Innocence and Experience

Guiding Question:
How do language and literature facilitate our understanding of ourselves and others?

In my opinion, I think Harper Lee used this theme to exemplify guidance and confidence. Throughout the book, people look to one another for guidance and help. I think Innocence and Experience help to answer the guiding question because it helps us to define in words and in speech, who we are as well as the definition of our peers. When we have experience and knowledge on our peers, it helps us to define who they are.

Throughout the novel, Atticus demonstrated himself as a great role model and a very kind and generous father figure to both Jem and Scout. He taught them important lessons and manners for them to know and always keep in mind.
One example of Innocence and Experience is when Atticus talks to Jem and Scout about how they shouldn't waste their time bothering Mrs. Dubose. "She's an old lady and she's ill. You just hold your head high and be a gentleman. Whatever she says to you, it's your job not to let her make you mad," (Lee, 100). This is an example of innocence and experience because clearly by the way Atticus is speaking, he has already experienced this with Mrs. Dubose. He knows what type of person she is. She isn't very nice but she is also old and sick. From this quote, I understood that Atticus is advising Jem and Scout not to let her get them down or crush them.

Another example of Innocence and Experience is when Mr. Boo Radley was puzzled by Jem as he had never experienced the outdoor world and he didn't really have any ideas about who or what a boy was.
“One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them," (Lee, 279). Mr. Radley was experiencing the way Jem acted. He was sort of in putting himself in the shoes of Jem as he was experiencing what it took to be just a regular boy.