Jem Finch Character Analysis
In the literary classic To Kill a Mockingbird, moral development is very clearly seen in the character of Jem Finch. Over the course of the two-year narrative, his ideas of right and wrong change and grow drastically. He becomes unafraid of voicing his opinion and breaking social rules, exemplified through his bold opinions and hope regarding the Robinson case, as well as grows tremendously in his definition of bravery and how it should be expressed. As he matures, Jem Finch’s ideas about bravery and social rules grow and change as he encounters new experiences with the residents of Maycomb, experiences that shape his morality into that of a young adult.
During the Tom Robinson trial, Jem shows tremendous understanding morality in his willingness …show more content…
Initially, he sees courage purely as being daring and taking risks, as shown in the fact that, “In all his life, Jem had never turned down a dare” (Lee ##). While Jem doesn’t necessarily stop thinking of this as courageous as he grows, he does realize that it is not the only way to express bravery. For example, Atticus shooting the mad dog had a major effect on Jem, especially at his young, impressionable age of ten. For the weeks following, Jem saw Atticus in a completely different light; instead of being just their father, he became the deadest shot in Maycomb county. Atticus was Jem’s personal epitome of bravery simply for holding a gun and facing the mad dog. This new encounter expanded upon his previous ideas and helped him to grow in his morality. Another clear example where Jem underwent moral growth in regards to courage is his experience with Mrs. Dubose. Though his visits felt torturous at the time, it is undeniable that Jem took away valuable moral lessons. When explaining to the children why he made them read to Mrs. Dubose, Atticus says, “I wanted you to see what real courage is… it's when you know you're licked before you begin anyway but you see it through no matter what” (Lee 149). Throughout the remainder of the novel, Jem is seen applying this concept to every obstacle he encounters. When he and Scout are attacked by r. Ewell, Jem does not think twice about putting his life on the line for his sister.Though he ends up badly hurt, Jem shows no regret after the incident. The fact that Jem was willing to potentially risk his life exemplifies his growth as a character. Even though Jem doesn’t abandon his earlier beliefs about courage, the addition of this final belief is what gives him the morality of a young adult. To summarize, Jem’s ideas about bravery do not change; instead, they build on top of one another to form
During the Tom Robinson trial, Jem shows tremendous understanding morality in his willingness …show more content…
Initially, he sees courage purely as being daring and taking risks, as shown in the fact that, “In all his life, Jem had never turned down a dare” (Lee ##). While Jem doesn’t necessarily stop thinking of this as courageous as he grows, he does realize that it is not the only way to express bravery. For example, Atticus shooting the mad dog had a major effect on Jem, especially at his young, impressionable age of ten. For the weeks following, Jem saw Atticus in a completely different light; instead of being just their father, he became the deadest shot in Maycomb county. Atticus was Jem’s personal epitome of bravery simply for holding a gun and facing the mad dog. This new encounter expanded upon his previous ideas and helped him to grow in his morality. Another clear example where Jem underwent moral growth in regards to courage is his experience with Mrs. Dubose. Though his visits felt torturous at the time, it is undeniable that Jem took away valuable moral lessons. When explaining to the children why he made them read to Mrs. Dubose, Atticus says, “I wanted you to see what real courage is… it's when you know you're licked before you begin anyway but you see it through no matter what” (Lee 149). Throughout the remainder of the novel, Jem is seen applying this concept to every obstacle he encounters. When he and Scout are attacked by r. Ewell, Jem does not think twice about putting his life on the line for his sister.Though he ends up badly hurt, Jem shows no regret after the incident. The fact that Jem was willing to potentially risk his life exemplifies his growth as a character. Even though Jem doesn’t abandon his earlier beliefs about courage, the addition of this final belief is what gives him the morality of a young adult. To summarize, Jem’s ideas about bravery do not change; instead, they build on top of one another to form