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Character analysis to kill a mockingbird
Coming of age as a theme in literary texts
To kill a mockingbird character analysis
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“To KIll a Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee is a very engaging, and educational piece, enlightening generations to come. Jampacked with emotions and morals, the book tells a story about a small family in a smaller town in the 1930s. There are many coming-of-age scenes in the book for a plethora of characters. The most noble of these scenes is the scene in the forest where Jem and Scout are attacked. In this essay, the discussion will follow how both Jem and Scout come-of-age in, or as a result of this scene. Before the analysis of how the two characters come-of-age, we must first assess the scene itself. The scene follows Jem and Scout through a thick forest on Halloween night. As they walk in their lonesome, they are attacked without notice. In astonishment, Scout falls over, blinded by her costume. In the heat of the moment, Jem fights off the strange figure as long as he could, giving Scout time to run. Unfortunately, Scout was having trouble collecting herself and as a result, her brother is knocked unconscious. Scout lay helpless of the ground, in fear of her life, when someone, who is later revealed to be Boo Radley, saves her, and grabs Jem and runs to the Finch’s house. …show more content…
This is a coming-of-age scene for Jem because he, in a state of distress and havoc, made the selfless act to putting his sister’s life above his own.
Jem could have easily run and left Scout to fend for herself, but instead, he stayed. This is a coming-of-age scene because in risking his own life to save his sister, Jem shows a great level of maturity and thus, coming of age. In this scene, the characters did not have time to assess their situation and react accordingly, like I get to. No. They had to react on instinct, it was fight-or-flight. Jem, in order to save his sister, subconsciously stayed to fight, fight for
her. This scene wasn’t only a coming-of-age scene for Jem. As a result of this scene, Scout too had come-of-age. By being exposed to the heroism of her brother, Scout learned selflessness, she learned about compassion and care, and how they affected Jem’s, “decision,” to stay and fight. And afterwards, when Scout, Jem, Boo, and Atticus were all at the house, Scout learned something deeper. She learned about Boo. Throughout the plot of this book, to Scout, Boo was a figure, an object, a mystery, but never was he a person. To Scout, Boo was never a someone; someone who could feel; someone who could think. Not until this scene. In this scene, he was now someone, someone who she had a new respect for, not the respect he had for him as a mystery, respect for him as a human. This realization she has about Boo, matured her into someone who has come of age. In conclusion, the scene in the woods, that Halloween night was one of, if not the most powerful coming-of-age scene in the book, To Kill a Mockingbird. It build maturity, emotion, resolve not only for the characters in the book, but in readers who felt the scene as well. This scene really brought out the best then the characters. Lee did a phenomenal job, creation emotion in this 1960 book that everyone can learn from. It’s with scenes like this one that create real literature.
Everyone goes through different changes as they grow up. Maturing, coming of age, and doing the right thing are important themes in Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird. This theme is most often seen in the character Jeremy “Jem” Finch. He portrays this theme when he begins to enter puberty and becomes a young man. Jeremy starts to become more independent, wiser and more able to comprehend adult situations; Jem begins to get a better grasp on things. Other characters that demonstrate this theme are Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, and Arthur “Boo” Radley. Harper Lee shows how Scout comes of age in similar ways to Jem. Scout begins to grow up and become more tolerant of others by “putting herself in another person’s skin”. Boo displays his “coming of age” in a somewhat different way than Jem and Scout. There’s a scene in To Kill A Mockingbird where Boo has the chance to do the right thing by putting himself in harm’s way in order to save lives, and he takes the chance. To Kill A Mockingbird is a book that is overflowing with the theme “coming of age” (whether it is shown through the main character or others). This theme is important to the story because these characters are a small example of the changes that Maycomb needs to undergo. Jeremy Finch is the character in which this theme is most represented in.
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.
Although she struggles at first, Scout develops a higher level of maturity which allows her to control her temper and simply defend her father with her words, without being rude. Jem is also faced with these type of situations and struggles with his anger, for instance when he attacks Mrs. Dubose’s flowers. Atticus goes to great lengths to teach his children that in life, they must learn to stay calm and be kind to everyone, despite how cruel those people may be. Scout and Jem face several situations in which their control is tested, which leads them to “come of age” and develop skills necessary for adulthood. They learn to defend Atticus and themselves by using words and developing self-control.
