A Reflection on Maturity
...cle tells him that “…Atticus wasn’t interested in guns.” (Lee 90) and now he sees something about his father that he is unaware of. Shortly thereafter, Jem makes a mature observation about Atticus that shows development of understanding. After he discovers his father can shoot a gun, Jem says, “ ‘I reckon if he’d wanted us to know, he’da told us. If he was proud of it, he’da told us.’” (Lee 98). Jem sees that Atticus is very modest and understated. Jem comes to resepct Atticus and through maturing, developes a more realistic perception of his father. Jem’s attitude towards Atticus changes from one of unimportant to admirable. Furthermore, another character in the novel that helps reflect on Jem’s maturity is Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose, a neighbor respectably known as Mrs. Dubose. In the beginning Jem is intimidated by Mrs. Dubose and believes she is plain hell. Jem is not alone when feeling this way. The “neighborhood opinion was unanimous that Mrs. Dubose was the meanest old women that ever lived. Jem wouldn’t go by her place without Atticus beside him.” (Lee 35). Jem is scared of Mrs. Dubose who he is unfamiliar with except when she taunts him and others that pass by. As a result of Jem’s growingadmiration and respect for Atticus, he begins to feel anger towards Mrs. Dubose because of nasty remarks she makes about Atticus “ ‘…lawing for niggers!’ ” (Lee 101). A statement like that coming from an adult causes him to react by destroying her camellia bush. This reinforces his maturity because he is now expressing his feelings rather then passing quietly by. He also graciously accepts his punishment of reading to Mrs. Dubose for two months to make amends. This shows his maturity as well. Jem reads without complaint. When the two months are up, Mrs. Dubose tells Jem that he no longer needs to read to her. A short time after Jem is told by Atticus that she has died. Atticus tells him of Mrs. Dubose’s addiction to morphine and then gives him a gift. The gift is a camellia: a perfect white flower. At first Jem is angered by this gesture feeling that it is her way of taunting him even after she is gone. Atticus then reassures him by telling him “ ‘…that was her way of telling you— everything’s all right now, Jem…’ ”(Lee 112). As a means of reflection, Jem sits and holds the flower. His growth in understanding of the stituation reinforces his maturity as a person. His hatred for Mrs. Dubose is now gone. All these encounters help to mature Jem’s understanding of people who face challenges everyday. Lastly, through Jem’s experiences he has a change in attitude towards another neighbor, Arthur Radley, disrespectfully nicknamed Boo by he and his playmates. These changes in attitude show his growth in maturity throughout the novel. At the beginning of the novel, even though he denies it, Jem is scared of Boo. When taunted by a friend named Charles Baker Harris who says that Jem is too scared to knock on the front door, Jem says that he “ ‘Ain’t scared, just respectful.’ ” (Lee 13). In reality, Jem is scared and is afraid of the unknown. He has never seen Boo and does not understand who he is. When Boo begins to leave smalls gifts in a hollow oak tree in-front of his house, Jem starts to question what kind of person Boo really is. Boo’s small gestures of kindness change how Jem feels towards him. One day the hole in the oak tree is filled with cement so Boo can no longer place gifts in it. Boo’s brother tells Jem that the tree is dying so the hole has to be filled. Jem questions Atticus on this issue ...