Both Jem and Scout mature by recognizing the importance of their father's courageous decision to defend Tom Robinson and become aware of Maycomb's prejudice. The children view Arthur "Boo" Radley differently and realize that he is just a shy, generous neighbor. In addition to their newfound perspective on their community and odd neighbor, Jem and Scout exercise many of Atticus's attributes. Jem develops empathy for others, and Scout learns to control her emotions. As a child, Jem would often exclude Scout from activities and not consider Boo Radley's feelings as he spread rumors and trespassed onto his property. By the end of the story, Jem develops into a compassionate, gentle adolescent who sympathizes with Scout and Boo Radley. Similarly, Scout's ability to keep her composure and understand her community illustrates her maturation. Both siblings also learn the importance of protecting innocent, vulnerable beings.

Although the Finch children have significantly matured, Jem is still a sensitive individual. He not only cries after hearing the verdict but also refuses to speak about the trial when Scout brings it up. Jem also remains naive about certain aspects of the criminal justice system, which is depicted when he argues with Atticus about getting rid of juries altogether. Although Scout reluctantly attends her Aunt Alexandra's missionary circle, she continues to identify as a tomboy and prefers the company of males. Scout also continues to trust her father and admires her brother. Scout attentively listens to Atticus's explanations regarding the Tom Robinson trial and feels comfortable asking Jem questions about the hypocrisy of their neighbors.

Throughout the course of the novel, Jem and Scout both mature and gain perspective on the world around them. Both siblings lose their childhood innocence after witnessing racial injustice firsthand and begin to perceive their community of Maycomb differently. Jem becomes jaded with the racist community members and begins to realize the importance of his father's decision to defend Tom. In contrast, Scout does not become jaded with her community but begins to recognize the prevalent prejudice and hypocrisy throughout Maycomb. Both Jem and Scout also become more sympathetic and tolerant towards their neighbors. The siblings also learn that Boo Radley is not a malevolent creature and discover that he is simply a reclusive, compassionate man.

Despite their maturation and moral development, Jem and Scout's personalities remain the same throughout the novel. Jem remains passionate and courageous throughout the entire story. Whether he is giving fantastic descriptions of Boo Radley or arguing about the corrupt justice system with his father, Jem continually demonstrates his passionate nature. Scout remains observant and curious throughout the entire novel. She is constantly asking questions and attempting to understand the world around her.

Jem becomes more mature.  He is still a boy at the end of the book, but he is working his way into manhood.  This is shown through his reaction at the trial of Tom Robinson (he actually cries because of the injustice of the court) and also in the way he doesn't want to play games with his younger sister (who he still sees as a child).  Scout is still a child at the end of the novel, but she is being to see things from a different perspective.  She begins to realize that things aren't always what they appear to be (Boo Radley and Mrs. Dubose are both proof of that).  The above examples could be used in an essay, but if you're talking about the actual structure of an essay I would suggest you set it up like this:

Your introduction would mention your thesis (which would be to prove that Jem and Scout change/remain the same throughout the novel) and then very briefly discuss your three main examples that prove your thesis.  Your body paragraph would discuss these examples in further detail.  For example, you may want to compare and contrast Jem and Scout's reaction to Mrs. Dubose and the lesson that both of them learned from her.  Your conclusion should reiterate what your essay discussed and possibly (depending upon what your teacher is looking for) give your own personal opinion.  The structure of your essay also depends upon the assignment that you were given, but I hope this helps. 

Naturally, both of the children grow physically during the nearly two-and-one-half years that encompasses the novel. Scout does not really discuss her own growth spurts, but we know that Jem is growing taller and approaching puberty. He is proud of the body hair that has begun to appear, and he plans to try out for the football team when seventh grade rolls around. Jem's new maturity sometimes infuriates Scout, but she is happy when he presents her with a Tootsie Roll and some advice after a particularly bad argument with Aunt Alexandra. And at the end of the novel, he does his best to defend Scout from the murderous hands of Bob Ewell, fighting him off the best he can until Boo Radley arrives.

Lost innocence is a major theme in the novel, and both of the children are robbed of some of their childhood inculpability in the adult world to which they are exposed. They quickly learn not to believe most of the gossip spouted by Miss Stephanie, and soon recognize that the monstrous Boo Radley is actually trying to become their friend. They find that their seemingly boring father has a few secret talents of his own, and Jem decides to emulate the humble nature of Atticus, announcing to Scout that "Atticus is a gentleman, just like me!" Both of the children learn the hard way about the injustices found in the adult world: that racisim exists; that religious zealots are often hypocritical (Mr. Radley, Mrs. Merriweather); that teachers are far from perfect (Miss Caroline, Miss Gates); that family heritage can be interpreted in different ways by different people; and that good people (Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, Dolphus Raymond, Mrs. Dubose) are often misunderstood and believed to be bad. They see how evil exists in the human form (Bob Ewell) and how evil can sometimes be overcome (the lynch mob). Jem decides he may want to follow in Atticus's footsteps as an attorney just so he can improve the jury system.

As for Scout, she finally understands that fisticuffs are not a solution for an argument, and she discovers puppy love in the tiny but imaginative persona of of Dill. She still questions the goodness of most women, finding herself "more at home in my father's world"--the world of men. And at the end of the novel, she discovers how different her neighborhood looks from the perspective of the Radley porch and how people are not always what they seem.

Characters who change in a significant way over the course of a story are called “dynamic” characters. Just like people in real life, characters don’t change easily. It usually takes some sort of difficult experience or event to change us.

Scout and Jem’s character change is evident at the end of the story. On page 279 of the Warner Books paperback, Scout says to the reader,

Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them.

Here, the author is repeating a phrase that Atticus said earlier in the story. At that time, Scout did not understand what he meant. Now as a result of her experience, she does. This is an important change.

Finally, in the last several paragraphs, Scout speaks to Atticus about Boo Radley, saying with a kind of soft surprise, “Atticus, he was real nice.”

For Scout to say this about Boo signals a momentous change. She and Jem have spent the entire book in terror of Boo, imagining all sorts of horrible things about him.

Writers often show character change in just this way. Establish an idea, let it run through the story, then show how the characters' attitudes toward this idea change.

Scout and Jem mature in various ways.

Together... they grow a greater respect for their father as they watch him shoot the mad dog, fight for Tom Robinson and hold his head high when spat at in the face by Bob Ewell. They also both learn to change their perspective about Boo Radley. I think Jem knows early in the book that Boo gave them the gifts in the tree, whereas Scout's great confirmation of his goodness came as she escorted him home.

Scout... grew a better understanding of the difference between actions and morality. She used to fight with her fists because that was the way she knew how to achieve success. But it really wasn't success, nor was it as effective at stopping the behaviors she wanted stopped. By the end of the novel, she is learning to do the right thing in tough situations like when she is at the missionary tea. She couldn't beat up the ladies who hurt her feelings by making fun of her dress, but she learned how to bite her lip and hold her tongue before acting.

Jem... learned that all people are equal, but we don't treat each other that way. However, a good goal would be to try. We see this as Atticus honors Jem's feeling about the outcome of the trial. He notes that if there were 11 other boys along with Jem on that jury, things would have turned out justly.

To Kill a Mockingbird stands among many novels in a genre often give the name of Bildungsroman, or the novel of maturation.  In such a novel, the central character(s) are taken from an ingenuous state and brought to an experienced and enlightened state, resulting from a series of misadventures which compose the narration.  In the three years with which the novel is concerned, Scout comes to abandon her childish superstitions of "haints" and spectres such as Boo Radley and Mrs. Dubose; and, she learns to accept people for who they are as individuals and not according to the gossips or stereotypes.  She also learns  about religious and racial prejudice, as well as learning much about her own father, whom she at one time has viewed "as a feeble old man."

