Examples Of Bravery In To Kill A Mockingbird

Jem's Growth Through Bravery

Albert Schweitzer once said, "Example is not the main thing influencing others. It's the only thing." In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, the character of Jem goes through an interesting transition throughout the narrative. To Kill a Mockingbird is all about growing up and how children change and mature. Jem desperately wants to emulate his father, Atticus, and admires his father's courage. Jem grows up through how he views bravery. Scout says, "Jem was born a hero" (21). When readers first meet him, Jem thinks being a "daredevil" is bravery. By the end of the novel, it is clear that Jem's view of bravery has developed for the better. Jem's opinions and acts of bravery throughout the novel change and mature

as the novel progresses, eventually, allow him to represent himself as an upstanding brother and son.
​ In the beginning of the novel, Jem has a immature view of bravery. He is boastful and likely commits his acts of bravery for attention. Boo Radley is one of the best ways for Jem to show off his bravery. For instance, Jem and Scout were once told that Boo watches them at night, and they didn't want to become the next victim. Jem’s daredevil side then comes out while passing by Boo Radley is house. Scout says, "Jem seemed to have little fear of Boo Radley now that Walter and I walked beside him. Indeed, Jem grew boastful: ‘I went all the way up to the house once,’ he said to Walter" (18).This event highlights Jem's initial attitude towards bravery. He wants to be brave, like his father, who Scout calls "…the bravest man who ever lived." However, it is clear he has a very immature view of bravery. Once again, Scout acknowledges this attitude towards a false kind of bravery by saying "In all his life, Jem had never declined a dare" (14). For Scout, Jem's refusal to decline a dare is a mark of bravery because it is a child’s way of saying that he isn’t afraid of anything. This only highlights Jem's false, attention seeking bravery. Scout thinks Jem is exciting because he is a daredevil; but, as we know through Atticus' quiet and profound bravery, being a daredevil is not necessarily being brave. Jem's childish behaviors are shown throughout the beginning of the book, showing that his perception of bravery is not of true courage but of daredevil acts.
As you reach the middle of the book, Jem’s ideas about bravery begin to change when he makes a mistake and has to make up for it.

After losing his temper and ruining Mrs. Dubose’s beautiful garden, his father makes him go read to Mrs. Dubose. He shows his childish beliefs at first, but he begins to show real courage as time goes on. In the beginning, Jem works to keep up the facade of bravery in front of Atticus: "’Did she frighten you?’ asked Atticus. “‘No sir,’ said Jem" (90). It is clear that Jem still feels the need to put on the facade of bravery. He says he was not frightened, even though Scout admits she was scared. Jem was most likely also scared, or at least nervous, as evident by his disdain of having to do the readings in the first place. However, he believes that appearing unfazed and unafraid somehow contributes to his bravery. At the same time, Atticus shows us that being honest about your emotions is a large factor of bravery, as evidenced through his kindness and compassion. When informed about Mrs. Dubose's death, Jem, at first, acts very unfazed by the event. However, Jem soon acts differently from the uncaring, unemotional facade he puts on, showing that he feels [emotion]: "Jem picked up the candy box and threw it in the fire. He picked up the camellia, and when I went off to bed I saw him fingering the wide petals” (93). Keeping the beautiful flower and taking it up to his room is Jem's personal way of grieving for Mrs. Dubose. Though it may not be

the same kind of "daredevil" bravery as previously mentioned, it is clear Jem's ideas of bravery are beginning to develop. He realizes he has done a brave, though
harmless, act by caring and reading to the "scary" Mrs. Dubose. Her death complicates his feelings about himself and how he views bravery. Mrs. Dubose's death moves Jem and makes him more receptive to his emotions and the others around him, which then allows him to see that emotions can and should be part of bravery.
Jem continues to develop, and, as readers reach the end of the story, it is clear a change has occurred or, at least begun to have occurred. In the courtroom scene, Jem finally begins to mature and attain the kind of Atticus-like bravery he has always set out to acquire. This is evidenced by his strong, willing demeanor to protect his family and Atticus's precious approval. After Jem sees how Atticus acts with both compassion and bravery, Jem starts to see that courage is more about emotion mixed with courage than suppressing emotion. At the court, Atticus orders Jem to go home, but Jem has something else in mind: “‘Go home, Jem,’ [Atticus] said. “‘Take Scout and Dill home.’ We were accustomed to prompt, if not always cheerful acquiescence to Atticus’s instructions, but from the way he stood Jem was not thinking of budging" (128). In this scene, Jem stands up to his father. This, in and of itself, is a brave act. However, unlike earlier in the novel, Jem is not boastful about this. Instead, he " Was not thinking about budging." The argument continues, and Jem remains steadfast. He denies Atticus, not because he is a daredevil, but because Jem is protecting his family. He attains the Atticus-like courage through bravery for his family. Unlike before, this isn't self-centered or careless bravery, but one that helps others. Scout is extremely surprised at her brother's reaction to her father, and even more surprised with her father's reaction:
Atticus and Jem were well ahead of us, and I assumed that Atticus was giving him hell for not going home, but I was wrong. As they passed under a streetlight, Atticus reached out and massaged Jem’s hair, his one gesture of affection. (130)
To further reinforce Jem's transition to Atticus-approved bravery, Atticus "reached out and massaged Jem's hair, his one gesture of affection." Atticus understands that standing up to him must have been scary for Jem. Therefore, Atticus rewards the fact that Jem has exercised bravery correctly, in order to protect his family. Throughout the trial, readers can see Jem's fumbling mastery and understanding of true, Atticus-like bravery.
Part of growing up is understanding the true mean of certain values, Harper Lee highlights this very efficiently through Jem's evolving perception of the meaning of bravery.

In the beginning, Jem has a daredevil sense of courage. Slowly, through the death of Mrs. Dubose, he begins to understand that emotions are part of showing courage. Finally, after the trial, Jem fully understands that emotions, not pure fearlessness, are what makes a person courageous. This evolution also speaks to the readers of To Kill a Mockingbird. The evolution of Jem's bravery shows that bravery isn't macho or based on daredevil-like acts; rather, it is based on intelligence, compassion, and courage. Harper Lee breaks down incorrect and potentially harmful stereotypes about bravery through Jem's own evolution and understanding of bravery. Stereotypes play a large role in a typical teenagers life, if its how you dress or how you talk. We all us stereotyping all the time, without knowing it. We have the equality, and the enemy is us. Jem shows a stereotype of bravery when he learns there is more to being brave then just that. Overall, Jem Finch's growth in what it means to be brave allows readers to break their stereotypes and understand what true bravery consists

of.