Paths to Adulthood

953 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The great gatsby critical essay on love

Jeremiah Atticus “Jem” Finch, the older brother of the Scout, transitions into adolescence during the course of To Kill a Mockingbird. At the start of the novel, he is Scout’s constant playmate, and being four years her senior, he tries to protect her. As a “born hero,” Jem is always the star of the plays that the Scout and Dill, their summertime playmate, create. “Jem’s head at times was transparent: he had thought that up to make me understand he wasn’t afraid of Radleys in any shape or form, to contrast his own fearless heroism with my cowardice.” (pg. 21) Jem is also constantly searching for loopholes in Atticus’s rules, convinced that he could avoid punishment, proving that he is still very much in a child’s world. As the story progresses, Jem starts to distance himself from Scout’s games and becomes more of an authority figure, treating Dill and her as young children to establish himself as an adult. Jem does not always take the most popular route, but he always does the most moral and righteous thing. “Dill’s eyes flickered at Jem, and Jem looked at the floor. Then he rose and broke the remaining code of our childhood. He went out of the room and down the hall. “Atticus,” his voice was distant, “can you come here a minute, sir?'” (pg. 74) Jem’s view towards his father also changes when he risks being shot by Mr. Radley when he returns to collect his pants so that he can avoid the dishonor of having Atticus be disappointed in him. Towards the end of the novel, when Jem hears verdict of the Tom Robinson trial, the darkness of reality destroys whats left of his optimistic innocence. It dispels everything that he had previously held to be true, and Jem is unable to comprehend why people would harbor prejudices. “‘If there... ... middle of paper ... ...essons Scout learns is to stand in others shoes. She had always seen Boo Radley as a villainous monster with no capacity for feeling, but has her perspective vastly shifted when he rescued her from the destructive Mr. Ewell. After meeting him, Scout begins to view herself in a different and more adult manner, even if it does not necessarily make her happier. Neighbors bring food with death and flowers with sickness and little things in between. Boo was our neighbor. He gave us two soap dolls, a broken watch and chain, a pair of good-luck pennies, and our lives. But neighbors give in return. We never put back into the tree what we took out of it: we had given him nothing, and it made me sad. (pg. 148) Though Scout is still young at the end of the book, only nine, her view towards life has shifted from that of a carefree child to that of someone much older than she.

Show More
Related

  • Jem´s Maturity in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

    688 Words  | 2 Pages

    Jem had changed throughout the story from acting like a child and doing things that children do to becoming more mature and taking part in the community. When Dill had ran away from his mom and stepdad during the summer Jem and Scout had found him under the bed in Scout’s room. Scout was planning to hide him in her room: however, Jem had other plans. “Dill’s eyes flickered at Jem and Jem looked at the floor. Then he rose and broke the remaining code of our childhood. He went out of the room and down the hall. “Atticus, can you come here a minute, sir?” (pg. 74) For years, Jem and Dill had been the best of friends. Dill had found Jem trustworthy, however, Jem was willing to do what was right even if it means losing a friends trust. Towards the end of the summer, when Dill was getting ready to leave Jem felt that it was necessary that Dill should learn to swim. He has spent the next week going to the creek to teach him. "Jem had discovered with angry amazement that nobody had ever bothered to teach Dill how to swim, a skill Jem considered necessary as walking. They had spent two afternoons at the creek, they said they were going in ...

    Read More

  • Atticus Finch Courage in To Kill a Mockingbird

    1356 Words  | 3 Pages

    "She had her own views about things, a lot different from mine, maybe.son, I told you that if you hadn't lost your head I'd have made you go read to her. I wanted you to see something about her-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" (128). Scout's change of maturity level is defined by a progression towards understanding Atticus' life lessons, which halt at the ending chapters of the book when Scout recognizes Boo Radley as a human being. After the night when Bob Ewell's life ends, Boo Radley exposes himself as a kindhearted man who Scout can relate with.

    Read More

  • Who Is Jem Dare In To Kill A Mockingbird

    715 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Jem's Growth in Harper Lee’s Novel, To Kill a Mockingbird

    1278 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mockingbird The Maturing of Jem Finch

    1029 Words  | 3 Pages

    To Kill A Mockingbird              The Maturing of Jem Finch Society is not as innocent to a child as it may appear to be. In fact, when one really understands the society in which he lives he is no longer a child. This is much the same case as found in To Kill A Mockingbird, by Leigh Harper. Although Jem, being a child at the beginning of the novel, is immature and unaware of the society in which he lives, he matures mentally to the point where he sees the evil in society and gains a knowledge of death. Like most children, at the beginning of To Kill A Mockingbird Jem and Scout are both young, play together, and have childhood monsters or fears like other children.

    Read More

  • Jem Quotes Courage

    477 Words  | 1 Pages

    He also starts to think more about whats right instead of thinking what others will think about his decision. For ex amble when Dill is hiding under Scout‘s bed he calls in Atticus much to his friends dismay. Jem again shows maturity when Scout is beating Walter Cunningham and Jem stops it because he know that the Cunninghams don‘t have money and therefore he cant help it that he doesn‘t have lunchmoney. Jem understands that instead of fighting him they should treat him with respect and he asks Walter to come have lunch at their house.

    Read More

  • Compassion and Tolerance in To Kill A Mockingbird

    629 Words  | 2 Pages

    Jem displays values like compassion and tolerance by believing that all men are created equal no matter which race, religion, or attitude they have. He shows this when he hears the verdict of Tom Robinson's trial. 'It was Jem's turn to cry. His face was streaked with angry tears as we made our way through the cheerful crowd. 'It ain't right,' he muttered, all the way to the corner of the square where we found Atticus'; (212). This is the first time he realizes that there was injustice in the world. He slowly matures and begins to understand that there are such thing as prejudice and racism.

