To Kill a Mockingbird Essay
Homaira Faquiryan
3/22/09
Period 3
Jeremy Atticus Finch’s Evolution A child learns so much from interacting with its surroundings. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Jeremy Finch does a whole lot of learning. Jem and Scout witness some of the evils of man and learn important lessons from them. However, Jem understands most of the events going on around him than his younger sibling Scout. From roughly the age of 10 through 13 we see how much Jeremy (Jem) Finch has evolved from the point-of-view of his little sister, Jean-Louise (Scout) Finch, which gives an exceptional perspective on his growth. One of the key ways to identify Jem maturing is through what he first recognized as bravery. At the beginning of the story, Jeremy’s idea of bravery was touching the side of the Radley house and that is only because “In all his life, Jem had never declined a dare” (page 13). However as the story continues, Jem discovers what bravery is from Atticus facing a mad dog, from Mrs. Dubose’s fight against addiction, and from Scout’s confrontation with the mob in front of the county jail. Furthermore, Jeremy grows from a boy dragging his little sister, Scout, around to a young gentleman who protects her and tries to help her understand the events around her. As Jem grows older, he begins to do what is right. For instance, when Dill sneaks into Scout’s room after running away from home, Jem righteously says, “You oughta let your mother know where you are. You oughta let her know you’re here…” (page 141). Jeremy knows that he must set a good example for Scout and Dill thus he involves Atticus in the whole ordeal. He temporarily faces exile by his friends, but Jem never apologized for what he thought was right. Jeremy ultimately “…broke the remaining code of [their] childhood” (page 141) by involving an adult in strictly childhood mischief. Jem had in turn taught Scout and Dill that he is not a child anymore and isn’t playing games with them anymore. Jem showed
3/22/09
Period 3
Jeremy Atticus Finch’s Evolution A child learns so much from interacting with its surroundings. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Jeremy Finch does a whole lot of learning. Jem and Scout witness some of the evils of man and learn important lessons from them. However, Jem understands most of the events going on around him than his younger sibling Scout. From roughly the age of 10 through 13 we see how much Jeremy (Jem) Finch has evolved from the point-of-view of his little sister, Jean-Louise (Scout) Finch, which gives an exceptional perspective on his growth. One of the key ways to identify Jem maturing is through what he first recognized as bravery. At the beginning of the story, Jeremy’s idea of bravery was touching the side of the Radley house and that is only because “In all his life, Jem had never declined a dare” (page 13). However as the story continues, Jem discovers what bravery is from Atticus facing a mad dog, from Mrs. Dubose’s fight against addiction, and from Scout’s confrontation with the mob in front of the county jail. Furthermore, Jeremy grows from a boy dragging his little sister, Scout, around to a young gentleman who protects her and tries to help her understand the events around her. As Jem grows older, he begins to do what is right. For instance, when Dill sneaks into Scout’s room after running away from home, Jem righteously says, “You oughta let your mother know where you are. You oughta let her know you’re here…” (page 141). Jeremy knows that he must set a good example for Scout and Dill thus he involves Atticus in the whole ordeal. He temporarily faces exile by his friends, but Jem never apologized for what he thought was right. Jeremy ultimately “…broke the remaining code of [their] childhood” (page 141) by involving an adult in strictly childhood mischief. Jem had in turn taught Scout and Dill that he is not a child anymore and isn’t playing games with them anymore. Jem showed