Jem Mature In To Kill A Mockingbird

Harper Lee’s Pulitzer prize winning novel To Kill A Mockingbird takes place in the 1930’s in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama. One of American literature’s most memorable young protagonists is Jem Finch, who matures greatly throughout the course of the novel. The characters of Tom Robinson, Atticus, and Miss. Dubose help Jem to come of age by teaching him valuable lessons. Tom Robinson was a big key in Jem growing up. Ever thought Tom never talk to Jem he taught him that everything not fair. Jem opens his eyes and he finally saw Maycomb for what it really is. “It’s like bein’ a caterpillar in a cocoon, that’s it is,” he said. “Like somethin’ asleep wrapped up in a warm place. I always thought Maycomb folks were the best folks in the world, least that’s what they seemed like.”(Lee 288). This is post trial when Jem is still shocked about Tom losing. Jem is growing up and he does not see the world like he use to. As a kid he saw the world as a friendly place, but after the trail he saw everybody’s true colors. This matters because for Jem to grow

Atticus, Jem’s father, set the example for how to be a gentlemen and courageous. Atticus wants Jem to see real bravery, that it’s not hide behind a gun, and that once you start you see it out till the end. “I wanted you to see real courage, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. Its when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.”(Lee 149). This quote has to do with Atticus’s view on courage. Atticus taught Jem that courage is not a gun it has to do with stick something every thought you know the outcome will not be good. This matters because Jem needs to know what really courage is. Before Jem thought courage was a man with a gun and that is not a good way to think of courage. He need to learn that courage is follow through on your commits every though they are not going to turn out