To Kill a Mockingbird - Growth of the Children in the Novel

During the course of the novel, the children experience many significant events and relationships. Examine the children’s growth through the course of the novel. The classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee explores the irrationality of adult attitudes towards race and class in the Deep South of the thirties. Throughout the course of the novel, Lee allows the reader to watch the children grow and mature as a result the events and relationships that they experience. The characters that display significant growth include Jem, Scout and Boo. Jem's growth is evident through his developed sense of fairness, his friendships and the way that he views his father. Scout demonstrates growth and maturity by obeying her father and forming a different view of Boo. The childlike character Boo Radley displays growth as a result of the friendship he forms with Scout and Jem. The children in this novel do not necessarily have to be people that are within a certain age bracket, but people who show childlike qualities and characteristics. With the progression of the novel, the reader watches Jem's character grow through the defining events and relationships that he encounters. Jem's level of maturity is highlighted when he is in the company of Scout and Dill because this allows the reader to see Jem's "grown up" approach to everything and greater understanding of situations juxtapose to the innocent and childlike views of Dill and Scout. "Naw, Scout, it's something you wouldn’t understand", this demonstrates Jem's higher level of understanding and maturity in comparison with Scout. Jem exhibits courage and growth when the lynch mob appears at the front of Tom's jail cell. Jem stands up to Atticus as he understands the grave situation and danger that his father was in. This is demonstrated when he goes against his father’s orders to "go home" and was fully aware of the repercussions that may result from him disobeying Atticus' orders. "Go home I said." Jem shook his