To Kill a Mokingbird

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TO KILL A MOKINGBIRD
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Jem mature considerably through the course of the novel. What developmental changes do they go through, and what causes these changes?"

To Kill a Mockingbird', written by Harper Lee, depicts a tenacious sense of maturity that you can see through the novel. Maturity, the word has a different meaning for every individual. Maturity can be seen as an understanding that comes with experience rather than age though the two usually seem to go together but not always. Jem and Scout Finch learn the real life in Maycomb County as a result of certain events that force them to grow up .Such as the trial of Tom Robinson, after this event he comes to understand the different kind of courage, nature of people, and finally he can understand Bob Radley

Jem learns a different kind of courage after learning about Mrs. Dubose's fight with a morphine addiction. Jem and Scout disliked Mrs. Dubose because she was quite a mean person. Later, they were glad they didn't have to read to her anymore. Atticus told Jem that Mrs. Dubose simply had her own views on things, and that her fits were from her addiction. Atticus made Jem read to her and explained, "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 anyway According to [Mrs. Dubose's] view, she died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew. (Lee, 1960 pg. 112)" This is similar to Atticus's choice to defend Tom. Mrs. Dubose knew she wouldn't live, but she fought the addiction anyway. These events changed the way Jem thought of courage, more than just touching the side of the Radley house.

Growing up can mean taking on more responsibility and having the ability to distinguish right from wrong. When Dill ran away from home and was found hiding under Scout's bed, Jem repeatedly suggests that Atticus should be aware about the situation. While Jem went to tell Atticus Scout thought, "[Jem] broke the remaining code of our childhood." (Lee 1960, Pg155) Jem shows maturity when he insists on Dill telling his mother of his whereabouts and as a result he broke the final code of childhood. Jem at this point started to get or show qualities of his father, Atticus.
Throughout the book, Jem also learns about the nature of people in Maycomb. Shortly, Jem and Scout have been finding gifts in the tree near the Boo Radley household, and they decide to write a thank-you note and leave it in the tree. On the day he and Scout choose to leave the note, he found out that someone had plugged the knothole of the tree with cement. The tree was still alive and healthy. "[Jem] stood there until nightfall and I waited for him," Says Scout. "When we went in the house, I saw he had been crying; his face was dirty in the right places, but I thought it odd that I had not heard him. (Peg. 63)" Jem realizes that Boo Radley had been sending the gifts; Jem understands Nathan Radley cemented the tree to keep Boo shut up in the house, and now knows how cruel people can be. And he realize how the people from town have been with Bob they are talking about someone they don’t and

The trial opened Jem's eyes; it revealed the true injustice lurking in Maycomb and allowed him to think deeper about the reality of the world. After the trial Jem asked Atticus how the jury could convict Tom Robinson when he really was innocent, Atticus replied, "'I don't know, but they did it. They've done it before, and they did it tonight...'" (LEE, 1960, Pg. 235) Jem was now notating with the unfair and racism that distort his perspective of Maycomb. Also, after the jury decided Tom was guilty despite no evidence of the events, Jem once again cries, angry at the justice system. "It was Jem's turn to cry. His face was streaked with angry tears as we made our way through the cheerful crowd. It isn’t right,' he muttered. It isn’t right, Atticus,' said Jem. No son, it's not right' (Lee, 1960, pg. 212)" Jem is unable to accept the result because it was unjust. The jury, ignoring any evidence shown, votes not to take the word of a black man over the word of a white man and declares Tom guilty and thoroughly upsets Jem. Jem realizes how unkind and prejudiced people can be.

Jem learns what true courage is; and collectively, they learn about society that will stick with them for much of their life. Scout learns about looking at people from a different angle through Boo Radley Likewise, Jem learns about true courage through Mrs. Dubose. And, he learns about society through the courtroom and the case. The development of the moral education Jem is clearly revealed throughout the novel along with their of understanding of how society functions.”