Both Scout and Jem learn about virtues, also.  From Mrs. Dubose, Atticus, and Boo Radley, she apprehends the real meaning of courage.  For instance, after Mrs. Dubose withdraws from morphine and dies with nothing for her pain, Atticus tells Jem who has been reading to her until shortly before her death,

I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand.

The children learn about fortitude from their father, as well, when he shoots the rabid dog, and when he takes on the case for Tom Robinson, saying that he could not face his children if he does not do so.  When the mob comes to the jail, Atticus does not waiver in his defense of Tom's right to a trial.

Aware from his father that justice should be administered regardless of race and class, the idealistic Jem undergoes a maturation after the trial of Tom Robinson as he is faced with the incongruity of what is right with reality.   Scout also learns about hypocrisy when the Missionary Society feigns concern for the natives in Africa while they criticize their maids.  On his part, Jem learns of hypocrisy, too.  He also learns to act maturely.  For instance, when Jem tells Atticus that Dill is in their house, Scout becomes angry with him for "telling on Dill," but Jem maturely realizes that Dill's mother wil be worried when she discovers that he is missing.

Both Scout and Jem, as well as their friend, Dill, learn several moral lessons in To Kill a Mockingbird.  As she stands on the Radley porch, after having learned to "consider things from his point of view," Scout even concludes that there is little else for her and Jem to learn--except, perhaps, algebra.

How does Scout mature throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird?

Scout matures throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by truly coming to understand what it means to walk in another person’s shoes, something that she fully grasps as the novel unfolds. Scout has many people telling her how to behave. She has the neighbors, who scoff at Scout’s tomboyish ways and tell her to be more ladylike. She has her teacher, who tells her that she should not have learned to read at home. She even has Jem, who tells her that she is acting too much like a girl when she does not want to enter the Radley property with him. He also sometimes tells her she should act more like a girl so that the other adults stop pestering her about it.

Of all the adults who instruct and sometimes lecture Scout, Atticus and Calpurnia are the two who probably have the biggest impact on her. In their own ways, they each teach her to try to understand others and behave in a responsible and kind manner to them. Atticus does this by telling them to walk in another person’s shoes and by example when he defends Tom. Calpurnia teaches a similar lesson, both by instruction and example, as well. For example, she chides Scout when Walter Cunningham is having lunch with the children. She also models this behavior by example when she explains why her speech patterns are different at church.

Towards the end of the novel, we see that Scout has matured by the way she behaves towards Boo. When the novel opens, she views Boo and the Radley house as a source of curiosity, terror and frightening fun as the children make a game out of sniffing around over there. By the end, Scout has come to realize that Boo is a frightened, wounded person who deserves her compassion. She regrets that she and Jem never gave Boo anything in return for the many gifts he gave them, including giving them their lives when he rescues them.

How does Scout mature throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird?

To a large extent, To Kill a Mockingbird is concerned with Scout's coming of age. A naive young girl who doesn't know much about the world around her, Scout is nevertheless highly intelligent and curious, and she displays a willingness to learn. This attitude stands her in good stead for the many discoveries that are to come.

One such discovery concerns the ugly reality of racism in Maycomb. Like all Southern towns at that time, Maycomb is segregated along racial lines, with African Americans treated as second-class citizens. As a white child, Scout doesn't personally feel the affects of racism, but during the trial of Tom Robinson, she does gain an inkling of what racial prejudice means and understands the injustices to which it can often lead. Scout may be too young to have developed a sophisticated understanding of systemic racism, but after Tom's wrongful conviction, she is at least aware of racism and the enormous harm it can cause.

Thanks to her father, Scout also learns to put herself in other people's shoes, which comes in handy in relation to Boo Radley. Initially, Scout sees Boo as a kind of scary, boogie-man figure, a creature of urban legend, but over time she comes to see a different side to a man that so many people regard as a monster. When Boo saves Scout from the evil clutches of Bob Ewell, she is given privileged access to the real Arthur Radley, a gentle and decent human being, one of life's mockingbirds. In understanding Boo, Scout is also understanding herself.

How does Scout mature throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird?

Much of the novel is concerned with Scout's maturing, but it happens more through specific events than as a gradual process. Just being Atticus Finch's daughter during and after Tom Robinson's trial places her in a variety of situations in which she has to act wiser than her years. Although Scout is precocious, she is also impulsive and verbose. Learning when to deploy her natural talents and when to exercise restraint are big parts of this girl's maturing.

One place where her impulses and talkative nature help her and her family and grow her up in one sitting is when the children follow Atticus to the jail (Chapter 15). Taking her cue from her brother, who refuses to leave, Scout first kicks a man who threatens him. She next dives in to conversing with Mr. Cunningham. Scout is dredging up from her memory the correct, polite way to converse—totally the opposite of the men's intentions. The fact that she succeeds in derailing them helps her understand the adult world she must learn to navigate.

Another significant place where she shows maturity is during Aunt Alexandra's missionary society meeting (Chapter 24). First she decides to truly help Calpurnia by staying out of the way and not dirtying her nice dress, as Cal would have to wash it. Although she doesn't understand a lot of the women's racist comments, she respects her aunt and refrains from asking her usual scads of questions.

The situation takes a turn when Atticus comes home and speaks to his sister Scout, Cal, and Miss Maudie in the kitchen. He tells them Tom is dead, and how he was shot. Scout starts shaking, until Miss Maudie tells her to stop. She sees how the women pull themselves together to face the guests. Scout steps up and uses her company manners. She realizes something vital about what it means to be a lady. This is the first time she really respects her aunt and understands something of the female adult role in her social class.

How does Scout mature throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird?

Scout matures throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird and becomes a morally upright individual like her father, Atticus. At the beginning of the novel, Scout is a hot-headed, naive little girl who lacks perspective on the world around her. Her quick temper is continually getting her into trouble, and she struggles to view situations from other people's perspective. Scout fears her neighbor, Boo Radley, and is unaware of the meaning of several explicit terms that she hears from Maycomb's community members. As the novel progresses, Atticus teaches his daughter numerous life lessons dealing with topics such as perspective, courage, tolerance, respect, and integrity. Scout takes heed to her father's lessons and develops into a morally upright individual. Several significant events shape Scout's perspective which includes Tom Robinson's trial and Bob Ewell's attack. After Scout loses her childhood innocence, she is not jaded about the world around her and is tolerant of Maycomb's prejudiced community members. She realizes that Boo Radley is a compassionate, shy person, and learns the importance of treating innocent humans with decency and respect.

How does Scout mature throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird?

The most explicit indicator of Scout's increasing maturity is after Tom Robinson's trial at one of Aunt Alexandra's mission society teas.  Since coming to stay with her brother, niece, and nephew, Alexandra has been at cross purposes with Scout, embroiled as she is in a desperate and largely unsuccessful effort to turn Scout into a lady worthy of the Finch name.  However, as the novel draws closer to the end, Atticus comes into the kitchen to ask Calpurnia to accompany him to tell Tom Robinson's wife that he has died, and Scout, observing her aunt composing herself to return to the ladies, determines that she will compose herself as well.  In the tradition of Southern womanhood, she eschews any sort of dramatic reaction, and calmly returns to the guests, offering them refreshments, a much different young lady than the overall-clad girl the reader meets at the novel's beginning. 