Scout begins to recognize that she and Jem were beginning to think differently; they are both growing and maturing. He is starting to act like a young adult, trying to please Atticus and stay out of trouble. Scout does not yet fully comprehend the fact that he is growing up. The age gap and different experiences lead them ...
Jem is growing up all the time. This can be seen when he stops Scout
Imagine just two young kids maturing within a matter of years. Imagine that same two kids, experiencing or understanding things that they aren’t meant to at a young age. Jem and Scout were just like that. They have experienced many things that they shouldn’t have at their age. Scout on the other hand, seems to be the one maturing the most. Throughout this whole essay, you will learn about Jem and Scout’s attributes, personality, and how alike or different they are from each other.
As children we are oblivious to the influence of those who surround us . We chose to see the greater good in humanity rather than the obvious truth. We are influenced by our environment and choose to abide to the morals presented to us. This applies directly to the novel to Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, which moves along with the lives of two young children ;Scout and Jem. Along with the obstacles they face and the exposure they have to the ideas of racism, gender roles, and degenerate morals. Throughout the novel it is evident that Scout and Jem go from naïveté to maturity due to their surroundings, influence of family members, and the arising controversy of the Tom Robinson case. They both develop
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.
This passage of the story displays coming of age as an internal force through Jem’s character, conflict, and setting. This event led Jem to see situations in a different perspective. He learns that people might come out as rude. But, as hard as it is he must remain respectful, because he would not know what kind of battles they must be facing. He uses this coming of age experience as a life lesson more throughout the
...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.
Harper Lee highlights the innocence of Scout and Jem early in the book, then presents a maturation process in their personalities throughout the book. For example, in the introduction, when the children are interested in attempting to get Boo Radley out of his house, Dill bets Jem that Jem would never get farther than the gate of the Radley’s house: “In all his life, Jem had never declined a dare.” (13) The Radley house being haunted is quite an immature idea, as the kids are take a minor instance and make it an ordeal. Additionally, Jem is taking a risk, yet he has not learned the consequences that can accompany such a risk, and Harper Lee uses this moment of interaction between Jem and Dill to introduce their childish nature. Next, Scout has a habit of getting into fistfights when she becomes angered. When questioned as to why she was fighting Walter in the first place she replied “He didn’t have any lunch.” (22) Scout does not have valid reasoning to instigate a fight with Walter. Therefore, her immaturity is demonstrated. Finally, after the incident at school involving Walter Cunningham not having lunch money, Scout and Atticus have a talk...
Jem’s identity changes when Mrs. Dubose finally passes, after reading for her as an apology for ruining her flowers. Atticus explains why he had his son do this, teaching him a lesson that changes him for the rest of the story. “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 an with a gun in his hand.” (Lee 112) Atticus’ words show how Jem’s identity changed because he learned how to be strong in the real way. Strength is not always physical, but the way one handles things can show their true power. Jem learned from Mrs. Dubose’s death and his father’s wisdom that he needs to be courageous; doing things that he may not always want to and understanding others. Jem starts to really grow up after this moment. With siblings, it is not unusual for things to be shared: toys, food, and experiences. Scout’s identity also goes through change during the events surrounding Tom Robinson’s trial. She loses a great amount of her innocent, exposed to others’ pain and truths. Certain townsfolk are less than kind to Atticus for him defending Tom Robinson, causing their children to lash out at the Finch children as well. “’Somehow, if I fought Cecil I would let Atticus down.’” (Lee 77) After learning what Cecil’s hateful words truly mean, Scout decides to be the bigger person and not pick a fight. She is showing maturity through her restraint, and displaying her respect for her father. Scout’s identity in To Kill a Mockingbird affirms that identity is how you are influenced by the experiences in your life because she would not have been the same character without the events that
The key coming of age scene I am going to analyze is the jailhouse scene where the children run up next to Atticus when a mob of people show up with weapons. This scene uses voice, setting, and imagery to show the coming of age of Jem and Scout when Jem disobeys his father and Scout uses her words instead of her fists.
1. Scout and Jem are both entering their early teenager years and are expected to be more mature and work there way into man/womanhood. One piece of evidence that demonstrates Jem is maturing is shown on (Lee 227). ‘If there’s just one kind of folks, why can’t they get along with each other? If they’re