Before he can be a man, he must be a boy. Jeremy Atticus Finch is a curious young boy. Adventure leads his childhood from one great case to another; he thrives on learning and exploring. In Harper Lee’s historical novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Jem is trying to find his place in this chaotic world.
Dark, miserable, dreary shutters dangle from the sun tanned windows. They add to the failing expression of the Radley house. The creaky front gate was the veil between the neighborhood and outer darkness. All Jem had to do is run up the cracked sidewalk and touch the splintered front door to please Dill. He never backed down from a dare and wouldn’t start now or maybe he would. Internally Jem had ...view middle of the document...
When I went back, they were folded across the fence… like they were expectin’ me” (58). I had to read this state through a few times because it stirred a question in my mind. Does Boo know about the children’s’ activities? I couldn’t come to a conclusion on this statement, so I decided to keep reading. I’m sure that this event did cause Jem to struggle with stress and anxiety.
A person can only deal with so much stress and anxiety before they have a meltdown. Later in the story Jem breaks and the major meltdown begins. Mrs. Dubose squawked, “Not only a Finch waiting on tables but one in the courthouse lawing from niggers!” This statement struck home to Jem and she knew it (101). Later as they were walking home from town Jem went mad. He forcefully yanked Scout’s baton from her grasp and went on a rampage towards Mrs. Dubose’s camellias. He did not stop until every bush had been annihilated. When Atticus found out he made Jem march over to Mrs. Dubose and apologize. To make up for her dear flowers she sentenced him to a month of reading to her, for two hours a day after...
