Innocence in "Children of Invention"

Innocence plays a large role in the movie "Children of Invention." Elaine is a single mother who is trying her best to raise her children while also supporting all of them financially. As an immigrant to America, she is unaware of the dangers of pyramid schemes and gets involved with them very quickly. It is because of her naivete that Elaine puts her and her family in danger, as the children are often left alone and hungry.

The children, too, are very innocent as they are hopeful enough to think that they could earn a million dollars by selling toy inventions that they created. They too put themselves in danger by leaving their apartment and traveling to Boston alone.

Though innocence is portrayed throughout the entire movie, I feel that the author tried to convey the differences between naivete and innocence. Though both the children and Elaine do not know any better when it comes the situations they enter and are dealt with poor living conditions, the audience will likely feel more empathy for the children. I feel that this is because more is expected of an adult, especially when they have the responsibility of raising a family. However, this is why I feel the author showed the scene of Elaine in the jail cell. I feel that much of her innocence was portrayed as we come to realize that she was sincerely fooled. It is this moment, for me, that I felt as much empathy for Elaine as I felt for her children.