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How Does Jem Mature In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Jem in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, shows the most growth and understanding within the story compared to any other character. His unique perspective of coming from a highly educated family and spending his days with the lower social classes led him to see the effects of a social hierarchy and put into action the morals he was taught by Atticus. As Jem grew older and was able to understand more of what Atticus was saying he matured and was able to walk in other people's lives in order to understand them better. Through both his experiences growing up with Atticus and learning moral lessons from the Tom Robinson case, Jem was able to expand his cultural capitals and knowledge of social hierarchy in order to better lead a morally right …show more content…

Jem did not yet quite fully understand the history or social hierarchy behind maycomb, “Are we as poor as the Cunninghams?” (27), as he continues to learn from Atticus and the rest of the school children where everyone falls such as the Cunninghams and Ewells who are quite low to the bottom. Over time Jem becomes more preoccupied with recognizing and analyzing life in Maycomb, being vigilant and understanding the full meaning of events in both their social life in Maycomb, such as when Atticus is calm while Miss. Maudie's house burns and knows how to handle the situation, as well as in his personal life such as becoming more understanding of Scout and while at first pushing her aside he now allows her to be closer to him and shares secrets with her (94). During his childhood in Maycomb, Jem becomes more understanding of his place in the world and community over time while dramatic events take place, allowing him to grow his cultural capitals to better cope with such future …show more content…

Jem is able to recognize what it means to be against race and what the African American community is going through as their own people are blamed for a family dispute among the Ewells. Slowly he is able to understand the bias against the Robinsons and what it means to be served injustice when the clear victim is Tom Robinson. Jem uses this in his resistance capital toward the end of the book where he literally resists Mr. Ewell as he tries to kill them because Jem understands what it means for there to be wrong morals in this tiny

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