To Kill a Mockingbird: Jem Finch (Essay Example)

Whoosh! The whirlwind of emotions flew through Jem’s head in a heartbeat: sadness, happiness, anxiousness. Jem watches his community, Maycomb, Alabama, as Tom Robinson’s trial takes place. He learns his friends and neighbors' true character as many disapprove of Atticus’s dedication to defending Robinson. The hate being shown to African Americans’ perplexes Jem since he has never been truly exposed to it. However, as he grows older he begins to understand how his community functions. This understanding can be demonstrated by his obsession with Boo Radley. From examining Jem Finch’s obsession with Boo Radley to his understanding of Boo’s perspective, it is evident Jem is an example of the novel’s coming of age theme. 

To begin with, Jem is a young boy who is obsessed with Boo Radley, a mysterious man in Maycomb tarnished with a bad reputation. The rumors about Boo mostly originate from Miss Stephanie Crawford, “ . . . she woke up in the middle of the night one time and saw him looking straight through the window at her” (Lee 13). As a young boy, Jem is surrounded by adults who feel a need to gossip about defenseless townsfolk. Due to being brought up around individuals such as Miss Stephanie Crawford, Jem becomes obsessed with Boo. Since Boo is mysterious, Jem’s curiosity takes over him. He forces Dill and Scout to play the “Boo Radley Game”, a game based on what Jem assumes life is like for the Radleys.  As a result, Jem wants to know the most he can about Boo. For example, Jem and Dill create a plan to see Boo, “Dill and Jem were simply going to peep in the window with the loose shutter to see if they could get a look at Boo Radley . . .” (Lee 58). Jem wants to be able to catch a glimpse of Boo Radley because he cannot fathom a person who enjoys staying inside all the time. Since the trial has not yet been commenced, Jem has not truly been exposed to the ruthlessness of the world. He still sees his community as a place that is only good and happy. Due to the people around him and his age, it is clear why Jem is obsessed with Boo Radley.

However, as time goes on Jem grows up and begins to see things from Boo’s perspective. An example of Jem’s coming of age is when he broke their childhood code, “‘Dill, I had to tell him . . . You can’t run three hundred miles off without your mother knowin’” (160). This quote shows that he was leaving their childhood code behind. Jem has realized how others feel and learned it’s better to do the right thing than make his friend happy. He now understands a parent’s perspective. This change in perspective can also be heavily influenced by Maycomb’s response to Tom Robinson’s trial. Jem states, “I think I'm beginning to understand something. I think I'm beginning to understand why Boo Radley's stayed shut up in the house all this time… it's because he wants to stay inside” (259). After seeing how his own community treats African Americans’ Jem understands why Boo prefers to stay inside. Boo stays inside to avoid his own town’s ugliness to towards those who are different. This new understanding Jem has discovered shows his coming of age as he now sees that the world is an repulsive place. Due to the Tom Robinson trial and his age, it is evident why Jem sees things from Boo’s perspective.