To Kill a Mockingbird- How Maturity Affects the Characters

When growing up in today's world, people must face the many challenges of maturing. Whether it is physically, emotionally, or mentally, every person matures individually. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, the court trial of Tom Robinson matures three main characters in the book. They learn what growing up is all about. Jem, Scout, and Dill are the most affected by the trial and all matures throughout the book. Jem specifically matures throughout the process of the Tom Robinson case and learns a positive lesson from the trial.

After seeing the unfair way Tom Robinson was treated, Jem wants to protect and care for people no matter their age, skin color, reputation and personality. Jem also learns a few lessons from Atticus regarding the judgement of others. At the beginning of Chapter 25, His sister Scout is about to kill a roly-polly bug, Jem stops her and she asks why, Jem responds, "Because they don't bother you. " (Lee 320) This quote relates to when Atticus teaches Scout and Jem about the importance lesson of not to kill a mockingbird because they do not harm anyone and sing their hearts out.

Jem takes this lesson, the way Tom Robinson was treated just for his skin color, and uses it, as a result of becoming more mature and sharing the lesson with Scout when stopping her. Atticus teaches his children very well about the meaning of treating everyone equally no matter what they hear from the people around them. Scout is who she is because of the way Atticus raises her. Scout learns from Atticus through the Tom Robinson case what can happen when you lose hope and courage. During the second half of the novel, courage is portrayed by all blacks and Atticus as he fights for the case of Tom Robinson, but Tom Robinson has lost all hope.

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Scout is devastated by this but also learns bad things can happen when you lose hope and courage. Atticus is the first to teach Scout this important lesson, he says, "real courage is when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what", he continues by saying, "You rarely win, but sometimes you do". (149) Scout learns how courage is important through Atticus and Tom Robinson's case, and this is an important aspect of growing up and maturing. While Scout and Jem are maturing quickly because of Atticus's influence, Dill Harris, the outsider of Maycomb County, matures urely but slowly when is exposed to the Tom Robinson case.

He still shows child-like aspects such as crying uncontrollably at the injustice of Tom Robinson being treated so differently from the white witnesses. He also shows signs of maturity when Tom Robinson's trial is in action. Scout claims that Tom Robinson is just a Negro, therefore it does not matter all that much, Dill responds maturely and says, "I don't care one speck. It ain't right, somehow it ain't right to do 'Em that way. Hasn't anybody got any business talking' like that, it just makes me sick. (266) Dill sees Tom Robinson for the mockingbird he really is. Jem,Scout, and Dill all learn lessons that impact their life and affect their maturity. A few of these lessons are learned from the Tom Robinson case. Learning to not judge people for what they hear, taking responsibility, and learning right from wrong are all a part of growing up, they do just that. It might be challenging, but courage and bravery bring them through it. As long as it may take, everyone grows up in one way or another, whether it is physically, emotionally, or mentally.

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