To Kill a mockingbird

Maturing is a significant part of the children's growing up. Jem, as the older child, matures much faster than his sister, Scout, in both behaviour and understanding. At the beginning of the story, we see Jem as a boy of childish thoughts and behaviour. He invents games and amuses himself by getting involved in the Boo Radley's mystery. He believes that Boo is "chained to his bed" and his description of Boo is "reasonable" only to a child. His childish courage is clearly revealed when he carries out the dare of touching Boo's house. He also practises intolerance when he tramples on Mrs Dubose's flowers because she has called Atticus awful names like "nigger-lover".

However, as the story unfolds, Jem gradually outgrows his childishness through various events in the novel. Being four years older than Scout, he is beginning to be aware of the age gap between them. For instance, he has to be bribed by Atticus to take Scout on her first day of school. He is "careful to explain that durin...