Jem Finch Maturity

The Importance of Maturity in To Kill a Mockingbird The Great Depression is a historic event that lasted for most of the 1930s and is when the United States had a major economic downturn. Simultaneously, the country was still struggling for equality. Jean Louise “Scout” Finch and Jeremy “Jem” Finch experience both of these issues in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama. Through major plot point and lessons in To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee demonstrates that negative or difficult experiences are what develops Jem and Scout’s maturity. In the first few chapters, Scout becomes noticeably more mature when she begins her first day of school with negative information stating that she is not allowed to read at home as she previously did. Scout’s teacher, Miss Caroline argues that “[her] father [can] not teach [her] any more,” adding that it “would interfere with [her] reading,” something Scout loves doing …show more content…
Jem describes his neighbor, Arthur “Boo” Radley, stating that has, “bloodstained” hands; eats “raw squirrels and…cats;” and there is a “long jagged scar across his face” (Lee 16). These descriptions seem farfetched, and coming from Jem, seems juvenile. This shows the lack of maturity in Jem, and Scout’s is seen in her belief in Jem’s descriptions of Boo. When Bob Ewell, a drunken man who wishes to seek revenge for the trial, tries to kill Jem and Scout, a “man began moving around… slowly coming to [Scout],” after Jem had just been clearly injured judging from his screaming (Lee 352). This man later reveals himself to be Arthur Radley. Scout realizes that Boo is not the monster that the children thought he was starting the novel. The children learn not to judge people without meeting them first. Jem and Scout had to almost be murdered to see the true Boo Radley, and learn this lesson, but she has an obvious growth in