Discussion Topic

Scout's accusation of Jem acting like a girl in To Kill a Mockingbird

Summary:

In To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout accuses Jem of acting like a girl when he shows fear or hesitation, particularly in their adventurous exploits. This accusation reflects Scout's internalized notions of gender roles and bravery, influenced by the societal expectations of their time.

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What causes Scout to say Jem is acting like a girl in Chapter 25 of To Kill a Mockingbird?

On a particularly warm fall night, Jem and Scout are reading while laying on their cots on the back porch. Scout notices a roly-poly bug crawling around on the floor. She observes it for some time then positions herself to smash it when Jem stops her.

Jem, as usual during...

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this particular part of the story, is in a bad mood and scowls at Scout to stop her quest to end the bug's life. By this time in the plot, Scout has grown weary of Jem's moods and wishes that he would move on past his moodiness. When Scout asks why she should not kill the roly-poly, Jem simply states that the bug has done nothing to bother Scout and so should not be killed.

This annoys Scout who has been chastised off and on throughout the story for behaving too much like a girl. Because Scout is annoyed at Jem, she states that it is Jem who is behaving more like a girl and not her. This reference to Jem's objection to the bug being killed implies that Scout refers to the definition of a girl as one who is sensitive and caring, even to bugs.

Last Updated on October 3, 2024