Examples Of Maturity In To Kill A Mockingbird

Jem shows a progression of maturity throughout the novel. Jem continues to mature with age. In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Jem is like a second father figure to Scout and Dill because of his maturity. These paragraphs will show examples of Jems progression of maturity through and and through the novel. Jem is shown even in the early years to be immature. Dill lights a fire under a turtle. Dill said striking a match under a turtle was hateful. “How do you know a match don't hurt him?’ ‘Turtles can't feel, stupid,’ said Jem. ‘Where you ever a turtle, huh?’ (14). He shows he doesn’t care about animals and could care less about Dill lighting the turtle on fire. Later on, he shows his growth when he tells Scout not to kill the bug. “Don’t

In the beginning of the book, all Jem would think about was Boo Radley. They even came up with a game. A moment in particular was when Jem and Dill wanted to give Boo a note but Atticus catches them. “What were you trying to give him?’ ‘Just a letter’ ‘Let me see it.’ Jem took the filthy piece of paper. Atticus took it and tried to read it. ‘Why do you want Mr. Radley to come out?”(65). Even though these games and letters were mostly benign, Atticus saw that this was not mature of Jem and Scout to create and play this game making fun of Boo Radley. That was what Jem, Dill and Scout were focused on for a portion of their lives. Later on, Jem and Scout no longer have interest in seeing Boo. “...I was well into the second grade at school and tormenting Boo became passé…”(132). Later on in his life, Jem was no longer interested with getting to see Boo, as it says in the quote it became passé. He also soon would be preoccupied with the trial of Tom Robinson to even worry about getting to see Boo Radley. Scout, always looking to her brother as an example, stoped interest in Boo as well. This shows that Scout looks to her brother as an example and looks to him to see what is acceptable by