In To Kill a Mockingbird, what are three examples of how Jem and Scout grow up during the course of time in the novel?

The notion of growing up over time is of vital importance in Lee's work. Scout is one of the most dominant examples of this. The novel's structure is one of growing up as Scout does the narration.  In doing so, it becomes clear that Scout's psychological emergence is essential to the novel's meaning.  The novel's opening lines speak to this condition:

Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it. In rainy weather the streets turned to red slop; grass grew on the sidewalks, the courthouse sagged in the square. Somehow it was hotter then: a black dog suffered on a summers day; bony mules hitched to Hoover carts flicked flies in the sweltering shade of the live oaks on the square. Men's stiff collars wilted by nine in the morning. Ladies bathed before noon, after their three-o'clock naps, and by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum.

The novel's opening lines indicate how Scout has grown up.  The rest of the novel is devoted to exploring this process of maturation and emotional growth. Scout's recollection of Maycomb help to establish that what is being read is a memoir of sorts about her growing up and the maturation which becomes a part of her identity.

As the novel progresses, specific instances remind the reader that Scout is growing up.  While she might initially object to what Atticus says, part of her process of growing up involves recognizing the truth of Atticus's words.  At specific moments, it becomes clear that Scout grows up through the realization of what her father says is correct and sound moral and ethical advice:

Jem stayed moody and silent for a week. As Atticus had once advised me to do, I tried to climb into Jem's skin and walk around in it: if I had gone alone to the Radley Place at two in the morning, my funeral would have been held the next afternoon. So I left Jem alone and tried not to bother him.

Harper Lee shows through Scout that part of what it means to grow up is to recognize when the adults who show care are proven to be right.  Scout also grows up in terms of how others see her, as seen in how Uncle Jack recognizes her wisdom:

I know. Your daughter gave me my first lessons this afternoon. She said I didn't understand children much and told me why. She was quite right. Atticus, she told me how I should have treated her-oh dear, I'm so sorry I romped on her.

Scout has grown over the course of the novel in how she comes to view herself, in how she views others, and finally in how others view her.  Through absorbing Atticus's teachings regarding climbing into the perceptions of another person and "walk around in it," Scout grows up. In this transformation and growth of character, Scout grows up during the course of time in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Growing up is also a part of Jem's identity in the course of the novel.  As Scout does, Jem learns to understand more of himself, the world, and his place in it as part of the process of growing up.  One part of this process is establishing himself socially apart from Scout:

His maddening superiority was unbearable these days. He didn't want to do anything but read and go off by himself. Still, everything he read he passed along to me, but with this difference: formerly, because he thought I'd like it; now, for my edification and instruction.

Jem shows the process of growing up in terms of changing over time, something that Scout further confirms when she says both of them "began to part company" and describing him as "allergic" to her presence in public. His social distance from Scout is an example of him growing up.  Like Scout, Jem also grows up in terms of understanding the truth regarding Atticus's lesson. At the same time, Jem also grows up in how he recognizes mistakes in judgment.  As he gets older, his desire to recognize the importance of image and how he is seen becomes a part of his identity.  Jem grows up in how he does not want to be seen in a negative light by Atticus:   "I—it's like this, Scout," he muttered. "Atticus ain't ever whipped me since I can remember. I wanta keep it that way. […] We shouldn'a done that tonight, Scout."  Jem grows up in the way he recognizes the importance of his image and how others, namely Atticus, sees him.  In being conscious of his perception in the eyes of other people, Scout shows an aspect of growing up and how the process of maturation takes place over the course of time in the novel.

How does Jem mature throughout To Kill A Mockingbird?

Early in the story, we find Jem to be a typical child of Maycomb. He is impetuous and given to mischief, and believes all the rumors and superstition that surround the enigmatic figure of Boo Radley.

One of the early events that forces Jem to mature is his interaction with Mrs. Dubose. He thinks that he is being punished just because he destroyed a flower bush. However, after Mrs. Dubose's death, he learns that he had been helping her with her crippling morphine addiction. Events like these mature Jem and make him realize that things are not always as they appear.

By the time of the Robinson trial, Jem has matured greatly, though he retains some childish idealism. When the evidence is stacked in Tom's favor, he seems very excited and certain of his father's victory. This is a turbulent time to see the justice system fail, but regardless, Jem keeps his father's sense of justice close to his heart.

How does Jem mature throughout To Kill A Mockingbird?

In part 1 of the novel, Jem is portrayed as a relatively immature, naive child who fears Boo Radley, believes the rumors surrounding his enigmatic neighbor, continually argues with Scout, and expresses his childlike innocence regarding serious matters like the community's overt prejudice. As the novel progresses, Jem begins to mature and follows in his father's footsteps.

In part 2 of the novel, Jem demonstrates his maturity by no longer fearing Boo Radley, informing Atticus that Dill ran away from home, defending his father in front of the Maycomb jailhouse, and attempting to comfort Scout following her arguments with Aunt Alexandra. Jem ends up losing his childhood innocence after he witnesses racial injustice firsthand during the Tom Robinson trial, and he becomes jaded with his prejudiced community members.

Following Tom's wrongful conviction, Jem begins to sympathize with defenseless individuals and truly understands the importance of protecting innocent beings. Jem becomes more patient and understanding of Scout and demonstrates his maturity by walking her to the Maycomb Halloween festival and attempting to lift her spirits after her unfortunate performance during the pageant. By the end of the novel, Jem has matured into a morally upright, protective older brother who has a genuine understanding of the nature and makeup of his community.

How do Scout and Jem change their behaviors in the middle of the novel To Kill A Mockingbird?

Jem grows apart from Scout, and Scout develops empathy.

At the beginning of the book, Scout and Jem are both young and behave like children.  By the trial, which is roughly the middle of the book, they are both behaving more maturely.  The trial demonstrates that Scout has learned how to empathize.  Jem also behaves in a more grown-up way, paying less attention to Scout.  Both of them have moved on from the kids’ games they used to play, acting out books and neighborhood gossip.

The relationship between Jem and Scout changes around the middle of the book.  Jem enters adolescence, and Scout can no longer understand him like she used to.  An example is the fact that the two begin to drift apart.

Jem was twelve. He was difficult to live with, inconsistent, moody. His appetite was appalling, and he told me so many times to stop pestering him I consulted Atticus: “Reckon he’s got a tapeworm?” Atticus said no, Jem was growing. (Ch. 12)

Jem wants to behave in more adult ways, and is less interested in playing with his little sister.  He wants to be grown up.  Scout is hurt by his actions, because she is still young enough to want to hang out with her big brother.

The fact that Scout and Jem are growing up is evident during the trial.  Both of them have to face hard truths about life.  Scout realizes that people are more complex than she thought, and Jem learns that the world is not fair.  However, throughout the trial Jem understands the process (or thinks he does) better than Scout.

Jem turned back to Dill, explaining, I suppose, the finer points of the trial to him, but I wondered what they were. (Ch. 18)

Scout and Jem are both affected by the trial on a person level, because their father is the defense attorney.  The trial is the talk of the town, and they are trying to understand their father’s part in it.  Scout's behavior also changes because she is capable of appreciating Mayella Ewell's situation, and Dolphus Raymond's, as well as her father's.

Scout and Jem both undergo a kind of coming of age throughout the novel.  However, while Scout is younger and has to mature a great deal throughout the course of the book, Jem also grows up.  By the end of the book, Jem is twelve and practically a teenager.  The events described in the book had a meaningful impact on both of their lives.

