How Does Jem Mature

Throughout the story, as Jem grows up, he learns many life lessons as he encounters a variety of events. These lessons made him mature as a better individual gradually.

One significant lesson that Jem learned as part of growing was during the encounter with Mrs Dubose. Mrs Dubose stated that Atticus was "not only a Finch waiting on tables but one in the courthouse lawing for niggers", assessing the Finch's family mental hygiene and insulting Atticus, which caused Jem to be infuriated. Although Atticus had instructed him to "take it easy" and "hold [his] head high and be a gentlemen" without making Mrs Dubose mad, Jem "cut the tops off every camellia bush Mrs Dubose owned, until the grown was littered with green buds and leaves". The trouble that he caused ended up with him going over to Mrs Dubose's house "every afternoon after school and Saturdays and read to her
out loud for two hours" for a month. Jem might have been reluctant but it was part of the growing up process in the sense that he was learning compliance. Whenever they went over to Mrs Dubose's house, she would speak to Jem about her favorite topics, including her camellias and his father's "nigger-loving propensities". After which she would gradually become quiet and distance herself from them. At this point of time, her alarm clock would ring and Jessie would shoo them out.

During their first visit, they suspected she had fits as she "laid on her back with the quilts up to her chin", only showing "her head and shoulders".
She opened her tongue wide from time to time, collecting cords if saliva on her lips. "Her mouth seemed to have a private existence on its own", working "separate and apart from the rest of
her".

They finished the last week of reading to Mrs Dubose even though Jem was reluctant to continue reading to her. After that week, Mrs Dubose was not seen as often as "she was never on the porch any more when [they] passed". Atticus told them she had passed away and that she was addicted to morphine, which she took as a pain killer for years that was given by her doctor. Mrs Dubose displayed real courage as she struggled to fight her addiction to morphine. She neglected her own personal sufferings to follow her principles. She could have chosen to consume the drugs and die without agony, but she was determined to overcome her morphine addiction before dying. Even though she knew it would be hard, she had the courage to do it and pursued what she think was the right way to die. She persevered through her hard time and managed to do it in the end. Upon hearing the news that she passed away, Jem did not appear to be affected. However on looking closer, it is clear that he was actually affected, evident by him "fingering the wide petals" of the camellia that Mrs Dubose left for him.

He thought Mrs Dubose was a short-tempered and irritable old woman just from her appearance and the words she spoke.
He judged her before making an effort to know why she was so grumpy all the time. Despite all these and her pain during that period, she had specially requested Jessie to fix the box for Jem. After learning about the truth from Atticus, Jem realised that his judgment was wrong. Contrary to his initial thoughts about Mrs Dubose that she was a cantankerous old woman with no redeeming features, she was actually a courageous lady who chose the harder way out in order to uphold her beliefs. Yet it was already too late for Jem to redeem himself from his past mistreatment of Mrs Dubose. The only thing that he could do was to not let her death be in
vain.

The lesson Jem learnt was to not be too judgmental. It would be too hasty to make a conclusion or judgment on someone without first considering their circumstances. Jem understood that he had to be considerate and tolerant towards people and not mock or look down on them. He learnt to be understanding and empathetic to other people's situations, and always take responsibility for own actions someone else's shoes and attempt to see the world from their experiences. This allowed him to mature to become a better individual.