    Read More

  • Loss Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

    648 Words  | 2 Pages

    Jem’s compassion towards the roly-poly and his reasoning for disallowing Scout to kill it highlights Jems inner awakening. After witnessing the treatment of Tom Robinson during the trial, how he was persecuted, accused, and attacked for doing no wrong, Jem has clearly grown to reject this brutality, maturing into his new self.

    Read More

  • Influence Of Maturity In To Kill A Mockingbird

    1303 Words  | 3 Pages

    Jem becomes more mature by discovering the evil in the world when the hole in the Radley tree is filled in and when Tom Robinson is convicted by the jury. Also, his respect for his family is strengthened after his father shoots the mad dog, and when he and Scout are attacked. Finally, through Atticus’s determination to help Tom, and the reading Jem is forced to do for Mrs. Dubose, Jem’s maturity considerably increases when he learns the genuine value of bravery. As Jem’s thoughts change throughout these events, so does the way he views life. His innocence is lifted, and he matures first in respect to his family, and later to other people in his life. He is influenced by his thoughts and he shows his maturity through his actions. Jem’s example shows that the events one experiences in life will shape the kind of person they become. The more one experiences, the more he or she will develop, whether or not it is for the

    Read More

  • How Does Mrs. Dubosee Mature In To Kill A Mockingbird

    407 Words  | 1 Pages

    After Jem ruins Mrs.Dubose’s yard, his anger has not quite dissipated so he takes it out on Scout by fighting her. Unable to tolerate Mrs.Dubose’s ignorant statements about someone he cares about, Jem instinctively lashes out, which exhibits his struggle with emotional control. Although Atticus lectures him multiple times to not let what she says get to him, his compulsive nature causes him to act inappropriately. Another case of Jem’s impulsive personality occurs late one night, when Jem notices that Atticus takes the car into town- an unusual behavior since Atticus always walks. Jem spontaneously acts out of curiosity and decides to follow his father, regardless of the danger and consequences that could possibly follow. When Scout hears Jem prepare to sneak out, she intervenes and exclaims, “‘It’s almost ten o’clock Jem.’ He knew it, but he was going anyway” (Lee 149). He disregards his common sense and leaves, fully aware that his plan could lead to disaster. Similar to the incident with Mrs. Dubose, his impulses result in a

    Read More

  • What Does Miss Maudie Symbolize In To Kill A Mockingbird

    1516 Words  | 4 Pages

    First, he is mocked at school and around town by kids because their father, Atticus Finch, is defending Tom Robinson. Even adults mistreat him, such as Mrs. Dubose, who says during her routine attack, “‘Yes indeed, what has this world come to when a Finch goes against his raising. . .Your father’s no better than the. . .trash he works for” (135)! Although this nastiness is the usual for Mrs. Dubose, this is out of the ordinary for her; she will say things about Scout and Jem, but never about Atticus. Jem usually minds his own business, as Atticus tells him to do, but now Jem is being targeted for something he is impotent to, making him a mockingbird. Next, he loses his innocence about the world from the trial, believing that Tom will be treated fairly, and Atticus will ‘save the day’. When he learns the verdict of the jury, Jem is indignant at the actions of the court. He always believed that the court was a place of fair trial and was sure that the case would end in Tom’s favor; even whispering,” ‘We’ve got him” (238) when Mr. Ewell testifies. But when Tom is found guilty, Jem realizes something about Maycomb and the world, later confessing to Miss Maudie that, “It’s like bein’ a caterpillar in a cocoon, that’s what it is. . .Like somethin’ asleep wrapped up

    Read More

  • Jem's Trial Quotes

    825 Words  | 2 Pages

    When the trial ends, Jem is distressed. He understood Tim Robinson’s reasoning and his father’s defense. He, and the jury, knows that Tom Robinson is innocent. Jem is maturing, although he still clings to his childish ideals that the good always win. The fact that his neighbors are accusing a vulnerable man to death is a hard for Jem to handle, and he beg Atticus for a justification.

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mockingbird Rough Draft Analysis

    812 Words  | 2 Pages

    Jem is a young boy who grew up through a court trial and many other incidents that occurred during his childhood. Jem is a character in the book: To Kill a Mocking bird by Harper Lee and he grows and develops new thoughts on life. To Kill a Mocking bird portrays growing up through Jem’s lessons and experiences.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Coming Of Age In To Kill A Mockingbird

    1239 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird Jem and Scout are both examples of characters whose coming-of-age process involves gaining different perspectives. In the story, Jem’s character is continuously going through the motions of growing up. It is obvious that Harper Lee wanted Jem to portray a young boy

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mockingbird Jem's Transformation Essay

    477 Words  | 1 Pages

    This was the start of Jem starting to become fearless. Moreover, Jem find a way to deal with Atticus facing a mad dog, Mrs. Dubose fighting addiction, and Scout’s confrontation with the mob at the jail, all at the same time! Instead of backing down, he accepted this, and moved on. In addition to this, Jem must devote some of his time and efforts to being Scout’s counselor. At the beginning of the story, Jem didn’t want to have anything to do with Scout; often ignoring her at school, and telling her to stay away from him. But later on in the story, he changed. Whenever Scout was feeling depressed, or in trouble, Jem would be there to suppress the situation, and make it better. He would occasionally offer Scout emotional guidance, telling her to do things such as be less defiant and follow orders, or to relax and listen. Also, being that he is her older brother, he must set the model that she must follow. Besides sacrificing his time and efforts to Scout, he also sacrifices himself to Atticus, as he’d rather be personally injured, than to disappoint him and/or see him get

    Read More

More about Paths to Adulthood

Open Document