To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee: Character Analysis
Throughout the story, Jem (taken from the word gem meaning a cherished and prized person) is used by Harper Lee as a representation of courage. In the beginning, Jem’s first act of courage occurs when Jem accepts Dill’s provocation to go and touch the Radley house. In the story, Scout says, “In all his life, Jem has never declined a dare” (Lee 16). This quote shows how Jem would never demur any sort of challenge, even if it involved stupid or childish acts like going to a forbidden place. Scout also shows how Jem even accepted a dare from her to jump off the roof of the house as a kid.
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.
They had heard tales such as “When people’s azaleas froze in a cold snap, it was because he had breathed on them… Radley pecans would kill you… a baseball hit into the Radley yard was a lost ball…” (9). Those stories would keep almost anyone away from the house, but Jem showed courage and snuck up to the house anyway. While running away from the
In “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, Jem tries to do what is right and demonstrates that Jem is very courageous. Jem does many things to show that he is courageous. Jem loses his pants on the Radley’s fence and he tells Scout “I’m goin’ after ‘em”(Lee,56). Jem feels that it is right for him to get his pants back before Atticus realizes what he, Scout, and Dill tried to do. Earlier when Scout finished her first day and fears that school will always be just as bad as the first and “Jem assured [her] that the older [she] got the better school would be”(Lee,...).
At the beginning of the book, Jem is an innocent child. He takes part in the Boo Radley game with no regard to the people in the Radley house that can hear him and the other children making fun of Boo. Jem soon begins to realize that Boo is more than just childhood superstition and he is not the monster that the town makes him out to be. Jem’s view of what bravery is grows throughout the story, as well. At the beginning of the book, Jem’s definition of bravery is touching the Radley house and he believes himself to be brave because, “In all his life, Jem had never declined a dare” (Lee, p.13).
When Atticus find out that Jem, Scout, and Dill followed him into town, he demands that they go home, but Jem refuses: “We were accustomed to prompt, if not always cheerful acquiescence to Atticus‘s instructions, but from the way he stood Jem was not thinking of budging,” (203). Jem is maturing, and he is starting to understand the situation that Atticus is in because of his defense of Tom Robinson. While he would normally obey Atticus, he realizes that protecting his father against the lynch mob is more important. Jem displays his courage even in his stance, emphasizing that he is doing what he thinks is right in spite of the challenges he faces. As Scout interacts with the mob, Atticus continues to demand that the children go home: “‘Atticus stood trying to make Jem mind him.
As the novel begins, Jem Finch appears to readers as a frightened boy. Lee directly implied Jem’s childish fears in the first paragraph of her book, saying, “When it healed, and Jem’s fears of never being able to play football were assuaged, he was seldom self-conscious about his injury” (3). As the quote states, early in the book Lee expressed where Jem’s childish fear started and how it eventually grew into more child-like brave actions. Lee portrays Jem as a frightened boy when, “Jem threw open the gate and sped to the side of the house, slapped it with his palm, and ran back past us, not waiting to see if his foray was successful”(15). This event describes Jem's childlike behavior to be perceived as brave by Dill and his little sister Scout.
Jem learns about bravery from Atticus when he faced a mad dog, when Dill says that Jem is too scared to put his toe in the Radley's front yard. Eventually, Dill makes a bet with Jem saying that he can't touch the Radley house. Jem was scared but he overcame that fear and ran up and touched the house. when scout confronted the mob who was after Atticus and Tom Robinson, and from Mrs. Dubose's fight with addiction. Jem also showed his bravery when Bob Ewell attacked Him and Scout, he tries to protect his little sister from getting
After almost getting caught and potentially in critical danger, Jem is regretful of his actions and says, “We shouldn’a done that tonight, Scout,” (75) The characterization of Jem helps to show remorse for his actions. As Jem plans to sneak into the Radley house, he can be seen as mischievous and troublesome. After the incident, he reflects on his actions and admits to his mistakes. Scout decides to help Jem by unlocking the door.
Throughout the novel, Jem shows courageous behaviours and the courage definition changes over time, as Jem ages from 10 to 13 throughout the novel . At the beginning of the novel, Jem was 10 years old only , and his idea of courage is as simple as touching the side of the Radley house, and then only because "In all his life, Jem had never said no to a dare.”(pg.14). But as the story progresses, Jem learns more about courage and bravery from Atticus facing a mad dog (a literal scene of a dog with rabies that has to be put down) ,also from Mrs. Dubose's fight with addiction and her willingness to face her illness head-on although she knows that it's going to take her life. One of the most courageous act for Jem is when the mob confronts Atticus
“Jem’s head at times was transparent; he had thought that up to make me understand he wasn’t afraid of Radley’s in any shape or form, to contrast his own fearless heroism with my cowardice”(Lee 43). Despite Jem’s deceptive and misleading character, it is aforementioned that Jem is a “normal” kid. He loves playing football, climbing trees, and getting rough and dirty.
Jem is the action taker and represents the idea of bravery in this novel; you can see this throughout the whole story. Jem overcomes his fears and stands up for himself and others. When the story begins, Jem's idea of bravery is running up and touching the Radley’s door just because "In all his life, Jem had never declined a dare. " We can assume Jem has found this bravery from his age and from the characters around him.
This leads her to become upset with the ways that Jem acts and for Jem to want Scout to be less annoying. When Jem came back from the Radley house he was acting weirdly, which Scout describes, “Jem stayed moody and silent for a week. As Attics had once advised me to do, I tried to climb into Jem’s skin and walk around in it; if I had gone to the Radley place at two in the morning, my funeral would have been held the next afternoon, so I left Jem alone and tried not to bother him”(65). Jem’s visit to the Radley house negatively affects his attitude, making him grumpy, which makes Scout not want to bother him. Jem’s trying to become his own person causes Scout to be upset with him and for their relationship to
“It’s not a gun control problem, it’s a cultural problem. ”(Bob Barr). Gun related accidents are not necessarily caused by the guns themselves but by the people that use them irresponsibly. There are background checks to prevent guns from getting into the wrong hands, but they have proven ineffective.
The Hawaiian Islands are an incredible place to visit and explore. I have visited there twice now, and the sights are amazing. This assignment came up right after I got back from my last trip, and one thing that had my interest while I was there was the islands’ formations. Flying in the first time, I enjoyed being able to see the islands come into view after being over water for 6 hours. Doing snorkeling adventures, I visited Molokini Crater.
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