Bob Ewell threatens Atticus and the children are terrified, while Atticus remains calm and tries to carry on with life normally. They are informed that one of the Cunningham’s argued for the acquittal of Tom Robinson and it causes Scout to want to become friends with young Walter Cunningham. Aunt Alexandra completely rejects the idea, stating that the Cunninghams are trash and nothing would change that, even kinship. Jem later comforts Scout, and tries to explain his new revelation about their town to her. “There’s four kinds of folks in the world. There’s the ordinary kind like us and the neighbors, there’s the kind the Cunninghams out in the woods, the kind like the Ewells down at the dump, and the Negroes.” (226) In his own way, Jem has …show more content…
Scout is to play a ham in a pageant about Maycomb’s agricultural tributes, during the carnival held at the high school. She messes up during the play, and hides in shame in her costume on the walk home with Jem. As they walk, Jem hears suspicious noises, but his brotherly instinct is to keep Scout calm and unaware of danger. Scout sees through his transparent attempts instantly. “[He] was talking in an unhurried, flat toneless voice. [Scout] wondered how long he would try to keep the Cecil myth going.” (261) Bob Ewell is their pursuer and the children begin to run, but Scout’s incoordination in her costume causes her to trip and fall. “[Jem] was up like lightning and pulling [Scout] with him but, though [her] head and shoulders were free, [she] was so entangled, [they] didn’t get very far.” (262) His handling of the situation in an adult-like, mature manner, and value of family over self survival is his last step from the world of adolescence into true manhood. His love for his sister is stronger than his fear in such a life threatening situation, and he breaks his arm and falls unconscious in the process. As complicating as the process is, Jem learns the real essence of a gentleman and what real valor is in the jumbled society he lives