Everyone remembers their childhood, how they played every single day, carefree and peaceful. He can remember playing in the mud with carelessness, curiosity and naivety. You may even remember living in your own little world, deaf to the world and the problems around you. It's something everyone wants to last, but it fades quickly as time passes. It's what's known as childhood innocence, the barrier that protects children from the harsh realities of the world around them. The loss of innocence is a phase of life that everyone must overcome, which occurs after a significant event in one's life that destroys one's bright and happy visions. As highlighted in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, all children are born innocent and worry-free, but it is inevitable that that innocence will be taken away as they grow up and are susceptible to the harsh realities of the world. This theme is seen throughout the novel, but is prevalent in the society they live in, the racism the children are exposed to, and their realization of the true world around them. they are exposed to expose their innocence. This is evident throughout the entire Tom Robinson court case. Harper Lee writes: “I closed my eyes. Judge Taylor was questioning the jury: “Guilty…guilty…guilty…”. I peeked at Jem: his shoulders were shaking as if each “culprit” was a separate blow from each other (Lee 211). This quote demonstrates that Jem and Scout's awareness of the real society around them begins to shape into a more adult perspective. In the Tom Robinson trial, the jury returns an incorrect verdict declaring him guilty, even though all the evidence proves otherwise. The jury makes their decision on the basis... middle of paper... he did it to keep us from finding things: he's crazy, I guess, as they say (Lee 72).' After Jem and Scout placed their letter in the knot hole of the Radley tree, it was filled with cement by Nathan Radley. This was done to prevent Boo from having contact with the outside world, the same reason he is locked in his house. Jem and Scout realize this and lose their innocence as a result of realizing the true nature of humans in the world. Through these three points it is demonstrated that the world around them takes away the innocence of children. In conclusion, the society that Scout and Jem live in, the racism that the children are exposed to, and their realization of the real world around them are all examples present in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird that denote the theme of innocence infantile that must inevitably be taken away.