It is the tendency of adults to preserve the innocence of children as long as possible. This is true in both “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, and “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelo. In each of these novels, adults futilely attempt to protect the innocense of the children by shielding them from the adversities of society and this is evident in Scouts experience with Boo, Jem’s maturity, and when Maya was raped by Mr.Freeman. The first instance of the destruction of innocence is seen through Scout’s experience with Boo Radly. The innocence and childish imagination of the siblings is seen when Jem describes to Scout what he believes Boo will look like. Jem says, “Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall, judging from his tracks;
…show more content…
As Jem matures he begins to understand that the world is different from what he has been told by adults, and this is seen when Atticus talks with Jem after the incident with Mrs.Dubose. After Mrs.Dubose dies Atticus tells Jem, “She was. She had her own views about things, a lot different from mine, maybe...Son, I told you that if you hadn't lost your head I'd have made you go read to her. I wanted you to see something about her. I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do”(Lee 112). Atticus teaches Jem that true courage and responsibility are a part of being a man. Another scene that proves Jem is losing his innocence and becoming an adult is when Dill snuck to the Finches house one night. Scout says “Then he rose and broke the remaining code of our childhood. He went out of the room and down the hall. “Atticus,” his voice was distant,”can you come here a minute, sir?(Lee 188)” In this excerpt Scout explains that Jem had broken a rule from their childhood. This symbolizes Jem becoming an adult and no longer abiding by these childish rules, and with this new maturity comes a loss of the innocence that he and Scout shared. Atticus and Calpurnia have also noticed Jem’s transformation into a man. Scout is confused about Jem’s new growth and she said “Jem was twelve. He was difficult to live with, inconsistent, moody. His appetite was appalling, and he told me so many times to stop pestering him I consulted Atticus: ‘Reckon he's got a tapeworm?’ Atticus said no, Jem was growing....After one altercation when Jem hollered, ‘It's time you started bein' a girl and acting right!’ I burst into tears and fled to Calpurnia.
As Jem matures he begins to understand that the world is different from what he has been told by adults, and this is seen when Atticus talks with Jem after the incident with Mrs.Dubose. After Mrs.Dubose dies Atticus tells Jem, “She was. She had her own views about things, a lot different from mine, maybe...Son, I told you that if you hadn't lost your head I'd have made you go read to her. I wanted you to see something about her. I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do”(Lee 112). Atticus teaches Jem that true courage and responsibility are a part of being a man. Another scene that proves Jem is losing his innocence and becoming an adult is when Dill snuck to the Finches house one night. Scout says “Then he rose and broke the remaining code of our childhood. He went out of the room and down the hall. “Atticus,” his voice was distant,”can you come here a minute, sir?(Lee 188)” In this excerpt Scout explains that Jem had broken a rule from their childhood. This symbolizes Jem becoming an adult and no longer abiding by these childish rules, and with this new maturity comes a loss of the innocence that he and Scout shared. Atticus and Calpurnia have also noticed Jem’s transformation into a man. Scout is confused about Jem’s new growth and she said “Jem was twelve. He was difficult to live with, inconsistent, moody. His appetite was appalling, and he told me so many times to stop pestering him I consulted Atticus: ‘Reckon he's got a tapeworm?’ Atticus said no, Jem was growing....After one altercation when Jem hollered, ‘It's time you started bein' a girl and acting right!’ I burst into tears and fled to Calpurnia.