Ryan Talley
Mrs. Malone
English 9H Period 5
05 March 2023
Jem’s Journey Coming of Age “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view --until you climb into his skin and walk around in it”(Lee 39). This is what Atticus Finch tells his kids that start their coming of age and worldview in Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, which takes place in the small fictional town of Maycomb in the 1900s. Although one of the protagonists Jem is fairly young in the novel, his actions and growth significantly show how far he has matured in these years of his life. Throughout the novel, Jem shows many aspects of his coming of age and becoming like his father, but one great example of his development is his view
…show more content…
One of the best showcases of this is when a mob shows up at the Finch's house to try and lynch Tom Robinson. This is shown when Atticus says “I said go home.” and “Jem [shakes] his head” (Lee 203). Even though Jem disobeys Atticus by staying, Atticus ends up being grateful for this because the kids help de-escalate the situation. This shows Jem standing for what he thinks needs to be done according to his judgment. The outcome of these judgments he is making helps him appreciate Boo Radley and recognizes him as a person too. Jem shows this idea when telling Scout “Someday, maybe, Scout can thank him for covering her up” recognizing Boo as a normal person (Lee 96 ). Instead of a crazy scary man like the gossip that had been spread said he was. Overall Jem's ideas and standards for himself have increased, proof of this goes as far as Atticus telling Jem that “If you had been on that jury son, and eleven other boys like you, Tom would be a free man” showing that Atticus trusts in Jem to make decisions. As well as standing up for what he thinks is right morally (Lee 295). Jem's morals that he stands up for show how much he really has matured throughout the