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Ambition literary essay introduction
Jem finch maturing
Jem finch maturing
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AMBITION; Jem Finch
By: Riley O’Hara
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Thesis: Ambition is perpetrated throughout the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. All of the characters in this novel have shown ambition whether it was towards themselves or others, however Jem Finch’s ambition makes him so unique. What has Jem Finch done to be so ambitious?
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, one of the main topics that carry on throughout the novel is ambition. Jem Finch is a character that greatly represents this action in this novel and portrays many personalities, the one that shows the most is how ambitious he is. A brief overlook at Jem and who he is as a person would be a nine year old boy who is always up for dare, and never backs down out of it. He's done so much that involves Boo Radley such as running up to the radley house and touching it even though others can't stomach the thought of being near the house, sneaking up to the radley house at night time and peeking into the window, basically just trying to get Boo out of his house. He is also very ambitious towards protecting his little sister scout, also the fact that he is dedicated to living up to never backing down in a dare.
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Jeremy Atticus Finch is kenned amongst his friends and family that he is not the one to ever back down from a dare, he's ambitious to live up to this name.
“In all his life, Jem has never declined a dare” says his little sister, Jean Louise Finch (Scout). He cerebrates that fear is something to be ashamed of and the dare that he had been told to do at the commencement of the novel, was to go up and touch the Radley house however he declined at first but when dill (a friend of theirs from next door) starting taunted him, he kenned that he had to do it. Just like that, Jem Finch had lived up to his name, he kept on showing his ambition towards his well-known personality trait to his friends and family all around
him. Jem is always looking for ways to protect scout, to ascertain she feels safe and is no way in visual perception of any harm. He wants to protect her just like a big brother would want to do and with that ambition to do so, he has prospered exactly that. When Jem was trying to get Boo outside of the Radley house he kept thinking of Scout and how he didn't want him to harm her. "It's just that I can't think of a way to make him come out without him gettin' us." said Jem considering had his little sister to think of. He did not want anyone hurting Scout physically or mentally in any way possible, that includes Boo Radley. He wanted to get boo radley out of his house so he could go play with the kids and not stay inside all the time, without any interaction with anyone. When Jem got dared to touch the house, he was obviously scared for himself and scout, but did it in attempt to see Boo come out or even just to the window. One night they even when to the Radley's house and snuck up to look inside the window for even just a quick glimpse of Boo, Jem was the most ambitious with this for the fact that they never gave up and kept endeavoring.
Atticus, the father of Jem and Scout, was right when he said, ¨you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them.¨ Scout realizes that Boo Radley is not who everyone rumors him out to be. Scout learns that you need to spend time with a person to find out who he truly is. She learns this after walking Boo Radley home after the disturbing experience the Finch kids had been in. Scout finally understood what life looked like from Boo Radley's perspective when she is standing with him on his front porch. Also, when Scout talks to Atticus at the end of the book he shows her how she has turned into a wonderful young lady. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee develops the theme that believing rumors will lead you to false assumptions unless you have walked in that person's shoes through imagery, characterization, and point of view.
In the beginning of the story, Jem enjoys the childish games of fantasizing about Boo Radley, taking any dare, and . Scout tells the reader that Jem becomes more and more moody as the story progresses, due to his aging. He thinks more; he shows more compassion; and he is appalled by the unfairness that rears its ugly head in his hometown. While Scout recounts the events of her childhood, the reader fails to notice that “To Kill a Mockingbird” is not a story about the narrator (Scout) maturing, it is actually about Jem maturing, and becoming an adult.
Jem Finch has come a long way since his humble beginnings as a naive ten year old child. He has come to understand the real meaning of courage, gone from playmate to protector for his sister and has grown enough to understand the workings of the real world, and see the negatives and positives of society. His maturity has been quick and the changes great, and over the years he has come to adhere, respect and carry out Atticus`s legacy and use his father`s ideals to shape his lifestyle. Due to the course of events, his adolescent changes and Atticus`s influence, Jem has matured from a reckless child into a young man capable of making his own decisions.