How do Scout and Jem mature through Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird?

Throughout To Kill a Mockingbird, both Scout Finch and her brother Jem mature in their outlook on the world in general and in their attitudes toward the people around them. In regard to interpersonal attitudes, a significant changes occur in the children’s relationship to each other.

As white, upper-middle-class children, Scout and Jem have been shielded from many hardships that other children faced in the Depression-era small Southern town. They had suffered through losing their mother but are fortunate that their father, Atticus, is a kind, intelligent, fair-minded man. Many of the changes that the Finch siblings undergo pertain to their father’s attitudes toward his family, community, and work. Through his unsuccessful defense of an innocent African American man, his children learn the limits of good intentions and hard work in achieving justice. When the children survive an attack by the disgruntled Bob Ewell, they realize that they are not immune from violence.

Atticus encourages the children to walk in another person’s shoes, a lesson that pertains especially to their interactions with Mrs. Dubose and Arthur “Boo” Radley. Jem’s interactions with Mrs. Dubose help him to develop compassion for people who are enduring physical pain. He learns that he is able to make a positive contribution to a person for whom he initially does not respect.

Both Scout and Jem mature considerably in their dealings with Arthur. Jem—prompted by their excitable friend Dill—had not seen Arthur as a real person but as a character in a fantasy. Through the gestures he extends to them, such as making the figurines, they realize that he has feelings and that they were probably causing him pain. For Scout, in particular, the bond formed when she learns he rescued her from Ewell will remain important.

Both children mature in their relationship with each other as well. Harper Lee begins the novel by having Scout tell the reader that Jem had once broken his arm. It is near the end of the novel that we finally learn that he did so while protecting his little sister. For much of the novel, Scout finds it difficult to understand why her brother must separate from her as he grows up. Jem moves from demeaning his sister as a girl to developing compassion for her. Even before they are attacked by Ewell, Jem had shown consideration for her feelings during the school pageant. Scout also shows a more mature understanding of her own female role through observing how her aunt and the other ladies manage the news of Robinson’s death.

How do Scout and Jem mature through Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird?

Both Jem and Scout mature into morally upright individuals with sympathy and perspective. At the beginning of the novel, both Jem and Scout fear Boo Radley and do not understand the prejudice throughout their community. Both children learn valuable lessons and experience significant events, which affect their perspective of life. Jem learns about real courage from his experience with Mrs. Dubose, and Scout learns about perspective from her interaction with Miss Caroline. Atticus also teaches his children important lessons concerning race, respect, tolerance, and equality. After witnessing racial injustice for the first time, both Jem and Scout lose their childhood innocence. Although Jem becomes jaded, he realizes the importance of standing up for what is right. Scout also understands the importance of protecting innocent beings and comprehends the significance of her father's defense of Tom Robinson. By the end of the novel, neither child fears Boo Radley, and both of the Finch children develop into empathetic, respectful individuals. 

How do Scout and Jem mature through Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird?

At the opening of Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout and Jem Finch are quite young, with Scout being a precocious five and Jem nine years old. There are really two plots to the novel, the first concerning the children Scout and Jem and the second concerning Atticus Finch and his attempt to get justice for Robinson, a black man falsely accused of rape. These two plots work together, in that we see the effect of a strongly moral parent on the ethical development of the children.

We first encounter Scout and Jem indulging in childish curiosity about their reclusive neighbor Boo Radley. They give no real thought to how he might feel at being treated as a spectacle, but are not shown as bad-hearted children, just as young and naive. Their first sign of maturity is their (failed) attempt to place a thank-you note in the tree, a sign that they are polite and considerate children. As the book progresses, the children become aware of Boo's secret acts of kindness and reveal them to their father, showing increased maturity in the way they begin to understand Boo as a real person rather than as just entertainment. Their support of their father's attempt to find justice for Robinson is also evidence of their growing maturity and ability to resist peer pressure.

Jem's relationship with Mrs. Dubose also shows how his father's guidance leads Jem not to react impulsively but to think through other people's histories and motivations before reacting to their behavior. It is also an episode about overcoming fear and understanding that anger is often born from fear.

Another major episode showing the children's increasing strength and maturity is when Scout talks to Walter Cunningham, reminding him that she is his son's schoolmate and defusing the potential for the assembly of people to turn into a lynch mob. 

The final resolution of the novel, in which Boo and the children become friends, shows that they have learned to take their place within society, using reason and empathy to relate to people in an adult fashion.

How does Harper Lee develop the character of Atticus Finch throughout To Kill a Mockingbird?

Harper Lee shows readers all of the characters in Maycomb through the eyes of a young child, Scout Finch. Readers see how characters interact with Scout; we share in what Scout sees, hears, and experiences. Early in the novel, Scout describes Atticus as a reserved older man. Her relationship with her father seems distant in some ways; this is particularly demonstrated by the fact that both Scout and Jem call their father by his first name: Atticus.

Scout begins chapter 10 with the exaggerated lines,

"Atticus was feeble: he was nearly fifty. . . . Our father didn't do anything. . . . Besides that, he wore glasses. He did not do the things our schoolmates' fathers did: he never went hunting, he did not play poker or fish or drink or smoke. He sat in the living room and read."

Scout thought that her father was a very old, boring, and weak individual at the start of the story. Though Atticus is far from actually being feeble, Scout recognizes that he is older than many of her friends' fathers. Additionally, Atticus considers himself too old to play football, a very common southern past time. He tells her he would "break his neck if he did, he was too old for that sort of thing" (ch. 10).

Scout does not appreciate her father's differences from the rest of his community at the start of the novel. She wishes he demonstrated his strength and bravery by going hunting and playing football. Scout summarizes her early thoughts about her father in a conversation with Miss Maudie:

"Atticus can't do anything." (ch. 10)

Atticus seems to doubt his own strength and abilities at times. For instance, when Mr. Heck Tate asks Atticus to shoot the rabid dog (Tim Johnson), Atticus responds,

"I haven't shot a gun in thirty years—" (ch. 10)

Like Scout, Atticus seems to doubt his own strength in this scene. However, soon later he shows great confidence in defending Tom Robinson. Unlike the film version, which shows Atticus reluctantly accepting the case, Atticus boldly decides to defend Tom Robinson, despite the town's dislike of his decision. He explains to Scout:

"I couldn't go to church and worship God if I didn't try to help that man. . . . The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience." (ch. 11)

While Scout may not understand or appreciate her father's differences early on, she begins to see his boldness and moral strength throughout the rest of the novel. Atticus shows Scout that it isn't a person's physical strength but his/her moral strength that matters most. By the end of the story, after seeing her dad defend Tom Robinson despite popular opinions, Scout learns to appreciate her father's moral strength. Additionally, readers see more and more moments that show the closeness between Atticus, Scout, and Jem. Though the children call their father by his first name, which is unusual, they clearly have a close relationship. One scene where this is seen is in chapter 26 when Scout tries to climb into her father's lap when she needs comfort:

I wanted Atticus . . . I went to him and tried to get in his lap. Atticus smiled. "You're getting so big now, I'll just have to hold a part of you." He held me close.

Both Scout and Jem go to their father to discuss their questions and to be comforted as they face several hard experiences. As the novel progresses, both children learn to respect their father all the more. As Atticus resists the popular opinions of Maycomb to defend Tom Robinson, the children learn to admire Atticus's great strength of character.

How does Harper Lee develop the character of Atticus Finch throughout To Kill a Mockingbird?

