Jem as A Young Moral Man in To Kill A Mockingbird

A young boy growing up during the great depressions and racial discreteness’ between a persons race, will be affected dramatically especially in the situation of having a moral father stand against what is wrong. Harper Lee in To Kill a Mockingbird helps mould the young childish Jeremy Finch into a young mature man. In the trial of Tom Robinson, Jem undergoes a change in the way he envisions Maycomb county’s people, as well as his own personal beliefs. Jem also learns a valuable lesson with his relationship and time spent with Mrs. Dubose during a one month period in her bedroom. The writer uses particular moments to show an alteration of Jem’s close interaction with Atticus. Harper Lee has definitely displayed the obvious changes and effects on Jem in particular moments in his life that have shaped him in to the person he becomes at the end of the novel.

Jem demonstrates a drastic transformation from the exposition to the denouement. At the commencement of the novel, he engages in childish games involving Dill and Scout. However, as the story progresses, Harper develops Jem’s character and Jem begins to ignore and avoid Scout’s immaturity. He comes to realize that Maycomb County has a negative outlook on a person’s skin colour. Jem can be considered a young man by the end of chapter thirty-one because he experiences the truth of what was hidden from him as a child, Racism, intolerance and dishonesty. “It was Jem’s turn to cry. His face was streaked with angry tears…‘It ain’t right, he muttered”’ (212). Jem went through a change in, a short period of time that several boys his age do not encounter in a similar way. Although, it is very normal for boys Jem’s age to be somewhat affected by events and people in their life.

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...s. ‘“But to do something like this to a sick old lady is inexcusable.’ ‘I strongly advise you to go down and have a talk to Mrs. Dubose,’ (104). Atticus exhibits his willingness to teach Jem to never run away from his problems. It is Atticus who symbolizes a strong figure in Jem’s maturity, growth and change in the novel.

During the course of the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Jem experiences an obvious transformation, through particular moments that have effect on the young man he is shaped into. Jem’s growth in the novel is apparent in his interactions with Mrs. Dubose and the Tom Robinson trial. He has distinct moments with Atticus that formulates his authentic personality. As a boy he does not yet understand the truth that little Maycomb County holds. It is through his change in age that he formulates vital morals that break the wall that hides the real world.