Harper Lee uses Jem’s feelings to
convey that he is maturing and is beginning to have a larger view of the
community of Maycomb. For example, when Jem is talking to Scout, he says that
there are four types of people in Maycomb County. According to him, they are “the
ordinary kind… the kind like the Cunninghams… the kind like the Ewells… and the
Negroes” (Lee 302). When he says this, Scout counters him by saying that all
people are the same. However, Jem replies by saying, “If there’s just one kind
of folks, why can’t they all get along with each other?” (Lee 304). Jem saying
this shows that being in the court really affected him, so he was able to realize
that if everyone was the same, then Tom Robinson wouldn’t have been guilty.
Also, this moment shows that Jem is really growing up and is taking these kind
of things more seriously now. Ultimately, Jem shows that he is able to understand
what is going on in Maycomb now that he is getting older.
As a young adult, Jem is making sense of his confusing world by watching what adults in the community do. This is portrayed when he says that "She's trying to make you a lady... [then goes on to recommend that she should] take up sewing or something"(Lee 302). This quote shows two separate people influencing him. When he says that she is trying to make Scout become more of a stereotypical lady, Jem shows his fathers view of let Alexandra do what she wishes. The other half of the quote shows how Jem has interpreted how ladies should act in Maycomb.
ReplyDeleteI think that the trial also shaped a lot of Jem's views on other people in Maycomb. He has lost a lot of faith in the general population. He says "I always thought Maycomb folks were the best in the world, least that's what they seemed like," (Lee 288). However, after the trial, Jem realizes that a lot of people in Maycomb can't seem to understand each other, and have too much hate for each other. The quote "why can’t they all get along with each other?” (Lee 304) from Jem signifies his hopelessness as to resolving the Maycomb conflicts. Jem has gained a more realistic perspective on the people in Maycomb from the trial.
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