How Does Jem Change In To Kill A Mockingbird

In literature, as well as real life, relationships between people change and evolve. These changes can result from many things, such as a character maturing or personality changes within a person. The relationship between Jem Finch and Jean Louise “Scout” Finch from To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee demonstrates how character’s feelings change, why they change, and how this change affects the work as a whole. It is evident that feelings change in the story because at various points, the characters react to each other differently. Earlier on in the novel, Scout says, “Jem yanked my hair, said he didn’t care, he’d do it again if he got the chance, and if I didn’t shut up and he kicked me,” (Lee 137). Here, Jem basically disregards Scout

Scout describes, “Jem was growing. I must be patient with him and disturb him as little as possible…overnight, it seemed, Jem has acquired an alien set of values,” (Lee 153). At this point, it’s explained that Jem was maturing and acting differently. Scout needed to understand that he was going though rough times and not to bother him. On the other hand, Scout, being only six years old, doesn’t have such a dramatic inner change; all that happens in the relationship is because of Jem. Atticus states that, “Jem was trying hard to forget something, but…when he was able to think about it, Jem would be himself,” (Lee 331). In other words, something’s been bothering Jem, which affects his behavior along with him maturing so quickly. Atticus, though, believes that soon will be himself again. The changing of the feelings within Jem is an important part of To Kill A Mockingbird, because it shows the drastic inner change within one character while the other character remains

After Scout asks Jem a question about the court case, Jem replies, “I never wanta hear about that courthouse again, ever, ever, you hear me…Now go on!” (Lee 331). Jem saying this is significant because if the relationship between the two had been stronger earlier on, Jem wouldn’t have yelled at Scout for simply asking a question. The behaviors of the characters towards each other are analyzed, and they characterize both people, which affects how they’re viewed throughout the book. Scout recalls, “Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them,” (Lee 374). Scout saying this can also relate to how she sees Jem. Several times in the story, Scout becomes upset because Jem does things she doesn’t understand. If she would put herself in Jem’s place, she would better understand and have more sympathy for him. Because Jem’s feelings changed too quick for Scout to understand, the whole story is