Regardless of race, background, or time period, every child goes through the radical change from childhood to adulthood that we call "the transition to adulthood." adulthood.” Since the topic of coming of age is so prevalent and relevant, it is a very common theme in novels. In fact, many American classics follow the archetype known as Loss of Innocence, which shows the change in a child's views and values ​​during this period. Childhood is difficult enough as it is, but at certain times and in certain places it can be exceptionally difficult; An example of these difficulties is the Deep South during the era of segregation and the Great Depression. An American classic that follows this archetype is To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee; in this tale, she shows a dramatic shift in Scout and Jem's understanding of courage and empathy with the help of their father, Atticus, as they grow up in the Deep South. At the beginning of the novel, Jem believes that courage must be an elaborate process. act of bravery, but as the story progresses, he realizes that he was wrong. Midway through the novel, Jem asks Atticus why Mrs. Dubose would want to fight a battle that was unnecessary and was known to be hard and painful. Atticus responds by saying, "(Courage is) when you know you're licked before you start, but you start anyway and you see it through to the end, no matter what" (112). When he tells this to Jem, he tells her that courage is not an extravagant act, but the act of fighting even if it is hard or if you already know the outcome. Later in the story, Jem shows that he took Atticus' comment seriously when the mob arrived and defended his father, even though he knew the group of men could stop him very easily. Atticus tells him in the middle of paper... the reader how important empathy is when it comes to social interaction. She also explains that courage doesn't have to be a complex, elaborate thing; it can just be a small thing where you stand up for what you believe in. As Harper Lee writes about these topics, she emphasizes the importance of understanding them and applying them to your life. She alludes to the fact that the world would be a better place if everyone was empathetic and truly courageous. She also points out that if empathy were more present in the South, inequalities would not have been so drastic and that if people had really had the courage to speak out against inequalities, they would not have lasted. that long. If other writers created stories emphasizing the qualities of courage and empathy, more people would aspire to possess these qualities and, as a result, the world would be a better place..