated and there will be tough moral decisions that have to be made. Holden Caulfield the main character of Catcher in the Rye wants to preserve innocence so he dedicates his life to protecting childhood innocence. In Chapter two Mr. Spencer tells Holden, “Life is game that one plays according to the rules”. Holden does not believe that life is a game he believes that life is dictated by adults. These adults are phony and cruel and he does not...
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..."Rape is a more heinous crime than murder; its kills the victim slowly, throughout the period of his/her life." Dr. Dean Kilpatrick One may ask what does innocence actually mean. Well the Oxford Dictionary defines innocence as- 'The state of being innocent, not corrupted or tainted with evil or unpleasant emotions; pure.' The word innocence therefore conjures up images of purity of mind, body and soul. The freedom from self pity, guilt or blame. Sexual assault is one such crime that leaves a lifelong impact on the victim. Its effects can be varied but devastating whatsoever. Ones personal response to rape can differ, but studies have shown all victims face some sort of mental trauma at some point of time. Now going back to the above mentioned definition of innocence it can be seen that the effect of rape on an individual portrays diametrically opposite emotions of innocence. Therefore, rape causes loss of innocence....
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...It includes the crudely drawn mockingbird motif seen on promotional posters, that is torn and ripped apart, foreshadowing the racial divisions within the town and the tearing apart of Scout’s innocence. This loss of innocence is also explored through the subplot surrounding Boo Radley. One of the primary themes in the film is loss of innocence. As the events of the film unfold, Scout loses her childhood ignorance and become aware of the divide between good and evil and empathy for others. Through the events of Tom Robinson’s trial and her empathy for Boo Radley, Scout comes to understand the advice Atticus gave her about not fully understanding a person ‘until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.’ A Variety movie review describes the Finch children’s coming of age as the move from ‘the realm of wild childhood fantasy to the horizon of maturity, responsibility, compassion and social...
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...In the book, Phineas and Leper go through many different experiences. These experiences cause both Phineas and Leper to lose a lot of their innocence. An example of this was when Phineas learned that the war was actually real, and when he learns to accept the things he cannot change and see the world as it is, not as the perfect world he wants it to be. On the other hand, when Leper joins the army he goes psycho because the world outside of Devon is too much for him. But he overcomes this and becomes more stable as the story goes on. Phineas and Leper's experiences are because of their loss of innocence and their childhood, but also because they are becoming more mature. Phineas goes through several mind-changing events throughout the novel, but the event that was greater than the rest from childhood is the acceptance that Gene shook Phineas out...
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...Elie Wiesel’s Loss of Innocence There comes a time in one’s life where a tragic event results in the loss of innocence and an increase in knowledge. Unfortunately this is one of life’s few promises. Some experience this ablution a lot sooner than they should. In children who survived the holocaust in concentration camps, their innocence was taken as soon as their ordinary everyday life was imposed upon by the Nazis. In Elie Wiesel’s book Night, he describes himself as an innocent teenager, a child whose innocence was taken from him as the result of the nefariousness performed by the Nazis in World War Two. Elie and his family were transported to Birkenau where his family was torn apart, leaving him with his father, his sisters and his mother. Once they were separated, he began to slowly lose his innocence. Towards the end of 1941, in the small village of Sighet, Hungary, twelve-year-old Elie Wiesel spent most of his time studying the Talmud. Elie was one of four children born to his mother and father. Hilda was the eldest, then Bea, he was the third, and Tzipora was the youngest. The two eldest sisters helped the parents run the family store while Elie stayed home to study. Elie was very passionate about the theology of his religion, Judaism. He studied Talmud by day and by night he would go to the synagogue to pray. One of his main interests was Kabbalah which is an aspect of Jewish mysticism. Elie asked his father to find him a master to guide him in his...
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...At a young age, Ishmael Beah had experienced war. He had lost his home and family to rebels and had seen many innocent lives be taken away. Ishmael had to grow up really fast and learn to defend for himself in his new society. The war has not only taken Ishmael’s childhood away, but has had a psychological impact on him. Throughout the novel Ishmael uses symbolism and flashbacks to show, the theme of loss of innocence. This causes Ishmael to have painful memories of his childhood and lose the one thing a child should have – innocence. Even though Ishmael had gone through many hardships since the war started he clearly states that the instant he was recruited into the military at 13 was the moment he lost his childhood. As Beah travels throughout...
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...island, the more innocence they get taken from them. For instance, the first time that Jack tried to hunt, he stares at the pig holding a knife over him. Jack couldn't find it in himself to kill the pig which led to it get away. Later in the novel, Jack finds pleasure in the killing’s and even chants “Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!”(Golding 218). Jack chanting this is a symbol of his loss of innocence....
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...We Can Change “Dreams of innocence are just that; they usually depend on the denial of reality that can be its own form of hubris” - Michael Pollan. In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, innocence plays a very big part during the novel. Its story is told in the eyes of a six year old girl, Jean Louise, who calls herself Scout in the town of Maycomb during the 1930’s. Along Scout’s journey is her brother, Jem, and her summer lover, Dill, who try to face a supposed psychotic neighbor, a crazy dog, an old rude lady, and a life changing trial in the span of three years. To Kill A Mockingbird is Scout growing up and experiencing the loss of innocence while seeing it happen among Jem and her father, Atticus. Although Atticus is an adult, he experiences the loss of innocence just like any growing...
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...The Great Gatsby is full of ideas and disappointment. It portrays the American life of those among different social classes. The author, F. Scott Fitzgerald drives you through the ups and downs of... Daisy Buchanan is one of the main characters of The Great Gatsby. She has a lot of money. While the setting around her is corrupt, Daisy gives off the impression of being pure. Her dress, accessories, and car are all white. Fitzgerald presents her as a person of innocence. Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan used to have a relationship in the past. Gatsby now wants her to leave her husband, Tom Buchanan, so he tries to win her heart. In fact, Nick Carraway, the narrator, describes her as Gatsby’s green light. The green light is something that Gatsby tries to achieve throughout the story. He does this by throwing big parties in order to attract Daisy. The time period varies throughout the story. It starts with the end of World War I. Some characters, such as Gatsby and Carraway, participated in this Great War. The war caused many lives and homes. The Jazz Age, a post-war movement had begun. Many people celebrated by playing jazz music and dancing. Americans adopted a new lifestyle and embraced cultural and economic ideas. Sadly, the Stock Market Crash of 1929 soon ended this. Though the rich did not as much those in the...
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...After losing his brother, his outlook on life changed; the night Allie died, Holden died too. His innocence and the sense of who he was as a person. He never recovered from the passing of his brother. Throughout the novel, Holden displays a lack of ability to communicate with people due to his desire to stay young and immature. “I like Allie…just because someone is dead, you don't just stop liking them, for God’s sakes- especially if they were about a thousand times nicer than the people you know that’s alive.” (Salinger, 171) Holden talks about how innocence can only be present until something happens to make your innocence non existent. However, Holden realizes that he can not acquire the same principles that Allie died with. Holden Caulfield loved and respected his younger brother. His baseball mitt made Holden feel like his brother was still with him. The mitt represents Holden’s struggle to let go and move on. Holden Caulfield, in The Catcher in the Rye, is afraid of loneliness and growing up. Allie Caulfield’s baseball mitt is one of Holden’s memories that he holds on to in order to remember...
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