In many cases, Jem's growth has as much to do with his
approaching puberty as the events that unfold around him. Jem is growing taller, hair is
beginning to appear in unusual places, and his moodiness bewilders Scout. Jem is showing
signs that he is outgrowing Scout as a companion, and he starts by distancing himself
from her at school. By the end of the novel, Jem is in high school while Scout is still
an elementary student. Jem and Scout are together on the night of the Halloween pageant
only because Atticus and Aunt Alexandra are unable to go; Jem serves as her adult escort
rather than as her playmate as he has in the past.
Both Jem
and Scout mature faster than most children their age. They both discover that adults are
capable of dishonesty (Nathan Radley lies to Jem), gossip (Miss Stephanie), secretly
drinking (Miss Rachel), child neglect (Dill's parents), hate (Bob Ewell), racism (the
jury), mental disease (Boo) and hypocisy (the missionary circle, Miss Gates). Bearing
witness to the trial of Tom Robinson gives them insight into an adult world that few
children their age would ever see, and the deaths of Tom and Mrs. Dubose affect them
personally. Scout does not always understand everything that she sees and hears, but
Jem has grown enough to recognize the seriousness of many of these
actions.
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