Jem's Maturity In To Kill A Mockingbird

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I made the mistake of reading the first Little House on the Prairie book once again after finishing the series. It was just so hard to believe that the distinguished Laura Ingalls Wilder was once a naughty five-year-old, always secondary to her flawless older sister. This transformation made me realize that in reality or literature, characters change as they grow up. This depends on the events of the book, which explains why and how Laura Ingalls rose up to be the head of the family when her older sister was unable to do so. Many literary works portray growth or refinement of certain characters; physically, mentally, or emotionally. For example, Jem Finch, the innocent (gullible?) child who believed his society was unblemished, isn’t the same person he is at the end of the novel than in the beginning. In her novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee demonstrates Jem’s maturity and growth through his behavior and speech.
First of all, Jem’s maturity is exhibited some times …show more content…

Jem proves this when he deals with situations differently, by standing up for what he believed was right, or when he confronts a bitter truth in a painful manner. His word choice and manner of speaking demonstrate his supremacy over Scout, as well as his choices to pursue different interests and act more refined. These factors are demonstrated when he changes his nature toward the middle of the book. Jem’s change from being a naive child to a knowledgeable adolescent is similar to Laura Ingalls initially being a playful, carefree youngster and later turning into a sensible, indefatigable youth. The gradual maturity of both characters impacted both books deeply. Situations like these when a character changes his or her personality through general happenings or choice make stories more intriguing, symbolize the transformations going on within the character, and help readers connect them to real people in the