The novel “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, is an American classic, narrated by the young Scout Finch, the most engrossing character in the book. The novel is about the adventures of two siblings over the time of about three years. Jem and Jean Louise (Scout) Finch were two young siblings who one day met another young boy named Dill. Over time, Jem and Scout grow up under the careful watch of their father and friends, learning how to be adults. They play games, they sneak into a courthouse, and they learn a valuable life lesson. Scout was an intriguing character. As the narrator, you learn more about Scout’s feelings towards the events in the book and soon learn to love her. Let me introduce you to Scout Finch.
Jem is a complex character who changes a great deal in the novel. He begins the novel as a boy and ends as an adult. People show bravery in many ways, both typical and atypical. Atticus, Boo and Jem all showed important examples of bravery. Atticus models bravery for his children in the determined way he defends Tom Robinson.
In the beginning of the book Jem is ten. He is innocent and is kind of oblivious to what is happening in the town. In the book Jem represents courage and how that courage is represented changes the older he gets. In the beginning Jem‘s courage is shown when is dared to touch the Radley house, he does that because he never backs down from a dare. That is the Jem‘s and the kids idea of courage. As the story continues Jem sees how courage is not the naive idea of touching the Radely house. He sees Atticus shot a mad dog and Mrs. Dubose fight with morphine addiction. Jem is made to read to her and when he asks why Atticus says: “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand.“
Jem Finch is a three-dimensional character with symbols of success, virtue and an adverse personality in To Kill a Mockingbird. For example, in the beginning of the book, Jem was aggravated by the then taunting Dill Harris (a young visitor to Maycomb) so that Jem would touch the house of Radley. By touching the Radley house, he proved that he was not afraid and could take on any challenge. When such predicaments come Jem's way he will usually be able to make the best of them successfully. In addition, Jem will lash out in complete contempt for a wrong against his moral conscience, such as Mrs. Dubose slinging blasphemy at Jem's father. A good character must have a sense of morality to defend what is believed to be right, and Jem has this emblematic realism. But, a life-like character must have their weaknesses; and he displayed that on account of Mrs. Dubose's harsh words.
Throughout the book, To Kill A Mockingbird, Scout Finch learns a variety of concepts about the way the world really is. However the main concept that Scout discovers is the evil that surrounds her and her hometown of Maycomb. Scout discovers the evil in the world through her experiences in Maycomb and these are the events that help her grow and mature into who she is. Mainly, the trial of Tom Robinson opened Scout’s eyes to the evil and wrongdoings in the county, as well as in the courtroom. The trial gives way to the prejudice remarks about the Finch family’s involvement in the case. The trial of Tom Robinson, the county’s comments on Atticus’s involvement in the trial, and getting attacked at the end of the story
In the book To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee tells the story of coming-of-age and the loss of innocence through the character Jem. Through recurring events, Jem is faced with the realization of society’s injustice, and is left questioning the world he lives in. During a time of rampant racial discrimination and prejudice in the south, Jem transforms from naivety to maturity.
