Innocence is usually associated with youth and ignorance. The loss of one's innocence is associated with the evils of the world. However, the term “innocence” can be interpreted in various ways. Likewise, the loss of one's innocence can be interpreted in more than one way and, depending on the interpretation, can occur numerous times. The loss of innocence is culture-specific and involves something that society deems sacrosanct. It is also bounded by different religious beliefs. However, no matter what culture or religion is at hand, there is always more than one way to lose one's innocence, and every member of that particular culture or religion experiences a loss of innocence at least once in their life. Furthermore, the individual's loss of innocence will harm him or her emotionally and/or physically. Committing a crime of some kind will surely cause an individual to lose their innocence with emotional and perhaps physical scars. In Native Son, by Richard Wright, Bigger Thomas accidentally suffocates his boss's daughter to death. Suddenly, Bigger feels a strength that had been dormant within him, a sense of control and power over another person. Although the murder is accidental, Bigger Thomas experiences a loss of innocence that allows him to kill others as well, including his own girlfriend. However, with the power he believes he has gained from the loss of innocence, he also gains an abundance of guilt and fear. Bigger knows he has committed a terrible act and feels guilty for it. Furthermore, he begins to fear being caught. Bigger becomes very paranoid after the murder and is eventually caught and executed anyway. The case of Bigger Thomas is almost tragic. His loss of innocence, an accident, causes him to become a dishonest and dishonorable person. He is unable to forget the event and endures guilt and fear until he is executed. Knowing a victim of an unforgettable and unforgivable crime will cause a person to lose a type of innocence. However, witnessing the victim's heinous violation is much more powerful. After the witness has seen and heard the exact event, it is almost impossible to ignore his memory. This is true in the story “In the Shadow of War”. The protagonist of the literary work, a boy named Omovo, witnesses the killing of a woman.