Jem matures both physically and emotionally through the chapters, he emotionally matures in the chapter because he is growing up and unlike scout he learned that even though people are alike the groups are not the same, and physically he is growing hair as he gets older. He is maturing emotionally when he talks to scout about the different kinds of people in Maycomb. Scout who is young and still is innocent says that she thinks there is only one kind of folk, Jem replies saying, “That’s what I thought, too… when I was your age. If there’s just one kind of folks, why can’t they get along with each other?”(Lee 304). This show how Jem matures emotionally because he is recognizing this idea that people can’t all live in harmony. He recognize how this is true in his life, and how different groups of people in Maycomb don’t get along with each other. He is maturing because in the beginning of chapter 22 he is crying because of how it isn't fair that Tom Robinson was found guilty because he is an African American and at the end of chapter 23 he accepts that the groups are different. He is physically maturing because he is growing hair as he grows up and becomes an adult. Jem matures through the chapters, physically and emotionally throughout the chapters.
Why does Harper Lee emphasize Jem maturing so much throughout the book? Does he mature differently than Scout?
Emma, I agree with you. I think that one of To Kill a Mockingbird's main themes is maturity, which is why Harper Lee mentions Jem, as well as Scout growing up. Jem grows up in a different way than Scout because he is a boy and since he is a little bit older than Scout, he takes the experiences differently. They affect him differently as a person. Although in a way, I think that they are similar as well. Harper lee shows this when Jem and Scout are discussing family history and 'Old Families' "'That's what I thought, too... when I was your age." This quote shows that the still, till a certain point still think (or thought) alike.
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