Atticus Finch, as a character, is given development through some limited exposition of his background, through certain episodes that offer a glimpse into his fears, and through contrast with his sister, Aunt Alexandra. 

Like most of the characters in the novel, Atticus Finch does not change over the course of the novel. He is, however, developed and deepened as a character. As we see the action of the story through Scout's eyes, we also see new information about Atticus Finch through the filter of his daughter. 

One example of new information about Atticus comes when he has to shoot a rabid dog on the street. Scout and Jem had no idea that their father is or was the "best shot" in Maycomb. This fact helps to suggest that Atticus Finch is a man of great restraint and a deep sense of fairness. 

Scout admires Atticus for his shooting talent, but Jem admires him for his gentlemanly restraint.

One particular episode in the novel offers an insight into Atticus' fears of losing his children. When they arrive in the midst of the mob outside of the jail, Atticus is uncharacteristically overwhelmed by the moment. He later articulates that his fear of losing them over presenting a bad example to them and losing their respect. 

Finally, through contrast with his sister, Atticus shows his demeanor, his patience, and eventually shows the emotional strain of the trial. 

Atticus has tried to be patient and understanding with his sister, but in this chapter he almost gives in to anger. He restrains himself, however, and Scout notices his feelings only as a subtle change in his behavior towards Alexandra, a “digging in.”

In these ways, Atticus Finch is developed as a character. The reader is given information about his past and made witness to events that both test and prove his character. 

How does Harper Lee develop the character of Atticus Finch throughout To Kill a Mockingbird?

Scout and Jem's father may be one of the most likeable, inspiring characters in literature.  He is a liberal, tolerant, educated man in a community that is still rooted, in many ways, in the traditions and prejudices of the Old South.  The wisdom found in his words have led him to be one of the most oft-quoted characters in literature.  Although he is a widow, his parenting is generally strong, consistent, and always with an eye toward developing Scout and Jem's consciences and a strong sense of justice.

Atticus's definition of true courage is one that readers tend to remember when deconstructing his character; he tells his children on one occasion that courage means "knowing you're licked before you begin, but you see it through no matter what".  He insisted that both kids learn this lesson when he assigned them to read to the morphine addicted Mrs. Dubose; when she died, he commented that "She was a great lady", to Scout and Jem's mortification, explaining that she was adamant about dying morphine-free. 

Commensurate with Atticus's strong sense of conscience and courage is his determination to see the other side of every situation, telling his children that "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view".  He mentions this to them several times throughout the novel, and the only time this advice doesn't serve him well is when he assumes that Bob Ewell will get over the humiliation he endured at the hands of Atticus in the courtroom; Atticus was not able to successfully put himself fully in Bob Ewell's shoes, because, of course, if he had, he would have foreseen that Ewell might try to harm his family. 

How does Jem and Scout's relationship change throughout the novel?

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, Jem and Scout's relationship changes.

First, Jem is going through puberty. (He shares the news of hair growing on his chest with Scout.)

The story primarily revolves around the court case of Tom Robinson, a black man accused of a crime he did not commit. The story takes place in the South, not too long after the end of the Civil War, and during the Great Depression. Poverty is prevalent, memories are fed with hate on a regular basis, and Atticus Finch is chosen to represent Tom.

Scout and Jem are accustomed to seeing their father in court, and they have a good understanding of how to read witnesses as well as their father. However, Atticus has spent almost his entire career avoiding criminal cases.

Scout is younger than Jem, and as the travesty of the court trial continues, and Tom is tragically found guilty of an imaginary crime, Jem is forced to face the realities of the adult legal system and the hatred in men's hearts. Scout is affected to a certain extent, by tends to lean more to sleeping in the courtroom, while Jem becomes more and more invested in the outcome. It is here that evil personified is introduced to the children, though at the time they are unaware of its presence.

Jem, because of his age, is better able to appreciate the lesson to be learned in Mrs. Dubose's sickroom after he destroys her flower bed. He is forced, in essence, to look into the face of physical addiction and the strength of the human soul in fighting that demon, and winning, something Scout doesn't appreciate on the same level as Jem.

Finally, when the evil in the form of Mr. Ewell steps out of the courtroom and into the night, pursuing the children with the intent to kill them, in a split second Jem is galvanized into the world of adulthood as he is called upon to defend not only his own life, but that of his sister, as Bob Ewell tries to stab them.

While reading carefully, there are many subtle hints of the changes that separate the children as they grow over the course of the story; there are other much more significant events that show Jem's coming of age. At the same time, it is Scout's ability to maintain some of her innocence and honesty (while Jem and she grow apart) that so enthrallingly bring the characters and plot to life.

How does Jem and Scout's relationship change throughout the novel?

Jem and Scout start off as play buddies and pretty much equals when it comes to fighting each other. With Jem being four years older than she is, he hits puberty first and understands the world around them a little bit better. As Jem makes this natural transformation from childhood to adolescence, there is a shift to an unequal relationship. For example, as the trial of Tom Robinson nears in chapter 14, Jem recognizes the strain it is placing on everyone in the house. In an effort to help solve this problem, he says to Scout the following:

"Scout, try not to antagonize Aunty, here? . . . he's (Atticus) got a lot on his mind now, without us worrying him. . . it's this Tom Robinson case that's worryin' him to death--" (137-138).

Scout doesn't see this talk as anything but Jem trying to boss her around, though, and she challenges him to the point that he threatens to spank her if she won't stop. This is the first time that he's threatened to say and do something that seems so above her--as if he's the adult and she's the child. The next thing he does, though, completely kicks him out of the realm of childhood. When Jem tells Atticus that Dill has run away from his home in Meridian to their house, Scout explains what happened next:

"Dill's eyes flickered at Jem, and Jem looked at the floor. Then he rose and broke the remaining code of our childhood. He went out of the room and down the hall. 'Atticus,' his voice was distant, 'can you come here a minute, sir?'" (141).

This is a turning point for Jem as he moves into the adult world of understanding how to deal with crises. He even tells Dill that he shouldn't worry his mother the way he did by running away. And as far as Scout's relationship with him, it seems to have greatly changed as a result. Scout doesn't hold Jem's transformation against him for too long, though. By chapter 28, Scout says the following:

"Jem was becoming almost as good as Atticus at making you feel right when things went wrong" (259).

Jem winds up being a good big brother who does his best to defend Scout and keep her safe. Their relationship changes as all do, but they certainly go through a few growing pains along the way.

How does Scout develop as a character in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Throughout the novel, Scout becomes progressively more brave and assertive. One way this is seen is in her thoughts about and actions toward Mrs. Dubose. In chapter 1, Scout explains how she would not try to play beyond the edge of Mrs. Dubose's yard:

"When I was almost six and Jem was nearly ten, our summertime boundaries . . . were Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose’s house . . . and the Radley Place . . .. We were never tempted to break them. The Radley Place was inhabited by an unknown entity the mere description of whom was enough to make us behave . . .; Mrs. Dubose was plain hell."

Later, in chapter 11, Scout no longer allows her fear of Mrs. Dubose to restrict her activities. While she once limited the range of her playing area based on her fear of Mrs. Dubose (who was known to be mean and grumpy), she now goes where she pleases without fear of the old woman. This shows her growing bravery.

"When we were small, Jem and I confined our activities to the southern neighborhood, but when I was well into the second grade at school and tormenting Boo Radley became passe, the business section of Maycomb drew us frequently up the street past the real property of Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose."

