Jem Finch Trial

Over the course of the novel, Jem and Scout Finch learned just about every lesson essential in life. Although they are only nine and twelve when the story ends, they don’t have much left to learn in life. After living through a biased trial, a near-death experience, and prejudice these children understand a lot. If it wasn’t for people in their life like Atticus, Boo Radley, and Calpurnia, they wouldn’t be as compassionate and intelligent as they grow to be. The trial of Tom Robinson is very influential on Jem and Scout. This is an important depiction of how colored people were treated at the time. Although they are white and privileged, they understand that the trial was unjust. After the trial, the author writes, “I peeked at Jem, his hands were white from gripping the balcony rail, and his shoulders jerked as if each “guilty” was a separate stab between them” (Lee 282). Jem is smart enough to realize how obvious it was that Tom was innocent, but the
Everyone in the town respects him because he’s is a wise and fair man. He teaches his children to treat everyone with respect, what true bravery is, and to be humble. When talking about Mrs. Dubose's death, Atticus says, “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. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyways”(Lee 149). Although Mrs. Dubose was an awful old lady, Atticus always respected and admired her for her fighting until the end. Atticus was also a very firm believer in equality. Miss Maudie says after Atticus shoots the rabid dog, “I think maybe he out his gun down when he realized that God had given him an unfair advantage over most living things” (Lee 130). Atticus is very humble to the point where he lowers himself to be equal to everyone else. Jem and Scout mirror their father by learning qualities that are shown by