How Does Jem Mature In To Kill A Mockingbird

The process of maturity is a harsh but freeing one. There comes a time where we all must face the world and look at it with different eyes. Everyone must undergo this development and move from childhood to adulthood. The novel To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, tells a moving tale about three kids in Alabama who must learn about the real world and make the move from innocence to compassion. All three of them have an incident in their lives that led to maturity, proving that no one escapes growing up. The first person I will talk about is a character named Jem Finch. Jem is the oldest of the bunch. In the beginning he was a bit immature and foolish, as shown in this quote: “Why don’t you come over, Charles Baker Harris. Lord what …show more content…
Dill was an outsider to Jem and Scout at first, but since he had relatives in Maycomb he was quickly accepted by the town. When we first learn about him he seems very mischievous and child-like, especially regarding the Radley’s house. “The Radley Place fascinated Dill. In spite of our warnings and explanations it drew him as the moon draws water.” (Page 10, Line 7). He did not fully know the truth of Boo Radley, just that it would be swell if he could come out and play. As Dill got a bit older he lost some of those jovial qualities and got a bit more serious. He was still innocent because he asked Scout to marry him. He did not really know what it meant at that time because he could not feel true, burning compassion for others: he simply thought it was a game. His time came around the same time as Jem’s: during the Tom Robinson trial. As Mr. Gilmer was doing his cross-examination on Tom Robinson, Dill began to cry. He felt that how Mr. Gilmer treated Tom was wrongful. This is where we see he is able to sympathize completely for Tom, proving that has realized the world is not really what it seems. “It was just him I couldn’t stand… That old Mr. Gilmer doin’ him thataway, talking so hateful to him… It ain’t …show more content…
Scout’s journey takes place over the entire story, as each of the experiences play small, influential roles in her development. We see that at the start of the novel Scout is a bit of a tomboy. She tries to fit in with the boys and has roles in their little plays. She is innocent. When they do the play about Boo Radley she does not know how that would hurt Boo’s feelings, because she cannot feel for him. This is also shown when Walter Cunningham comes to her house for dinner. Scout says “He ain’t company, Cal; he’s just a Cunningham”. She is later chastised for her words, but she does not know any better. Slowly, bit by bit her experiences change her. The burning of Miss Maudie’s house, the readings with Mrs. Dubose, going to church with Calpurnia, and the Tom Robinson trial all make her realize that the real world is much more different than her reality. While all of these incidents have their significance in Scout’s development, the one, true incident was the one involving Bob Ewell and Boo Radley. When the whole ordeal was over, she was able to put herself in Boo’s place, and sympathize with him. Scout learns that Atticus was right all along, that “you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in

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