“As I made my way home, I thought Jem and I would get grown but there wasn’t much else for us to learn, except possibly algebra” (279). This quotation is an excerpt from the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, which takes place during the height of the Great Depression in Maycomb County, Alabama. The author, Harper Lee, frequently presents growing up as one of the most important pieces of the story. This quote leads into the idea that, throughout the book, Jem and Scout learn several valuable lessons as they age. Harper Lee believes that growing up is impelled by significant life experiences. First, the idea of growing up is demonstrated by Jem at the beginning of the story. Even though he is almost shot on the Radley property, he decides to go back for his lost pants anyway. Jem does not want Atticus to find out about where he had previously been that night; as a result, he is willing to sacrifice his life to retrieve his pants and avoid disappointing his father. He reveals to Scout that, “Atticus ain’t ever whipped me since I can remember. I wanta keep it that way” (56). After Jem lies to Atticus, he feels extremely guilty. Being nearly caught on the Radley property forces Jem to take responsibility for his actions. In summary, Jem matures when he returns for his pants, because he is more willing to risk his life …show more content…
She presents the idea of maturity when Jem goes back for his pants, when both children understand the reasonings behind “One-Shot Finch” and Dolphus Raymond, and finally when Scout stands on the Radley porch. The author proves that both Jem and Scout learned valuable life lessons after experiencing significant events. If the children had not faced such adversities, they would not have had to mature so young. Getting shot at by Nathan Radley, watching Atticus shoot Tim Johnson, witnessing a prejudiced trial, and being attacked by Bob Ewell forced the Finch children to grow