To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Essay

To exist is to change, to change is to mature, and to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly. To Kill a Mockingbird is a Southern Gothic novel written by Harper Lee which portrays the life of a young child who grows up in the racially segregated town of Maycomb, Alabama in the midst of the Great Depression.   Much to the dismay of this culturally prejudiced town, Jem’s father, Atticus Finch, decides to willingly defend the African-American Tom Robinson in the court of law. Although Jem is childish and immature at the beginning of the novel, it is the decision of his father that causes the rapid maturation of his character throughout the book. The quick development of Jeremy Finch’s maturity and adult-like approach to life throughout the novel is the determining factor as to why To Kill a Mockingbird falls under the bildungsroman literary genre. Jem displays both maturity and change in his character through the desire to be more like Atticus in this novel. Jem also displays maturity when he begins to understand the morality of Maycomb community after the conclusion of the trial. Jem’s maturity is also seen through the act of comforting his sister Scout on their walk home from the pageant.
        Throughout the story, Jem’s desire to be like Atticus becomes more and more evident thus, highlighting his mounting wisdom and maturity. Jem seems to have deep admiration for his father Atticus as he continues to realize his characteristics. While on his way home from Miss Maudie’s home, Jem picks up a rock and jubilantly throws it at a car house saying: “Atticus is a gentleman, just like me” (131). Jem starts to display his maturity during this event by comparing himself with his father. Atticus is the most morally sound figure in this novel and it that seems to have an effect on Jem, who wishes to be just like his father. Jem realizes that it is time for him to start to grow up and he starts to idolize his father and take after his actions. In addition to his...