Jem goes through ages 10 to 13 over the course of the book To Kill a Mockingbird, which is a period of change in any child's life. Jem is no exception to this rule. Interestingly, the changes he undergoes are seen from the point-of-view of his younger sister, Scout, which gives a unique perspective on his growth.
Jem represents the idea of bravery in the book. 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. Dubose's fighting an addiction, and from Scout's confrontation with the mob at the jail, as well as other times. And along the way, he grows from a boy who drags his sister along as a co-conspirator to his various capers to a young gentleman who protects his Scout and tries to help her understand the details of the changing world around her.
His own sister finds Jem a genuinely likable boy. He very much wants to be like his father, and plans to follow him into law. He idolizes Atticus and would rather risk personal injury than disappoint his father. As he grows older, he begins to do what is right even though his decision may not be popular. 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. Afterward, he's temporarily exiled by his friends, but he keeps to the correctness of his decision without apology.
Like many kids his age, Jem is idealistic. Even after Atticus' long explanation about the complications of the Tom Robinson case, Jem is unable to accept the jury's conviction. In fact, he is ready to overhaul the justice system and abolish juries all together. Wisely, Atticus doesn't try to squelch or minimize Jem's feelings. By respecting his son, Atticus allows Jem to cope with the tragedy. 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 perfect them.
Jem represents the idea of bravery in the book. 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. Dubose's fighting an addiction, and from Scout's confrontation with the mob at the jail, as well as other times. And along the way, he grows from a boy who drags his sister along as a co-conspirator to his various capers to a young gentleman who protects his Scout and tries to help her understand the details of the changing world around her.
His own sister finds Jem a genuinely likable boy. He very much wants to be like his father, and plans to follow him into law. He idolizes Atticus and would rather risk personal injury than disappoint his father. As he grows older, he begins to do what is right even though his decision may not be popular. 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. Afterward, he's temporarily exiled by his friends, but he keeps to the correctness of his decision without apology.
Like many kids his age, Jem is idealistic. Even after Atticus' long explanation about the complications of the Tom Robinson case, Jem is unable to accept the jury's conviction. In fact, he is ready to overhaul the justice system and abolish juries all together. Wisely, Atticus doesn't try to squelch or minimize Jem's feelings. By respecting his son, Atticus allows Jem to cope with the tragedy. 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 perfect them.