Examples Of Jem's Bildungsroman In To Kill A Mockingbird
Jem’s Bildungsroman in the story To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee started off as a young boy who saw his father as a weak, feeble, old man as stated on page 121 where his father was unable to play sports to become a man who blossoms to a super human in Jem’s perspective. To Kill A Mockingbird is Jem’s bildungsroman because he transitions to becoming a morally changed person when he witnesses Atticus’s bravery.
Initially, Jem had started off as a trouble making child to a maturing adult, for example, he started playing the Boo Radley game and eventually stops. “Son” he said to Jem, “I’m going to tell you something and tell you one time: Stop tormenting that man...You want to be a lawyer, don’t you? Our fathers mouth was suspiciously firm,
as if he were trying to hold it in line...Jem yelled after him, “I thought I wanted to be a lawyer, but I ain’t so sure now!” (Lee 65). This depicts Jem disobeying his father, Jem kept harassing the Radleys. This supports the topic sentence because he is rebelling with his father. Usually, most children start rebelling by showing their parents who they truly are. Jem and his father, Atticus are currently having a fight between son and father. This would show the maturation by this, Jem is disobeying his father’s orders. After Atticus yells at Jem to stop harassing Boo Radley, Jem eventually stops playing with Boo Radley game.
Secondly, Jem sees his father as a very weak old man who cannot do much and cannot do anything a young father could do. “Jem underlined it when he asked Atticus if he was going out for the Methodist and Atticus said he’d break his neck if he did, he was just too old for that sort of thing.” (Lee 121). Jem just wanted to play Football with his father like the other children with their fathers. The one issue is that Jem isn’t like the other children. Since Jem can’t play football with his father like the other children, he is on the bench watching the children bond with their fathers.
Lastly, Jem starts to mature and see his father change throughout the area where his father does something worthwhile. “Jem was paralyzed. I pinched him to get his moving but when Atticus saw us coming he called, “stay where you are...come here,” he said to Jem. “Don’t go near that dog you understand?” Don’t go near him, he’s just as dangerous dead as alive,” “Yes sir,” said Jem. (Lee 128). Atticus killed a dog, a rabid dog, using a gun. This surprises the children and everyone in the city because Atticus has never been seen using any sort of weapon because of his possible old age. Jem first saw his father as a old frail man who can’t do much. Now that he witnessed his father shoot a dog, Jem starts referring and taking orders from Atticus. Jem starts calling Atticus,”Sir”.
CONCLUSION
Admittedly, this is a bildungsroman that changes Jem’s psychological mind set that changes and evolves, which in lieu ages Jem into a mature young adult. Jem and Atticus, the two males in the Finch family start off as a argumentative father and son ordeal to a much more mature and understanding relationship, especially during a time when racism and poverty were on the rise.
Initially, Jem had started off as a trouble making child to a maturing adult, for example, he started playing the Boo Radley game and eventually stops. “Son” he said to Jem, “I’m going to tell you something and tell you one time: Stop tormenting that man...You want to be a lawyer, don’t you? Our fathers mouth was suspiciously firm,
as if he were trying to hold it in line...Jem yelled after him, “I thought I wanted to be a lawyer, but I ain’t so sure now!” (Lee 65). This depicts Jem disobeying his father, Jem kept harassing the Radleys. This supports the topic sentence because he is rebelling with his father. Usually, most children start rebelling by showing their parents who they truly are. Jem and his father, Atticus are currently having a fight between son and father. This would show the maturation by this, Jem is disobeying his father’s orders. After Atticus yells at Jem to stop harassing Boo Radley, Jem eventually stops playing with Boo Radley game.
Secondly, Jem sees his father as a very weak old man who cannot do much and cannot do anything a young father could do. “Jem underlined it when he asked Atticus if he was going out for the Methodist and Atticus said he’d break his neck if he did, he was just too old for that sort of thing.” (Lee 121). Jem just wanted to play Football with his father like the other children with their fathers. The one issue is that Jem isn’t like the other children. Since Jem can’t play football with his father like the other children, he is on the bench watching the children bond with their fathers.
Lastly, Jem starts to mature and see his father change throughout the area where his father does something worthwhile. “Jem was paralyzed. I pinched him to get his moving but when Atticus saw us coming he called, “stay where you are...come here,” he said to Jem. “Don’t go near that dog you understand?” Don’t go near him, he’s just as dangerous dead as alive,” “Yes sir,” said Jem. (Lee 128). Atticus killed a dog, a rabid dog, using a gun. This surprises the children and everyone in the city because Atticus has never been seen using any sort of weapon because of his possible old age. Jem first saw his father as a old frail man who can’t do much. Now that he witnessed his father shoot a dog, Jem starts referring and taking orders from Atticus. Jem starts calling Atticus,”Sir”.
CONCLUSION
Admittedly, this is a bildungsroman that changes Jem’s psychological mind set that changes and evolves, which in lieu ages Jem into a mature young adult. Jem and Atticus, the two males in the Finch family start off as a argumentative father and son ordeal to a much more mature and understanding relationship, especially during a time when racism and poverty were on the rise.