Maturity In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee, the concept of maturity is questioned through the serious events that take place during the young life of Scout and Jem. Within these events, the maturity of both children is pondered when discussing issues of race and how racism impacts society. While the debate of maturity does not have direct links to racism in most lives, the important takeaway is that their maturity was being decided for them by society. Physically their bodies were not developed to be an adult, and mentally, they still had some childish behavior, but the children processed the situations around them and made the most rational decision they could, making them in this definition “mature”. Another person's maturity should be measured by the physical way they are perceived, mental state they seem to be in, social nature, and the way three factors work together to make rational decisions affecting others. …show more content…
In 1918 when the men were drafted, it was because they were physically mature enough to be a part of the demanding and harsh conditions soldiers were put through. This was the government deciding when a man becomes mature enough to undergo these strict tasks that faced them. It was determined that once a man reached 18 he was eligible for the draft. In this, it exemplifies what it means to be physically mature in the eye of the government even though the men may not be seen mentally ready for the task of war. In the wars, men are pushed to the physical limits, but in regular life, men are not physically mature until 25 when the body is fully developed (Gengler 2011). The contrast in the actual age of physical maturity compared to the age of maturity in the eyes of the government supports the interpretations of physical