to kill a mockingbird - Jem

In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird many different issues are addressed. One of these is the maturing of Jem Finch. Although Jem is still a child at the beginning of the novel being immature and unaware of the society and issues that surround him, he matures a great deal mentally to the point where he sees the evil in society and understands political, social and emotional issues as an adult would. Three main points that come across at the start to show that Jem is still a child are that he is young, plays with his little sister, and has childhood monsters. However, as the novel progresses he deals with the issues that arise in a mature, adult like fashion.

In the first chapter Scout tells us that Jem is only nine years old "When I was almost six and Jem was almost ten..." (p.6). This means he is still a moderately young child. Jem and Scout spend a lot of their time playing together, and have childhood monsters or fears like any other child. As the novel progresses, there is evidence that Jem is growing up because he doesn't play with Scout and Dill anymore, finding himself spending more time on his own presumably pondering issues of life. Another example of Jem as a child is that he has childhood fears and monsters. In Jem'

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This act would have taken a great deal of maturity for such a young boy. When his father accepts the case of a black man and it puts a strain on Atticus that Scout doesn't really see but Jem does.

'It's this Tom Robinson case that's worryin' him to death-?. The fact that Jem becomes aware of the society around him supports the fact that he is no longer a child but has matured mentally by the end of the novel. I sometimes felt a twinge of remorse, when passing by the old place, at ever having taken part in what must have been sheer torment to Authur Radley-?(p. As Atticus's fists went to his hips, so did Jem's,. 'Atticus is a gentleman, just like me!? (p. Jem must hold his head high and not let these things affect him, this act takes a lot of maturity that he had to learn very quickly. ?The Radley Place ceased to terrify me,. " It's just I can't think of a way to make him come out without him gettin' us. His face was streaked with angry tears as we made our way through the cheerful crowd.

Approximate Word count = 863
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

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