Jem Coming Of Age Character Analysis

Everyone has to grow up eventually. Jem is the older brother of the main character of To Kill A Mockingbird: Scout. Jem has been going through puberty and begins to believe that he has control over the actions of others which Scout feels the opposite. Jem’s coming of age experience is developed during school through person V. person conflict, dialogue and irony.
Person V. Person- Jem is annoyed by Scout’s behavior around Aunt Alexandra, believing that the way Scout antagonizes Aunt Alexandra is a bother to Atticus. This leads to threats of violence to actual violence. “My feathers rose again. ‘You tryin’ to tell me what to do?’ ‘Naw, it’s- he’s got a lot on his mind now, without us worrying him’ … ‘Jee crawling hova, Jem! Who do you think
Jem, worried for Dill’s Parents, calls Atticus up the stairs, which betrays Dill wish to keep this a secret so he won’t have to back to neglectful parents. “ ‘You oughta let your mother know where you are,’ said Jem. ‘You oughta let her know you’re here.’ … 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.’ … ‘Mr. Finch, don’t tell Aunt Rachel, don’t me go back, please sir! I’ll run off again-!’ ” (160-161). This is once again showing how adult Jem is becoming. He is acting in a parent role to Dill. It even states in the book, that him telling Atticus that Dill had ran away from home. Scout claims that he broke “the remaining code of our childhood.” Jem has officially became an adult in his eyes. He understands that if he were to keep Dill hidden, that Atticus will eventually find him and they would all be in trouble. He shows deep understanding on this situation. Before all this took place Jem and Scout felt Atticus wasn't the best compared to the other fathers, believing he was ‘weak and
Classmates would always show off their father with their cool jobs, while Jem and Scout's Dad is just a attorney. But this changes when a rabid dog is spotted in town. Atticus and the town Sheriff are standing in front of the dog when the sheriff hands Atticus his gun. After a while convincing, Atticus takes the guns and shoots the dog, and kills it, with only one shot. Scout and Jem are surprised by the act Atticus pulled. They find out from their neighbors that Atticus is know as ‘One Shot Finch’ “Atticus was feeble: he was nearly fifty, When Jem and I asked him why he was so old, he said he got started late, which we felt reflected upon his abilities” (102) “Forgot to tell you the other day that besides playing the Jew’s Harp, Atticus Finch was the deadest shot in Maycomb County in his time, ” Heck Tate told them (112). The irony from all this is that Jem believed that Atticus was a weak old man, but in reality he was ‘One Shot Finch’ the Deadest Shot in Maycomb