Lee uses the scene where Jem goes up to touch the Radley house to express her view on courage. “Besides Jem had his little sister to think of. When he said that, I knew he was afraid.” (14) This proves that Jem was scared, and Scout knew it. “ He walked to the corner of the lot, then back again, studying the simple terrain as if deciding how best to effect an entry, frowning and scratching his head. Then I sneered at him. Jem threw open the gate and sped to the side of the house, slapped it with his palm and ran back past us, not wanting to see if his foray was successful”
Scout Finch is the main protagonist of the novel and although a bit slow she does grow overtime. At first Scout is very naive and innocent due to the fact in the beginning of the story she is 6 years old. She can be described as a tomboy, troublemaker, and a rebel since she mostly hung around with her older brother Jem and was raised by her father Atticus who was mostly at work. Scout has not been raised with the proper mannerisms to become a proper lady which which was something well desired especially in the South. The reason for this is because Scout’s mother died before she could even remember. This also accounts for her tomboyish nature. As she gets older however, she starts to lose her rambunctious attitude for more of a proper and lady like demeanor which she learns from her Aunt Alexandria, the definition of a true southern belle. Scout is 6 at the start of the book as is around 9 near the end of it so she does mature slowly but surely unlike her brother Jem. Jem’s development throughout the book goes a bit quicker since he is 10 at the start of the book and becomes 13 by the end. The book shows off Jem’s preteens which is always a drastic change for anyone. Jem is a good, kindhearted kid who always tries to do the right thing but is still at the age where he can be a bit mischievous as well. His misadventures with Scout often put him in a place where he can attempt to be the responsible one. Jem is at the age where he believes he’s an adult but is not mature enough to actually be one. For instance, the scene where Atticus has to shoot a rabid dog Jem tries his best to brave about the entire situation but inside he is still a young boy and is a bit afraid. Towards the end of the novel, Jem gets even more mature and starts becoming more of a splitting image of his father, Atticus Finch. Mr. Finch is probably the most morally just character
...heme of maturation in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, is conveyed through the characters of Scout and Jem, in conjunction with the assistance of their virtuous father Atticus Finch. Early in the novel, Atticus ascertains himself as a major facilitator in the maturation process of Scout and Jem by incessantly providing mature solutions to his children’s predicaments. Moreover, Scout, a major benefactor of the Boo Radley incident and Atticus’ wisdom, has helped her develop into a very tolerant and mature individual. Undeniably, Jem’s remarkable development into a broadminded and compassionate character can be directly attributed to Atticus’ kindness and Jem’s exposure to the Tom Robinson trial. In synopsis, it is evident that the individuals and social circumstances that surround an individual play a major role in defining the type of individual one will become.
Jems naïve views are soon corrupted as he goes through experiences like with Boo Radley, but Jem manages to grow in strength as he sheds his pure qualities and learns to have hope. Jem and Scouts childhood friend Dill represents another killing of a mockingbird, as his innocence is destroyed during his trial experience. Scouts childish views dissipates as she witnesses different events in her life, and she grows in experience and maturity as she encounters racial prejudice, making her learn how to maintain her pure conscience that Atticus has developed without losing hope or becoming cynical. Harper Lee’s novel explores human morality, as she weaves the path from childhood to a more adult perspective, illustrating the evils in a corrupt world how to understand them without losing
Children may start out simple-minded but shift into maturing young adults. Jem is proof of this in Harper Lee’s, To Kill a Mockingbird since he has many life experiences with the people who influence him most. Through this novel, Jem matures from an ignorant boy to a young and more to respectful young man due to learning loyalty and valor.
Jem Finch demonstrates growing maturity throughout the novel. After Tom Robinson’s trial, Scout reveals Jem’s feelings. “It was Jem’s turn to cry.” Scout uncovers, “His face was streaked with angry tears as we made our way through the cheerful crowd,” (TKAM 284). Jem understands the trial is not fair because of race. He is mature enough to realize this while Scout is not. Another example of Jem’s maturity is exemplified when he is fulfilling his obligation to read to Mrs. Dubose. Scout describes, “ ‘So you brought that dirty little sister of yours did you?’ was her greeting… ‘My sister ain’t dirty and I ain’t scared of you’, although I noticed his knees shaking,” (TKAM 141). Rather than Jem replying to Mrs. Dubose with an insult, he dismisses her comment. Furthermore, this showcases his patience and tolerance, which comes with maturity. Finally, Jem validates his maturity when the Finch children find Dill under Scout’s bed. “You oughta let your mother know where you are.” announced Jem, “You oughta let her know you are here…”(TKAM 187). At this point Jem knows the right way to handle this situation is to let an adult know where Dill is. Even though Scout believes she can keep him under her bed forever, Jem recognizes the reality. When Jem’s maturity is put to the test he demonstrates good judgment and decision-making.