In the book, To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee is about a young girl growing up under extraordinary circumstances in the 1930’s in Alabama. The novel covers a span of three years where Jew undergoes significant changes and matures during the course of the the book. Jem matures from puberty, Mrs.Dubose and Tom Robinson trial. As Jem develops, he becomes a responsible caring brother, his view on courage changes, and learns about the reality of their world and injustice. Firstly, Jem develops a deeper meaning of the word courage. Jew thought courage was being only brave but he learns real courage from Mrs. Dubose's fight with a morphine addiction. Atticus made Jem read to her and explained, "[I] wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand…she died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person [I] ever knew” (112). All along, Mrs. Dubose knew she wouldn't live, but she still had fought the addiction. This event changed Jem’s view of courage, more than just touching the Radley house. Nevertheless, as the story continues, Jem learns a different type of courage from Atticus. Atticus, as a lawyer has chosen to defend Tom Robinson, an …show more content…
Jem gradually turns into a responsible ‘man’. When Dill runs away and appears in Scout’s room, Jem said, “You oughta’ let your mother know where you are. Atticus? Can you come down here a minute, sir?”(141). Jem was trying to do the right thing, and starts having concerns that adults normally have. However, Jem also becomes a thoughtful brother to Scout. As he walks her to the performance at school at night taking the place of an adult, he comprehends that there is danger, and tells Scout, “Run, Scout! Run! Run”(261) having his arm broken in the process by protecting Scout. By the end of the story he is a young man, ready to take on some of the responsibilities we see his father showing throughout the