Similarly, by the end of the novel Scout learns to overcome her fear of Boo Radley. She learns that Boo issn't a monster, as the town legends suggest, but a lonely and hurting person cut off from the rest of society by his family. He was shown no grace for his teenage rebellions but was forced into hiding. Even his one means of communicating with people outside his home (the tree trunk in which he left gifts for Scout and Jem) was soon blocked by his family. Scout overcomes her fear of Boo Radley. At the end of the novel she walks him back to his house, holding onto his arm.

Finally, in chapter 3 Atticus teaches Scout to try to put herself in another person's shoes, meaning, to see life from another person's point of view. Through several challenging situations and relationships, Scout learns this lesson. She learns to put herself in the mindset of a mean old lady (Mrs. Dubose) and a mysterious man (Boo Radley). She learns that their lives are far more complicated than she first imagined, and she begins to see and respect the goodness of these unusual persons.

How does Scout develop as a character in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Scout develops significantly throughout the course of To Kill a Mockingbird. When we first meet Scout, she is an innocent six year-old. She sees the world in almost a black-and-white way because she sees things as being either wrong or right. She is also quick to voice her opinion, especially because she wants to seem like an equal to Jem. This sometimes get her into trouble, and she responds physically. She is very quick to get angry. As she matures, with help from her father, Scout learns that some things are better left unsaid. Throughout the novel, she develops from a naive child to a restrained, more mature person. 

Trace Scout's and Jem's development throughout the novel To Kill A Mockingbird.

A broad way of looking at Scout and Jem's development is to see at what stage of life both characters are within. Scout is a child soon to enter adolescence, while Jem is an adolescent becoming more aware of the adult world. Both characters experience a coming-of-age over the course of the novel, though in different areas.

Jem's development relates to his loss of innocence regarding fairness. This comes through most clearly when Tom Robinson is declared guilty at the trial, even though there is no proof whatsoever that Tom raped Mayella. Jem's previous view of the world did not figure in moral hypocrisy and blind prejudice. After this event, he is forced to confront that awful reality.

Scout's development takes a less dark turn, as she needs to learn to view other people with empathy. Like most small children, Scout has a rather self-centered view of the world, only ever considering her own feelings and needs. She quarrels easily with others and shames people who act differently, such as Walter pouring syrup over his supper when he visits. She also views Boo Radley with terror, not realizing he is not a monster, but a reclusive, emotionally damaged man more deserving of compassion than contempt or fear.

Scout is also uncharitable toward her impatient teacher, Miss Caroline, and her domineering Aunt Alexandra. She views both women as cruel, not realizing that Miss Caroline is new to her job and frightened of doing it wrong, or that Aunt Alexandra is worried about her family, especially her brother's health during the Robinson trial. By the end of the novel, Scout has learned to view other people as worthy of empathy and kindness, as shown by her cooperation with Aunt Alexandra during the tea party or her gentle interaction with Boo after the attack by Bob Ewell.

Trace Scout's and Jem's development throughout the novel To Kill A Mockingbird.

Choosing just two overarching frames for each, Scout learns to consider the world from the perspective of others and Jem learns about social classes and that hypocrisy does exist in the adult world. These are just two progressions. There are other themes of progression one could trace through the development of either character. 

One of the first times Scout is taught to consider someone else's perspective is when she is reprimanded for making fun of Walter Cunningham, Jr. when he is eating with her family. Calpurnia tells Scout that the Finch family might be "better" (wealthier) than the Cunninghams, but treating Walter so poorly suggests that Scout is not better (in the ethical sense): 

"Yo‘ folks might be better’n the Cunninghams but it don’t count for nothin’ the way you’re disgracin‘ ’em—if you can’t act fit to eat at the table you can just set here and eat in the kitchen!” 

Scout will later come to Walter's defense when Aunt Alexandra calls him "trash" and forbids Scout from inviting Walter to her house. 

Scout had also been quick to make fun of Boo Radley. After lessons from Miss Maudie, Atticus, and others, Scout begins to see this lesson of considering other people's perspectives. After the attack, Scout walks Arthur (Boo) home and, literally and figuratively, "sees" things from his perspective: 

Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough. 

One of the most telling moments in Jem's increasing understanding of the hypocrisy and class distinction in Maycomb occurs at the end of Chapter 23. Jem confirms to Scout that Walter is not trash. Then Jem gives his analysis of the kinds of people in town. It is a simplistic analysis but it conforms to the way most people in Maycomb think: 

"There’s the ordinary kind like us and the neighbors, there’s the kind like the Cunninghams out in the woods, the kind like the Ewells down at the dump, and the Negroes.” 

Jem boils it down to the fact that certain people have been reading and writing longer. Scout says there aren't four kinds of folks; there is one kind of folks. "Folks." Jem says he used to think this way but the adults don't get along. Considering this problem, Jem concludes that Boo Radley stays inside his house to avoid these kinds of conflicting social divisions. 

For similar reasons, Jem takes Tom's conviction harder than Scout or Dill. Having watched the trial, Jem believed Atticus had won the case. When Tom is found guilty, Jem is more upset at the injustice of the verdict than he is that his father lost. This shows a sign of maturity in that Jem learns an unfortunate truth about the adult world: that the courtroom is not immune to prejudice. 

How does Jem Finch develop throughout To Kill A Mockingbird?

The story actually begins with a description of Jem’s injury when he was fourteen, and his reaction to the events of the book as an adult.  Then Scout describes a time a few years back.

At first, Jem spends a lot of time with Scout.  He is more mature, but still childish and playful.  He plays make-believe games acting things out with Scout and Dill, both of whom are younger.  Jem has a good imagination.

Jem gave a reasonable description of Boo: Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall, judging from his tracks; he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, that's why his hands were bloodstained … (ch 1)

Jem does mature as Scout gets older, and comes to take on a more parental role.  He often accuses Scout of acting like a girl.  Scout looks up to him, and confides in him.

Having never questioned Jem's pronouncements, I saw no reason to begin now. (ch 2)

Jem is brave.  When he loses his pants, he risks getting killed (since the children think Nathan Radley will shoot them), to go get them so that Atticus will not find out that he disobeyed him about going to the Radleys.  Jem is not concerned with being punished, he just does not want to let Atticus down.

"I- it's like this, Scout," he muttered. "Atticus ain't ever whipped me since I can remember. I wanta keep it that way." (ch 6)

This is an example of how Jem matures and distances himself from Scout.  Yet he still has moments of childish rage and destruction, such as when he destroys Mrs. Dubose’s flowers after she insults them.

During the trial, Jem is highly interested.  He wants to be a lawyer, and he has a strong sense of justice.  He follows the trial closely, and assumes that since Atticus makes a good case, Tom Robinson will be acquitted.  When he is convicted, Atticus is annoyed.

It was Jem's turn to cry. His face was streaked with angry tears as we made our way through the cheerful crowd. "It ain't right," he muttered… (ch 22)

Jem has to come to terms with the reality of racism.  It is when he really grows up.

How does Jem's character develop in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Jem starts out the story as a superstitious and competitive ten year-old. He enjoys playing with Dill and Scout in the summer, and passing on rumors about Boo Radley. He's also interested in showing that he is brave by either touching the Radley house or walking past Mrs. Dubose's house--two of the scariest houses in Maycomb. Since the story is written from Scout's perspective, Jem's sister, it is she who notices how certain events help to shape and change her older brother.

