Jem Bravery In To Kill A Mockingbird

Character Analysis Essay

Jem represents the idea of bravery in the novel, and the way that his definition changes over the course of the story is important. The shift that occurs probably has as much to do with age as experience, although the experiences provide a better framework for the reader. 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 and being helpful from Atticus facing a mad dog, from Mrs. Dubose's fight with addiction, and from Scout's confrontation with the mob at the jail, among others. In To Kill a

“Atticus said that Jem should be delighted to show me where my room was” (Lee 15). The author’s purpose is to show that Jem is a caring young boy and is really helpful to his father. Jem is willing to take his sister

Scout to school and show her around. In chapter 2, it states “Don’t worry, Scout, “Jem comforted me” (Lee 18). This example implies that Jem helps and tries to comfort his sister when she is feeling down or mad. Throughout the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Jem learns to become mature in terms of behavior and attitude due to the influence of the people around him. “Jem, having survived Boo

Radley, a mad dog and other terrors, had concluded that it was cowardly to stop at Miss Rachel’s front steps and wait…” (Lee 100). Jem has gone through lots of dangerous things like trying to get a letter over to Boo Radley, meeting Mrs. Dubose, the trail with Tom Robinson and others.

Those experience made him realize he has to grow up and become a better person. The reader now understands that Jem learned to become mature and came of age with the help of his surroundings and what he has experienced with the neighborhood and his