Theme Of Coming Of Age In To Kill A Mockingbird

"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" (Lee 20). What coming of age is all about is never judging a book by its cover. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee one of the main themes in the story is coming of age which is symbolized it by Jem, Scout, and Miss. Maudie’s cakes.

Jem, in To Kill a Mockingbird represents maturity. Jem looked at scout and told her "I think I’m beginning to understand why Boo Radley’s stayed shut up in the house all this time… it’s because he wants to stay inside” (Lee 193). Boo Radley has always stayed shut away in his house, and the town and the kids noticed it. He’s showing maturity because he finally understands why Boo Radley is wanting to stay in his house and not come outside. Scout had been worrying a lot about Jem lately and Scout thought to herself “he was inconsistent, and moody.
Maudie’s cakes in To Kill a Mockingbird represents recognition of maturity. When Jem, Scout, and Dill were at Miss. Maudie’s house they always get cakes. “There was a big cake and two little ones on Miss Maudie’s kitchen table. There should have been three little ones. It was not like Miss Maudie’s way of saying that as far as she was concerned, nothing had changed. She sat quietly in a kitchen chair, watching us” (Lee 182). She knows that he is older now and wants him to know that she knows that he is growing up and wants to be more mature so she gives him the bigger cake. “as we ate, we sensed that this was Miss Maudie’s way of saying that as far as she was concerned, nothing had changed. She sat quietly in a kitchen chair, watching us. Suddenly she spoke: “don’t fret, Jem. Things are never as bad as they seem” (Lee 182). she was finally understanding Jem. Miss Maudie’s cakes is connecting to the overall theme of coming of age because Miss Maudie is finally acknowledging and recognizing his maturity, wanting to grow up, and act