Dreams in the South

In 'To Kill a Mockingbird', Scout is the protagonist. She is young and inexperienced to the world around her. She believes there is no difference between her and the African Americans. She also does not understand the way in which they are treated. She and Atticus are constantly being teased as a nigger lovers and she gets confused about the harshness and brutal words that comes from others' mouths. Calpurnia, her housekeeper, takes her and her brother to a church. But this church isn’t the normal ones that Scout is used to going. When she goes to the church, she is met with a loud outburst of anger and hate from the African Americans. With her innocence, she is not able to look around her to realise that, that is exactly how the white Americans treated the African Americans. Gradually, through many experiences she realises and understands the way African Americans are treated. She does not like it, but realises that there is nothing she can do to help.

Jem, although is more mature than Scout, is still also an innocent child that has yet to learn more about what's happening in reality. In Tom Robinson's case, Atticus presented foolproof evidence to the court. However, due to his innocence, Jem believed that Atticus was going to win. But he was wrong, Atticus lost the case. From that point on, Jem lost his naiveté of the world where he once thought was just and fair.