A character from To Kill A Mockingbird

When children are growing up, they tend to go through particular events that helps them learn to cope with certain things and take responsibility in life. Jem Finch goes through a lot of events in his childhood. The protagonist Jem Finch changes throughout the book by the way he begins to see people and their true nature, how he matures, and how his view of bravery and courage varies through the book. Jem Finch overall, is character who truly starts who he is at a young age.

In the book , “To Kill A Mockingbird”, Jem begins to see the way he thinks of people and their nature. For instince, “He stood there until nightfall and I waited for him,” said Scout. ” When we went in the house I saw that he had been crying”(62-63). When Jem And Scout saw that the knot-hole was plugged up they were upset because they had were enjoying the gifts and wanted to say thank you to the whoever was leaving the gifts for them. As Jem continuously thinks about the knot-hole, he starts realize that Boo Radley was the one putting the gifts in the knot-hole. Which starts the beginning of how Jem and Scout realizes that Boo isn’t as bad as is made-up to be. Jem after the trai is again angry “It was Jem’s turn to cry. His face ass streaked with angry tears as wee made our way through the cheerful crowd.”” It ain’t right Atticus,” said Jem. “No son it’s not right”(212). Jem begins to cry because he wasn’t able to take the jury’s conviction of Tom Robinson.

He had complete confidence that Tom Robinson and believed the conviction was unjust. This where Jem begins to see unkind and evil the people in Maycomb can really be. Lastly, when Atticus tells Jem, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view ,until you climb into his skin and walk around in it”(30). Atticus tells Jem that, in order to truly understand someone, you have to see things from their prespective. This helps explain Jem’s emotional episode when Tom Roinson was convicted because he saw the case through Tom’s perspective. Again this goes back to seeing the true nature in people and the way he thinks of the people of Maycomb.

As Jem matures, he starts to act more like his father and more mature, which shows how he is starting to become an adult but leads to his peers having a problem with it times. First off, Scout says to Jem, “Why couldn’t I smash him?”I asked. “Because they didn’t bother you”(238). This basically shows how Jem is starting to mature, which allows him to recognize the innocence of the roly-poly. This piece of evidence gives an example of how Jem’s peers, specifically Scout, , are begging to have a problem with Jem’s maturity level . Furthermore, another example of Jem’s maturity is what Jem says to Dill after running away from his mother’s house,” You oughta let her know where you are,’ said Jem. ” You oughta let her know here…” Dill’s eyes flickered at Jem and Jem looked at the floor.”Atticus can you come here a minute sir.”Jem, instead of keeping Dill’s secrete of running away, tells Atticus about it. Jem is doing the right thing even though he knows Dill and Scout won’t be happy with him. This shows how his maturity level is rising, and is begging to think like an adult. As Jem is maturing into his age, he starts to become more of an adult.

As Jem continues to grow up, Jem’s definition of bravery, honesty, and courage vary as Atticus starts to give him examples . For instance when Atticus tells Jem,”I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of just the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand”(112). Atticus is explaining to Jem that a weapon isn’t needed in order to preform an act of courage. A s Jem aged, he would start to understand what his father is saying. This scenario basically helped shape the way Jem thought of the word courage and its meaning in general. In additon, Atticus says to Jem, “According to her views, she died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I knew”(112). This is an example of how Ms. Dubose was an honest person since she never owed anyone anything at the time of her death. Since Ms. Dubose was the bravest person Atticus knew, he uses her as an example to Jem of what honesty is. This a good life example for Jem. Furthermore, Atticus says to Jem and Scout, “Simply because we were liked a hundred years before we started, is no reason for us not to try and win”(76). This is just another example of how Atticus helps influence Jem’s view on bravery and courage. It’s also another example of how Atticus shows Jem not to give up and to just keep fighting.

Jem Finch, in general, is a young man who starts to recognize and truly understand who he is at an early age. Jem alters throughout the book, especially seeing people and their true nature, and how he sees bravery. While growing up, Jem is exposed to specific occasions and people that can help him learn to handle things with certainty.