To Kill A Mockingbird Research Paper

Jem’s Maturity A quote by Barbra Vercruysse “Maturity is not by age but by our capability to handle difficult situations gracefully and with integrity.” To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a novel focusing on the growth of Scout and Jem Finch. Jem throughout the novel starts to mature more emotionally and understand the segregation in Maycomb. After the Trail and the kids are at Miss Maudie and Jem is very defeated Jem says to Miss Maudie, “I always thought Maycomb folks were the best folks in the world, at least that’s what they seemed like” (Lee 288). This shows maturity because before the trial took place Jem saw everybody as a good person in Maycomb until his family started facing cruel treatment from people in the community when Atticus

Another quote where Jem shows maturity is when Jem says this to Scout after he catches her trying to smash an innocent rolly poly. "Because they don’t bother you" (320). Jem says this: After the Tom Robinson trial, Jem has a stronger belief that it is not right to harm someone that does not harm. He shows maturity and realizes it is immoral to harm something weaker than you, just as it is To Kill a Mockingbird. After Tom's trial, Jem has more of an understanding of why Boo chooses to stay inside. Scout, I think I'm beginning to understand something. I think I'm beginning to understand why Boo Radley's stayed shut up in the house all this time. It's because he wants to stay inside” (304). Jem is nearing the age where he understands seeing from the point of view of others. The world at the time is making Boo want to stay inside because of the racism and prejudices in Maycomb. Jem proves his loyalty to his father and his understanding of the racism and double standards in the town. After the pageant, Scout was feeling awful and Jem was confronting her. Scout thinks that, "Jem was becoming almost as good as Atticus at making you feel right when things went