‘How do Jem and Scout change during the course of the novel? How do they remain the same? Are the changes all for the better?’
Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird strikingly depicts the growth and development of Jem and Scout as they grow through the course of the novel. However Jem and Scout do not change entirely; they show a strong connection as brother and sister, displaying a perpetual love for each other throughout the general course of the novel that remains unchanged. Harper Lee show’s that with influence from their family, friends and the townsfolk, how two children will mature and develop emotionally as they grow older, becoming very different individuals from the young, innocent children that they appeared in the start of the novel. The changes that are displayed are undoubtedly for the better and display an enhanced sense of wisdom and maturity in the children.
Early in the novel Jem has a sense of naivety to his actions, spending the entire summer with Dill and Scout creating childish games to play. This later leads to the game in which they try and replay the events of the ‘Boo’ Radley scenario playing the roles of the townsfolk. But soon enough Jem begins a very quick change into maturity as he begins to absorb the events of the novel such as having to come to terms with the terrible prejudiced ways people treat the ‘Negro’ population. This new capability actually leads Jem to limit the time he spends playing games like the Boo Radley Game as he understands that the games are childish and immature. However, Jem’s maturity advanced most significantly after the Tom Robinson trial. Jem is mortified by the result of the Tom Robinson case. Scout commented that ‘It was Jem’s turn to cry. His face was streaked with angry tears as we made our way through the cheerful crowd.’ Jem was positive that they couldn’t and wouldn’t sentence Tom Robinson for the lack of proper evidence, but learned a great lesson about the prejudices people can hide...