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How Does Atticus Change In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Courage is a broad term. Is having courage being able to complete a crazy dare or being able to defend someone will no one else will? Courage is all about perspective, and that perspective is always changing, especially when we are maturing. Jem’s ideas and views on life have greatly changed throughout To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Those ideas and views were greatly influenced by having Atticus as a father. Jem, like any son, wanted to be like his father, and through maturing, he took the traits of his father to become his own. In three instances throughout To Kill a Mockingbird, Jem’s understanding of the racism in Maycomb, understanding life from Boo’s point of view, and telling Scout to not kill a bug, Jem is clearly maturing. “It ain't right” (284). Jem’s realization of the racism that runs deep through Maycomb County is one of the first glances we see of Jem maturing. Recognizing problems in the real world and deciding on how you feel about them is a huge part of growing up. Jem chooses to follow in his father's footsteps rather than jump in with the crowd and claim that all African Americans are bad. Jem’s decision to …show more content…

“I think I'm beginning to understand why Boo Radley’s stayed shut up in the house all this time… it's because he wants to stay inside” (304). Understanding how others feel comes from developing your Emotional Intelligence, which can come from maturing. Jem is not only thinking of himself, but is now putting himself in others shoes. This is a very important trait to have in the real world, and also makes you a more just person. Also, this idea completely parallels Jem in the beginning of the novel. Jem was always questioning Boo’s reasons for staying inside, and he was using his best tactics to lure Boo out. Once again, this trait also was influenced by Atticus. Atticus never viewed himself as above anyone, and that trait has been passed onto

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Chapter 15 in To Kill a Mockingbird is a significant part in the novel. In this chapter, Harper Lee shows us a few new ideas through the actions of the characters. The mob is Lee’s way of showing us the town and how the town acts and thinks. The people in the mob are angry with Atticus for “movin’

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434 Words | 2 Pages

Jem starts to see himself as an older person and he participates in the gossip around town, most of which consist of Boo Radley. Part of him is still childish in a sense that he still imagines Boo as some type of savage. When “Jem was twelve” he starts to annoy Scout “he was difficult to live with, inconsistent, moody” (Lee 153). Scout is having problems with his new attitude, but all Atticus said was that he was a growing boy. Not only did Jem grow physically, but now he was growing mentally, worldly, and more responsible.

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210 Words | 1 Pages

To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, narrates an unbiased, non-filtered, and innocent viewpoint from that of Scout Finch. If the novel were rewritten from another’s perspective (such as Jem’s or Atticus’), the main concept of the book would be altered. The narrative of Atticus Finch would influence less of an impact; his knowledge and experience with the town of Maycomb would weaken the depth of Tom Robinson’s case. Just like Scout’s—Jem’s outlook would also call attention to the problematic practice of racism. However, his sense of understanding the immorality of it is more mature than her.

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491 Words | 2 Pages

The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines courage as the ability to do something that frightens one. Many characters in Harper Lee’s mid 20th century novel To Kill a Mockingbird display courage in numerous ways. One character however, jumps out. When first reading the book, most people would say that courage is displayed by those like Jem, Scout, Tom, or Atticus.

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1493 Words | 6 Pages

He also often goes off by himself, for unknown reasons: possibly to figure out who he was. Jem starts to become calmer, more composed, about things. He also becomes a mature figure, much in resemblance to his father (Atticus Finch), who is always calm and collected. Throughout this book, Harper Lee has put together multiple themes, and one of them is the theme of growing up [or maturing], through the development of the character Jem.

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661 Words | 3 Pages

Doing this lets Walter know that he is safe now and Jem understands him. Another time Jem showed empathy towards someone was later on in the novel, when the Tom Robinson case verdict comes out. Jem had believed that Tom Robinson was innocent, and he hoped that the jury would side with Atticus. As soon as the jury comes out, Jem realizes that Tom would have never won the case, because it was as simple as black vs. white. The Ewells are not respected and Bob is a very bad guy, but in the end, Tom is no better off than them.

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475 Words | 2 Pages

We all describe a parent in different ways. Some say that they may be stubborn, idiotic, loving, or helpful. They all differ based on the opinion of the person. An example of a good adult would be from Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, His name is Atticus.

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867 Words | 4 Pages

Jem is originally enthusiastic about the myth of Boo as a way to boost his pride, but Scout holds onto the fantasy longer than him because Jem begins to recognize Boo’s humanity. This is shown when Jem and Scout find gifts in the Radleys’ tree. “‘...These are real valuable to somebody. I’m gonna put ‘em in my trunk.’ Before Jem went to his room, he looked for a long time at the Radley place.

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520 Words | 3 Pages

As the novel progresses, Jem becomes less defiant and more understanding of adults. Jem witnesses the physical and moral courage of his father before and during the trial of

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1240 Words | 5 Pages

Jems opinion on life changes a lot through the Tom Robinson case. He learns that people aren't treated equally just by the color of their skin. From this quote it shows just how much Jem cares about people's equality and how he's maturing. After the case and Tom Robinson's death Jem doesn't do anything to anybody or anything that doesn't deserve it. Like this incident in the story, A rolly polly has crawled in the house by Scouts bed she was going to smash it

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126 Words | 1 Pages

Jem Finch cannot empathize with Boo Radley since he’s so focused on proving his bravery to Dill and Scout that he forgets that Boo is a human that needs to be emphasized.

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487 Words | 2 Pages

Courage can be defined in many ways, but for the most part, courage is taking a stand and taking challenges. In the book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the main character Scout and her older brother Jem face the difficulties of growing up while living in a small southern town in the 1930s. They deal with discrimination from their racist community due to the fact their father, Atticus, is defending a black man, Tom Robinson, in court. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses Atticus to show true courage is standing up for what is right even when it is difficult. One way Atticus proves what courage is, is when he is explaining to Jem why he made him read to Mrs. Dubose as a punishment.

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635 Words | 3 Pages

” This quote proves that Jem is maturing because he, “broke the remaining code of [their] childhood.” to do the right thing, tell Atticus. He understood that sometimes to do the right thing you have

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1147 Words | 5 Pages

Jem now knows that people have a reason for everything that they do even if it is wrong. “I think I’m beginning to understand why Boo Radley’s stayed shut up in the house all the time... It’s because he wants to stay inside. ”Jem is finally understanding that people do the things that do because they have their own reasons or lives that make them think a certain way. Boo Radley is stuck in his house or held captive in there, and wants to stay inside so that he can be to themself.

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747 Words | 3 Pages

As Jem starts to mature, his body language and use of words also start to show his overall maturity and his loss of innocence. Specifically, he acts exactly like his father,

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