Jem Finch Coming Of Age Analysis
The Coming of Age of Jem Finch People can develop through the ages quite rapidly sometimes; taking on contrasting values and becoming virtually different people. It is a common feature in the entire of humankind, that during the course of extreme change or difficulties, people change their qualities to adapt. Similarly, in Harper Lee’s renowned novella To Kill a Mockingbird, Jem Finch goes through such changes. The story set in a small and quiet town in Alabama in the 1930s, revolves around the existing racial prejudice and how it affects the Finch household. A trial involving an innocent and poor black man who has been accused of rape by a white woman who lives her life as a social outcast shakes the moral conscience of the whole town. The
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As a child with no real experience of the outside world, he regards courage as something of not much importance and views dares imposed upon him by Dill as something which required courage. When Dill challenges Jem to touch the front gate of the Radley house, Jem treats it as a job requiring real courage as he needs to overcome his fear of the Radleys. “Jem wanted Dill to know once and for all that he wasn’t scared of anything” (Lee 14). This portrays the shallow image of courage in the eyes of a young child such as Jem and how he viewed courage as an alternative to being a coward. Conversely, as he grows up, he strikes an enmity with Bob Ewell and has to take the responsibility of protecting Scout from him. Eventually, they get cornered by Bob Ewell and Jem fights against him managing to save himself and his sister while in the process of breaking his arm. “They tussled some more and then there was this funny noise – Jem hollered ...” “That was Jem’s arm” (Lee 270). Jem hence forgets all about his tender age and size compared to Ewell and decides to clash against him in order to save his sister. This duel of Jem’s against a dangerous and drunk adult fervent for revenge shows how Jem’s view of courage changed from essentially being branded as a coward to squaring up against someone superior to him in order to protect his
As a child with no real experience of the outside world, he regards courage as something of not much importance and views dares imposed upon him by Dill as something which required courage. When Dill challenges Jem to touch the front gate of the Radley house, Jem treats it as a job requiring real courage as he needs to overcome his fear of the Radleys. “Jem wanted Dill to know once and for all that he wasn’t scared of anything” (Lee 14). This portrays the shallow image of courage in the eyes of a young child such as Jem and how he viewed courage as an alternative to being a coward. Conversely, as he grows up, he strikes an enmity with Bob Ewell and has to take the responsibility of protecting Scout from him. Eventually, they get cornered by Bob Ewell and Jem fights against him managing to save himself and his sister while in the process of breaking his arm. “They tussled some more and then there was this funny noise – Jem hollered ...” “That was Jem’s arm” (Lee 270). Jem hence forgets all about his tender age and size compared to Ewell and decides to clash against him in order to save his sister. This duel of Jem’s against a dangerous and drunk adult fervent for revenge shows how Jem’s view of courage changed from essentially being branded as a coward to squaring up against someone superior to him in order to protect his