different themes in to kill a mockingbird

They grapple with the injustice of Tom's conviction, knowing that he was an innocent man. The watershed moment in the narrative arrives with Tom Robinson's trial and his subsequent death, leaving a profound impact on the young siblings. Mutual defiance made them alike.' Jem, emulating his father's sense of justice, takes a stand for what is right, even when victory appears unlikely. Scout observes the striking resemblance between Jem and their father, Atticus, noting, 'Jem’s soft brown hair and eyes, his oval face and snug-fitting ears were our mother’s contrasting oddly with Atticus’s graying black hair and square-cut features, but they were somehow alike. Yet, he begins to demonstrate signs of maturity through his actions. There was a long jagged scar that ran across his face what teeth he had were yellow and rotten his eyes popped, and he drooled most of the time.' This vivid description exemplifies their youthful gullibility, as they readily accept the unrealistic narratives that abound.Īs time passes, Jem enters the tumultuous age of twelve, marked by moodiness and challenges. Jem, in his youthful curiosity, describes Boo in a manner that underscores their innocence: 'Them that Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall, judging from his tracks he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, that’s why his hands were bloodstained - if you ate an animal raw, you could never wash the blood off.

Get original essay Innocence and Maturity in 'To Kill a Mockingbird'Īt the outset of the novel, Scout, Jem, and their friend Dill embody the epitome of innocence - happy-go-lucky children who readily believe the fanciful tales and rumors surrounding their reclusive neighbor, Boo Radley.

Different themes in to kill a mockingbird