First, Scout is confused on her first day of first grade when Jem tells her not to bother him during school. She wonders at this because she thought they were good play fellows. He doesn't want her to embarrass him "with references to his private life, or tag along behind him at recess and noon" (16). This is the first boundary that Jem sets up between him and his sister.

One very defining moment for Jem is in chapter 11 when he considers it cowardly not to walk all the way to the corner to meet Atticus after work each night. This means walking past Mrs. Dubose's house and enduring her constant complaints about the children and insults about their father and ancestors. Even though Atticus told Jem always to be a gentleman with Mrs. Dubose, there's one day that he can't take it anymore and he cuts off the tops of all her camellia bushes with Scout's baton. Scout explains as follows:

"In later years, I sometimes wondered exactly what made Jem do it. . . At the time, however, I thought the only explanation for what he did was that for a few minutes he simply went mad" (102).

Jem's penance is to read to Mrs. Dubose for a month following this incident. He also learns that she was fighting a morphine addiction and that Atticus thinks she was one of the most courageous women he knew. Jem learns patience and how to control his temper from this experience, but it doesn't prepare him for the racism and prejudice that he witnesses at the Tom Robinson trial.

The major defining event in Jem's development is how he reacts to the issues surrounding the Tom Robinson trial. Jem witnesses racism and prejudice at their worst and struggles to understand how twelve white men could knowingly convict a black man to death based on little to no evidence. He has discussions with Miss Maudie and Atticus on the subject afterwards, but he seems never to come to peace with it because of what he does to Scout.

One day, Scout finds a discrepancy between what her teacher, Miss Gates, says in class about Hitler and his treatment of Jews and the way Southerners treat the black community in their own home. She asks Jem about it and a monster is unleashed.

"Jem was suddenly furious. He leaped off the bed, grabbed me by the collar and shook me. 'I never wanta hear about that courthouse again, ever, ever, you hear me? You hear me? Don't you ever say one word to me about it again, you hear? Now go on!'" (247).

A once proud, competitive and courageous boy discovers the darkness of the world right at home and he can't face it because it is too confusing and illogical. He's so upset about the trial that he takes it out on Scout--and this happens a few months after the trial is over and Tom has died. Who knows if he ever was able to come to terms with what happened to Tom Robinson.

Jem does move forward with life, though. For example, he takes care of his sister as best he can on the night they are attacked by Bob Ewell. He receives a broken arm during the attack, but he doesn't let that hold him back from playing football, later. Scout says, "He couldn't have cared less, so long as he could pass and punt" (3).

What is some evidence of how Jem and Scout grow through their coming of age experiences throughout the book, To Kill a Mockingbird?

This is a good question. There are several places in the book that show that Jem and Scout grew through this experience - a coming of age, if you will. 

First, from a general point of view, they grew because they watched a very important trial featuring adult subjects such as rape, physical abuse, and racism. Not only did they witness the trial, they also experienced the ramifications of it as they were persecuted to some degree because Atticus was defending Tom. 

Second, Jem and Scout had to face the fact that Atticus lost, and Tom died trying to escape. This tragedy made Jem in particular grow up. The happy thoughts of youth were now gone, as he experienced injustice in the form of racism. 

Third, at the end of the novel, evil almost killed both Jem and Scout. Through this they experienced how wrong the world can be. And through it, they still understood that they must continue to do what is good and noble. The conversation between Scout and Atticus at the end of the book shows that Scout matured greatly. She was now able to walk in the shoes of another.

Atticus sat looking at the floor for a long time. Finally he raised his head. “Scout,” he said, “Mr. Ewell fell on his knife. Can you possibly understand?”

How do Scout, Jem, and Atticus change throughout To Kill a Mockingbird?

All of the characters change to some extent during the course of the novel as they are affected by events in different ways. Nothing in Atticus' solid principles or sense of morality changes, but Bob Ewell's despicable attack on Jem and Scout shakes Atticus and makes him aware that there is a greater potential for evil in human behavior than he had realized. It had occurred to Atticus that Ewell might come after him, but it was beyond his imagination that Ewell would attempt to kill his children.

Jem and Scout grow up in significant ways. Jem goes through puberty, becomes moody for a while, and seems to move away from his little sister, which upsets and confuses her. The greatest change in Jem, however, is that the terrible injustice of Tom's conviction disillusions him and makes him question his neighbors' goodness and human nature itself. He turns to his father to help him understand that which he does not understand.

The greatest change in Scout is seen through her relationship with Boo Radley. From the little girl who played "Boo games" with Jem and Dill, she becomes the sensitive and enlightened older girl who holds Boo's hand gently and walks him home. Standing on the Radley porch at the end of the novel, Scout sees the neighborhood, literally, from Boo's point of view and remembers the child she used to be.

How do Scout and Jem change throughout the course of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird?

During the two-plus years that encompass the time period of the novel, Jem and Scout undergo drastic changes that most young children would not experience. The theme of their loss of innocence is explored through the many trials and tribulations they face. Their childhood is first altered by the appearance of Dill, who soon becomes Scout's "permanent fiance." Dill inspires Jem and Scout to pursue the "malevolent phantom," Boo Radley, who soon becomes an integral part of their lives without ever being seen. Through the gifts found in the secret knothole of the Radley oak the children come to realize that the terrible rumours about Boo are unfounded, and both of the children eventually come to see that he is their friend. By the end of the novel, Scout sees that Boo is more than just an invisible friend: He is their heroic protector, watching their every move until he is forced to come to their aid on the fateful Halloween night.

Scout quickly changes her mind about attending school. Before her first day,

I never looked forward more to anything in my life.  (Chapter 2)

After her disastrous first day of first grade, she wants to stay away and be schooled at home, just as Atticus has done. Although Atticus convinces her to go back, Scout sees the many weaknesses of her inexperienced teacher, and

     The remainder of my school days were no more auspicious than the first... I could not help receiving the impression that I was being cheated out of something.  (Chapter 4)

Her attitude about school changes little through the years, and her later teachers (particularly Miss Gates) leave much to be desired.

... there wasn't much left for us to learn, except possibly algebra.  (Chapter 31)

Jem loses confidence in the honesty of adults when he is lied to by Nathan Radley, and the deceitful nature of the jury leads him to believe that Atticus is alone when it comes to standing up for what is right in Maycomb. Both children change their opinions about Atticus when they discover his secret marksmanship skills, and Jem recognizes that their father's humble nature is just one of the positive traits that make him a "gentleman, just like me!" Scout finally begins to see the error of her unladylike ways: She honors Atticus's demand that she stop fighting, and she even emulates her Aunt Alexandra and Miss Maudie at the Missionary Circle tea when she decides that

... if Aunty could be a lady at a time like this, so could I.  (Chapter 24)

By the end of the novel, Scout understands about Atticus's advice to stand in another person's shoes before being able to understand them, seeing that both Boo and Stoner's Boy are actually "nice," and not guilty of the accusations made against them. 

In To Kill a Mockingbird, how does Jem evolve through out the book

Jem in many ways has a coming-of-age experience that is much harder to cope with and manage than Scout's coming-of-age. He witnesses an act of injustice just as he is going through puberty, and it is clear that what he sees happening to Tom Robinson clearly shakes his belief in humanity and in justice in general. Note how he responds to what happens to Tom Robinson in Chapter 22, and how Atticus replies to him:

"Atticus--" said Jem bleakly.

He turned in the doorway. "What, son?"

"How could they do it, how could they?"

"I don't know, but they did it. They've done it before and they did it tonight and they'll do it again and when they do it – seems that only children weep. Good night."

