To Kill a Mockingbird

In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee suggests that Scout’s innocence is somewhat tarnished throughout the novel.
(Par. 4) After the incident with Bob Ewell during the Halloween play, all characters are faced with moral dilemma. At first, Atticus starts talking about Jem's court case, as he believes that Jem is responsible for the murder of Mr. Ewell. Tate thinks that would be ridiculous, creating a story about Ewell falling on his knife and impaling himself. It is never formally recognized that Boo Radley is the one responsible, but at one point, Atticus realizes that this is the ugly truth. For Mr. Finch, this is a turning point. Throughout the entire story, Atticus has never shown any compromises for his principles of respect, absolute honesty, and equality. He had never thought Bob would do such a thing as go after his children, but when the deflated ham costume is thoroughly examined, Atticus is forced to acknowledge that the knife slash in the costume showed that Mr. Ewell had terrible intentions. In the end, Atticus reaches the conclusion to lie for the protection of Boo. To him, this is like dirtying his purity to maintain the purity of another. He does this for many reasons. Primarily, he outweighs the good to the bad. He views Boo as the saviour of some sorts, considering the complex nature of the catastrophe. Persuading himself that Boo could have slaughtered Bob out of the pure kindness in his heart towards Jem and Scout, he starts to have a change of heart. His sheer principles loosen a little when Boo smiles shyly at Scout, and tears come to Scout's eyes as she says, "Hey, Boo.” Another main aspect comes back to Atticus’s saying. “Shoot all the bluejays you want, but remember, it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” Referring back to this, he apprehends that Boo killing Bob Ewell is like killing a bluejay, but “[to not save Boo] would be like killing a mockingbird.”
(Par. 2) There was one particular confrontation that Scout unconsciously used her innocence as an advantage. Late one evening, Atticus Finch leaves in his car, which the children take as unusual. What they don’t know is that he is planning on meeting the town’s lynch mob, a group of men who want to take Tom Robinson’s fate into their own hands. The Maycomb jail is described as being “the most venerable and hideous of the county’s buildings.” As Jean-Louise burst into the circle of light, “[Atticus’s] face killed [her] joy, and a flash of plain fear went through his eyes.” Scout becomes defensive when one of the sleepy, concealed men roughly yanks at Jem, and kicks him with might. Eventually, she finds the familiar face, Mr. Cunningham. Completely unaware of the seriousness of the situation, she strikes up a friendly and naïve conversation with him. By bringing up the time he brought hickory nuts, her acquaintance with his son, and other minor details, she softens the man’s heart. ‘He squatted down and took [Scout] by both shoulders. “I’ll tell him you said hey, little lady,”’ he murmurs, before clearing the men out. Atticus reassures Tom that the men will not bother him anymore.