Jem and Scout are both exposed to incidents that most
children would never experience at such a young age. Having a mysterious recluse like
Boo Radley living next door seemed trivial after the other matters they witnessed that
were related to the trial of Tom Robinson.
As most children
do, Scout grew by leaps and bounds when she began attending school for the first time.
Her connection with Dill gave Scout her first love interest, and she began receiving
pressure to get rid of her overalls and begin acting like a
lady.
After
all, if Aunty could be a lady at a time like this, so could I. (Chapter
24)
She had also
discovered that Boo Radley was a kind and gentle man.
"Mr. Tate was right."
Atticus
disengaged himself and looked at me. "What do you mean?"
"Well, it'd sort of
be like shootin' a mockingbird, wouldn't it?" (Chapter
30)
Jem was
maturing in a different way, and by the beginning of Part Two we discover that he is
experiencing the growing pains of puberty. He witnesses several examples of injustice
(the jury's guilty verdict against Tom) and dishonesty (Nathan Radley) that he will
never forget, but he also makes the conscious effort to be more like his
father.
Jem
was twelve. He was difficult to live with, inconsistent, moody... Overnight, it seemed,
Jem had acquired an alien set of values... (Chapter
12)
Unlike the
jury, Jem was wise enough to see that Tom was not a guilty
man.
It was
Jem's turn to cry...
"It ain't right, Atticus," said Jem.
"No, son,
it's not right."
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