Jem is left shattered by the experience, yet by the end of the novel, there does seem to be some hope that he can recover from this loss of innocence. In Chapter 25, for example, he prevents Scout from killing a bug because it had done nothing to harm her. Presumably, having witnessed the injustice experienced by Tom Robinson, he seeks to uphold justice in his own way. In addition, by the end of the story, Jem shows in his relationship with Boo Radley that he is able to move beyond childish fears and act like an adult, giving the reader hope that he will reach adulthood in tact. Jem's massive change in the novel therefore is from childhood to adulthood, having experienced some of the massive complexities of adult life.

How does the character of Jem progress and mature throughout the first part of the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee?

Like any growing boy, Jem undergoes many changes during the first part of the novel. Jem is only nine when Dill first arrives in town; he is 12 years old at the beginning of Part Two and feeling the growing rush of puberty. His infatuation with Boo Radley has finally subsided: He no longer accepts Miss Stephanie Crawford's gossip as fact, and his limited contact with Boo has led to the realization that Boo is not a monster but, instead, a timid, nocturnal neighbor and would-be friend. Jem is promoted to the adult Christmas table at Finch's Landing, infuriating Scout but building Jem's confidence about his impending adulthood. He dupes Atticus (or does he?) on the night Nathan Radley resorts to gunplay, scattering the children from his collards patch with a blast from his shotgun. Dill's quick thinking explains Jem's lack of pants, but Jem knows that in order to maintain their story, he must produce the lost pants to Atticus's satisfaction the next morning. Jem's return to the Radley collards patch seems like a suicide mission to Scout, but Jem values the trust Atticus places in him.

"... it's like this, Scout... Atticus ain't ever whipped me since I can remember. I wanta keep it that way."  (Chapter 6)

Jem's relationship with Mrs. Dubose provides him with an array of emotional responses. At first, his hatred for the old lady is overwhelming, but he soon comes to pity and even respect her a bit. It is only after her death--probably the only person Jem has known to die since his mother--that he learns of her drug addiction and his father's deep affection for her. Anger and tears of confusion follow, but Scout soon notices that a "change in Jem had come about in a matter of weeks." He would soon be called "Mister Jem," Cal reminds Scout, who believes that the situation could be remedied if only somebody "beat him up, and I ain't big enough."  

In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, how do Jem and Scout develop throughout the novel?

Both Scout and Jem develop and change throughout the novel as they grow older.   At the beginning of the novel Jem is quite content to play with Scout and is entranced by the story of Boo Radley.  As he grows and gets to know Boo a little throughout the exchange of gifts in the tree hole, and in the incident in which Boo fixed his pants, Jem begins to have empathy for Boo and his interest in Boo becomes less sensational and more sincere.  As Jem grows he becomes less friendly with Scout and wants to be by himself more.  Aware of the injustice of the Tom Robinson case and the prejudice against black men, he is nevertheless, astounded at the verdict.  I think this is when he realizes that although his father is a good and admirable man, he cannot fix everything the way he took care of the rabid dog.  Bigotry was a sick animal that was too big for Atticus to defeat himself.

As Scout develops she becomes more able to control her emotions, particularly her anger, as she learns to "walk in another's shoes."  By the time of the trial, Scout has learned to live with Aunt Alexandra and how to empathize with poor Mayella Ewell, thinking she must be the loneliest person in the world.  Her remarks at the end of the book when she analyzes the character of the story that Atticus read to her also shows that she had developed that ability of walking in another's shoes to enabling her to empathize as Atticus did.

In To Kill a Mockingbird, how did Jem and Scout change from begining, middle, and end?

Since the novel To Kill a Mockingbird spans several years in the lives of Jem and Scout Finch, it makes sense that the two children should mature somewhat during the duration. Since they both experienced several pivotal events to which most children their age would not be exposed, Jem and Scout grew up a bit faster than their friends. Both of the children are able to distinguish between the fantasy tales they are told about Boo Radley in the first chapters to a more realistic view of him as an introverted but wholly human being by the middle chapters. Scout discovers that he is a kindly hero by the finale. Scout learns to control her temper and her fists and even gives in a bit to requests that she act more ladylike. Meanwhile, Jem evolves from a little boy into an emerging teenager. Both children realistically discover the differences between the various social classes and are taught by Atticus how to be more tolerant of all people. They discover first-hand the good and bad sides of their neighbors and teachers. They find that father Atticus is not useless and boring, but an important cog in their community. And Scout particularly discovers that she has a whole new perspective of her neighborhood when she looks at it from the Radley porch in the final chapter.

How do Jem and Scout change throughout the book?

Character change is an important indicator of a story’s theme. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a book about the prejudices people have toward others. It’s not just about violent racism, but also the judgments we make in our daily interactions with neighbors and family members. In the story, we see how Atticus’ children, Jem and Scout, learn about their own prejudices. This requires important and difficult change on the part of these characters.

At one point in the book, one of their neighbors, Mrs.  Dubose, says hateful things to Jem about his father Atticus:

Your father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for!

Jem responds by tearing up Mrs. Dubose’s yard. When Atticus finds out he makes Jem read to her for a month. It turns out that Jem was reading to her to help her overcome her morphine addiction before she died. Jem and Scout learned that although Mrs. Dubose was a “cantankerous” old lady, there was something else to her. According to Atticus, she was very courageous for giving up morphine although she knew she was going to die and could have just as easily kept taking it.

They also learn that one of Atticus’ favorite sayings is true. Scout explains in the last few pages:

Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough.

This quote shows that Scout (and Jem) have come to understand that their neighbor, Boo Radley, was not the monster they thought he was. It was an important lesson to learn.

How do Jem and Scout change throughout the book?

At the beginning of the novel, Scout acts very impetuously. Her response to getting in trouble with Miss Caroline at school was to beat Walter in the play yard. By the end of the novel, she is trying to "put herself an the other person's shoes." She is thinking outside of her own intentions and trying to understand others. This is especially true as she tries to understand the changes in Jem. Jem is changed and matured through his realization of the corruption of man. He is bitterly angry at first, lashing out at Mrs. Dubose. Later, he becomes resigned to the failures of man, saying that perhaps Boo Radley kept away from society to avoid the corruption of it. In the end, Jem has developed into a strong individual that refuses to be a victim to the corruption of society. He stands against Bob Ewell, protecting his sister. He becomes a protector of the innocent, just like his father.

How does the character of Scout progress and mature throughout the first part of the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee?

Scout matures in the first part of the novel because she learns empathy, or looking at things from another person’s point of view.

During Part One, Scout’s journey is a long one.  Before the serious part of the book even starts, Scout is preparing for the tumultuous times ahead.  Atticus knows that Scout will be tested.  He tries to teach her what she will need to know.  The main aspect of this is empathy.  Scout has difficulty putting herself in someone else’s place.

When Scout starts school, she symbolically enters the real world.  As she passes this threshold, she faces her first test in her conflict with her teacher Miss Caroline.

"[If] you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view-until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." (ch 3)

Atticus is trying to tell Scout that to understand someone you have to see things from their perspective.  Scout has trouble doing this at first.  She struggles to understand Jem as he gets older.  Part of the sign of her progress is that she tries to understand her brother, and realizes that she does not.

Sometimes I did not understand him, but my periods of bewilderment were short-lived. This was beyond me. (ch 6)

Scout does not fully understand other people at a deep level until the end of the book, but by the end of part one she has made some real progress.  She has demonstrated one of the key themes of the book: you can never really understand a person until you walk a mile in their shoes.