March 26, 2015

English 11H

Harper Lees novel To Kill a Mockingbird centers on the Finch family in Maycomb,
Alabama during the 1930s. Lees novel is a bildungsroman, showing Jem and Scout go through
their own personal growth. As the story progresses, the children experience things far from what
an average kid their age endures. Atticus guidance shapes the development of Jem and Scout,
they traverse from two innocent children to two mature and understanding children.
In part one of To Kill a Mockingbird, Jem is ten and Scout is six. Despite little fights
between the siblings, Scout looks up to Jem. Since the narrator, Scout is so young it is difficult to
rely on her because of her lack of experience. Whereas, Jem understands things more on account
of his age.
Throughout the novel, Scout progresses and matures. One lesson she learns from Atticus
that continually shapes her is, 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(39). At first, Scout
struggles to put Atticus advice to use to sympathize others and understand them. But as Scout
experiences more, she succeeds at the end of the novel when she sees things from Boo Radleys
perspective. By standing on his porch steps, Scout sees everything as if it was seen through
Boos eyes and realizes the love and compassion he had for them. Scout being able to step inside
someone elses skin sympathetically is the pinnacle of her character development.
As months pass, the first significant divide between Scout and Jem occurs when Jem
loses his pants on the Radley porch and goes back for them. Scout can not comprehend why Jem
will not take the punishment instead of risking getting shot. She realizes that she does not get
Jem like she used to, saying, It was then, I suppose, that Jem and I first began to part
company(75). Scout fails to realize Jem is not afraid of punishment but rather disappointing
Atticus because of her age. Jem is growing up and wants Atticus to view him as an adult rather
than a child.
In chapter 11, we learn that Scout and Jem no longer torment Boo Radley because it has
become pass(132). Just another miniscule detail to show that Jem and Scout are growing up
and getting rid of their childish behaviors.

In the business section, Jem encounters Mrs. Dubose a vicious, rude woman who
disrespects Atticus. Jem retaliates by destroying her flowers, and as punishment Atticus makes
Jem go read to her every day. Later on, Jem finds out that Mrs. Dubose died and the reason
Atticus sent Scout and Jem there to show them what real courage is. Its when you know youre
licked before you begin but you being anyway..(149), Atticus did not want his kids to think that
being able to fire a gun is courageous, but being able to free yourself from something that
controls you is. Having to read to Mrs. Dubose every day, despite her attitude shows a great deal
of maturity and discipline in Jem. And although, at the end he could not understand the true
meaning of the flowers because of his immaturity, Jem still learned the true meaning of courage.
In part two, the divide between Jem and Scout is apparent. Jem is now twelve and
entering adolescence, he feels the need to portray himself more like a man, and have Scout act
more like a lady. However in part one, Scout was demeaned by Jem for ..gettin more like a girl
every day!(69), which just shows how Jem is growing up. Jem is four years older than Scout,
and is more emotionally affected by events than Scout.
As the trail begins, Jem and Scout learn about the injustices in Maycomb county. Even
though the Ewells are the lowest of the lows, Maycomb still finds Tom Robinson guilty.
Maycombs jury preconceived Tom Robinson to be guilty even before hearing the evidence.
Despite all evidence pointing Tom Robinson to be not guilty, he was still convicted. The children
view the injustice of the jury first hand. The reader can see signs of growing change in Jem by
Scouts descriptions,his hands were white from gripping the balcony rail(282). Jem was more
than sure of Tom Robinsons innocence, that hearing the verdict changed his entire mindset.
At the end of chapter 23, Scout says people are just people but Jem disagrees. Jem
responds to Scout by saying, I think I'm beginning to understand why Boo Radley's stayed shut
up in the house all this time(304). After the trial, Jem has lost all faith in humanity and even a
piece of innocence having seeing an innocent man being convicted. Scout and Jem exchange
their viewpoint on why people are treated differently. Jem divides people into four groups,
whereas Scout just classifies them into one, folks. Unlike Jem, Scout is not trying to justify
prejudice but accept it is there. Despite her age and lack of maturity, Scout has a better idea of
humanity.

Scout and Jem both experience their personal growth in this novel. Both losing their
innocence as they learn from difficult experiences and lessons from their father. And by doing so,
they have gained real knowledge.