Innocence and Truth

Innocence and Truth

Henry Fielding (1707 – 1754) was an English novelist and dramatist best known for his rich, earthy humour and satirical prowess. He wrote many famous novels and dramas like The History of Tom Jones, "Rape upon Rape," and "The Mock Doctor." He has a quote which I really like that is, "Oh Innocence, how glorious and happy a portion art thou to the breast that possesses thee! Thou fearest neither the eyes nor the tongues of men. Truth, the most powerful of all things, is thy strongest friend; and the brighter the light is in which thou art displayed, the more it discovers thy transcendent beauties." Indeed, at first, I totally agree with him on this opinion. However, after I read some short stories and watched a movie which the professor showed in the class, I realize that this quote is correct most of the time, but in some special case like in the movie Beasts of No Nation and in the short story “Young Goodman Brown,” in my opinion, it is not entirely accurate. Sometimes, the truth can change a person from a good man to a bad person, or a person that lives separately from society.

Firstly, think back to our past, when we were young, we all have innocence. In that time, we were happy and did not worry so much about the society and people around us. We just followed what we thought was right and did what we like, although it was a stupid thing that might give us many bad results. Indeed, it was a simple life without stresses. However, when we grew up, we learned many things, absorbed many experiences, and knew many truths about the outside world which made us change to mature people. The experiences, the truth, and the life lessons enlighten us and make us grow. For example, many men can see themselves in the short story “A&P” by author John Updike. Sammy, the main character in the story, was young and innocent. He was attracted by three young girls who wore bathing suits and were going shopping in the A&P store. He observed every detail of them such as hair color, bathing suits' color, skin, body type, and the way they act. Of course, this action made him forget what he was doing and then, he received hell from an old customer. Not only that, his innocence went to peak when he quit his job deliberately for telling the girls that he was trying to reclaim justice for them, "so I say "I quit" to Lengel [loud] enough for them to hear, hoping they'll stop and watch me, their unsuspected hero" (Updike 95). Unfortunately, this action did not help him. Moreover, this gave him a life lesson about his stupid decision that was he lost his job for nothing, “I look around for my girls, but they’re gone, of course. There wasn’t anybody but some young married screaming with her children about some candy they cannot get by the door of a powder-blue Falcon station wagon” (Updike 96). Sadly for him! Through the short story “A&P,” we also can see our past when we did some stupid things to try to attract some girls. Indeed, I did many dumb things which until now I still feel ashamed of whenever I remember those moments. If “A&P” tells the innocence of a teenage boy, then “The Lesson” talks about the innocence of a poor little black girl. Indeed, her innocence is shown by the way she looked at life under her thinking and from what her mother taught her. For example, when she went to a luxury store, the first thing that came up to her mind was stealing what she liked. Moreover, when she looked at the price of the toys, it linked her to what her mom taught her, "thirty-five dollars could buy new bunk beds for Junior and Gretchen's boy. Thirty-five dollars and the whole household could go visit Granddaddy Nelson in the country. Thirty-five dollars would pay for the rent and the piano bill too. Who are these people that spend that much for performing clowns and $1000 for toy sailboats? What kinda work they do and how they live and how come we ain’t in on it? Where we are is who we are, Miss Moore always pointin out" (Bambara 102). This represents the innocence of a poor girl who lack education. The lesson and the truth she learned from Miss Moore is the importance of education. When people study hard, they can get a good degree, find good paying jobs and live a good life. Indeed, in most cases, the truth and the life lessons are the key which help people grow the most in their lives.

Secondly, if examples above show the innocent people are happy although they do stupid things and the truth is the most important friend, then these next examples will show that in some special case, truth can change people for the worse. Indeed, sometimes, living with innocence is much better knowing the truth of the dark side of society. For example, in the short story “Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Young Goodman Brown had a