No matter the race, background, or time period, every child goes through the drastic change from childhood to adulthood that we know as "coming of age." Because the theme of coming of age is so prevalent and recognizable, 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 of time. Childhood is hard enough as it is, but at certain times and in certain places it can be exceptionally difficult; an example of these stressful hardships is the Deep South during the times of segregation and the Great Depression. An American classic that follows this archetype is To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee; in this tale, shows a dramatic change in Scout and Jem's understanding of courage and empathy with the help of their father, Atticus, as they mature in the Deep South. At the beginning of the novel, Jem believes that courage must be an elaborate act of courage, 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 beaten before you start but you start anyway and make it no matter what" (112). When he tells Jem this, he is telling him that courage is not an extravagant act, but the act of fighting even if it is difficult or you already know the outcome. Later in the story, Jem shows that he took Atticus' comment seriously when the mob showed up and defended his father, even though he knows that the group of men could have stopped him very easily. Atticus tells him…middle of the paper…the reader how important empathy is when it comes to social interaction. Furthermore, he explains how courage doesn't have to be a big, elaborate thing; it can simply 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. He mentions that the world would be a better place if everyone was empathetic and truly courageous. Furthermore, he points out that if empathy had been more present in the South, inequality would not have been so drastic, and that if people had been truly courageous in standing up to inequality, it would not have lasted so long. If more writers created stories that emphasized the qualities of courage and empathy, more people would aspire to possess these qualities and therefore the world would be a better place.