The Coming of Age of Jeremy Finch: To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Example

Boo. His naive mind painted Boo as an outlandish figure despite never having interacted with him. Nonetheless, after undergoing particular encounters and gaining a deeper understanding of Boo's character, his perception of Boo begins to change, seeing him as just another individual instead of an oddity.

"Scout, I am beginning to comprehend why Boo Radley has remained confined in his home; because he desires to be indoors" (Lee 227). Observing the prevalent injustice influences him to ponder about the reason behind Boo's seclusion. Consequently, he gains insight into Boo's choice to maintain privacy. Instead of viewing him as odd, he begins to empathize with him, thus cultivating a more favorable impression of him. This emerging sense of empathy for Boo Radley signifies a transformation in Jem and how he perceives others. As Jem matures, his understanding of courage evolves considerably.

In the perception of a naive child with no real-world experience, courage is not considered serious and is seen as something required to fulfill Dill's challenging dares. When Dill dares Jem to touch the Radley house's front gate, Jem understands this feat as needing true courage to conquer his subconscious fear of the Radleys. “Jem wanted Dill to realize definitively that he was afraid of nothing” (Lee 14). This instance illustrates the simplistic interpretation of courage in the mind of a young boy like Jem, believing it to be an alternative to cowardice.

In contrast, as he matures, he develops a rivalry with Bob Ewell and assumes the duty of shielding Scout from him. Ultimately, they are trapped by Bob Ewell and Jem battles him, successfully saving himself and his sister but breaks his arm in the

process. “They wrestled a bit more and then there was this odd noise – Jem shrieked…” “That was Jem’s arm” (Lee 270). As a result, Jem disregards his young age and smaller stature compared to Ewell and resolves to confront him to protect his sister.

The encounter where Jem bravely faces a vengeful, intoxicated adult signifies his transformed perception of bravery; transitioning from the label of a coward to confronting a superior force for the safety of his sister. The last stride towards Jem's maturity is marked when he ditches his childhood innocence and naive thinking to adopt a more logical, adult-like mindset. Just like any other child, Jem too held unique perspectives and conceptions about various aspects.

The depictions conveyed his innocence and purity of heart. “A hot steam’s somebody who can’t reach paradise, simply roams about on solitary pathways and if you traverse through him, upon death, you will transform into one too” (Lee 37). This perspective offers us a glance into the world through a youthful Jem's lens, who is yet to reconcile with the world's reality and dwells in his imaginative universe. He seems to hold firm convictions in some 'unreal' notions and as a youngster, he bases his existence around these naive beliefs.

As he matures, he begins to leave behind his imaginary childhood world and develops a coherent and rational mindset. His focus shifts from the playful games and pursuits of his youthful days to a more grave view of life. “You oughta let your mother know where you are…. [And] then he rose and broke the remaining code of our childhood” (Lee 141). This statement from Scout signifies Jem's

ultimate transition from his childhood. When he noticed Dill, who had run miles away from his own house, his immediate response was to notify his mother.

This marks the completion of Jem's transition into adulthood as he shows no joy or excitement when he encounters his former friend, and chooses to notify his father about it. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Jem undergoes a full transformation, transition into adulthood amidst adversities and adaptations that surround him. Instead of basing his perception of others on the opinions of people, he prefers to form his own genuine insights about individuals. He acquires an alternate understanding of courage and its relevance, and he also abandons his juvenile years along with all its affiliations, to step into a much darker world of adulthood.

Therefore, as his environment continues to evolve, Jem steps into his adolescence and undergoes significant transformations. As a result of these changes, he emerges as a vastly different individual than he used to be and comes to terms with the world's realities, adjusting his persona accordingly. This reflects a significant shift in the life of a young individual who grapples with challenges and manages to successfully overcome them. This scenario is not uncommon as many individuals in the present day encounter similar hurdles, striving to discover their authentic selves but ultimately succeed in doing so.