![]() Raised by her father, Atticus Finch, to be a curious and independent young girl, she dresses like a boy and enjoys playing outdoors and getting into fights.Īt the beginning of the story, she considers being called a girl an insult but learns over the years how to become more feminine. Scout is unusual by the standards of where she lives (Maycomb, Alabama) and the time the story is set (the 1930s). She starts the story as a tomboyish child but ends it as a mature 8-year-old. The story begins when she's about five years old and much of the narrative is told from her point of view. The adult Jean Louise doesn't provide much insight into the adult Jeremy Atticus Finch, but from the fact that the story begins with their disagreement over when various events started, the reader can assume that they maintained a similar relationship into adulthood.Jean Louise Finch, called Scout throughout the book, is the narrator and main character of To Kill a Mockingbird. That the man responsible for breaking Jem's arm was also responsible for sending Tom to prison (and indirectly, responsible for his death) serves to drive the irony home. somewhat shorter than the right" just like Tom Robinson's, and Tom Robinson sustained his injury at approximately the same age. More ironic still is the fact that Jem's injury leaves "His left arm. Ironically, Jem, who so strongly identifies with Tom Robinson, is the only person in the story who is left with physical evidence of the whole event. Still, Jem turns on Scout when she tells him about Miss Gates' racist remarks at the courthouse, shouting, "'I never wanta hear about that courthouse again, ever, ever, you hear me?'" His coping skills are still developing, and his family is the one group that gives him the room that he needs to hone them. Wisely, Atticus doesn't try to squelch or minimize Jem's feelings by respecting his son, Atticus allows Jem to better cope with the tragedy. In fact, he is ready to overhaul the justice system and abolish juries altogether. Even after Atticus' long explanation about the intricacies of the Tom Robinson case, Jem is unable to accept the jury's conviction. Like many adolescents, Jem is idealistic. Afterward, he's temporarily exiled by his friends, but he maintains the rightness of his decision without apology. For instance, when Dill sneaks into Scout's bedroom after running away from home, Jem can only say, "'You oughta let your mother know where you are'" and makes the difficult decision to involve Atticus. As he grows older, he begins to do what is right even though his decision may not be popular. He idolizes Atticus and would rather risk personal injury than disappoint his father. His own sister finds Jem a genuinely likeable boy, if sometimes capable of "maddening superiority." He very much wants to be like his father, and plans to follow him into law. And along the way, he grows from a boy who drags his sister along as a co-conspirator to a young gentleman who protects his Scout and tries to help her understand the implications of the events around her. Dubose's fight with addiction, and from Scout's confrontation with the mob at the jail, among others. ![]() When the story begins, Jem's idea of bravery is simply touching the side of the Radley house and then only because "In all his life, Jem had never declined a dare." But as the story progresses, Jem learns about bravery from Atticus facing a mad dog, from Mrs. The shift that occurs probably has as much to do with age as experience, although the experiences provide a better framework for the reader. Jem represents the idea of bravery in the novel, and the way that his definition changes over the course of the story is important. Interestingly, the changes he undergoes are seen from the point-of-view of a younger sister, which gives a unique perspective on his growth. Jem ages from 10 to 13 over the course of To Kill a Mockingbird, a period of great change in any child's life. Full Glossary for To Kill a Mockingbird.Famous Quotes from To Kill a Mockingbird.Comparing To Kill a Mockingbird to Its Movie Version.Racial Relations in the Southern United States.Aunt Alexandra and Miss Maudie Atkinson.
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