Tkam Analysis

A novel titled To Kill A Mockingbird ,by Harper Lee, is centered around two children named Scout and Jem with their widowed father, Atticus, living in Maycomb county in Alabama. The book follows the children’s antics involving the neighborhood legend, Boo Radley, and Atticus’ controversial case of rape of a woman by a black man named Tom Robinson. Throughout the novel, Jem changes because of his interaction with various characters and events. He matures and begins to learn how to sympathize, understand the harsh reality that is life, and develops his own morals and beliefs.

A quote that describes how Jem changes is when Atticus said, “Jem, see if you can stand in Bob Ewell’s shoes a minute. I destroyed his last shred of credibility...The man had to have some kind of comeback... so if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating … I’d rather it be me than that houseful of children out there. You understand? Jem nodded.”(p.218) Atticus is willing to put up with Bob Ewell’s wrath because he knows he is serving as an output for his rage instead of it being directed towards his children. He feels sorry for the Ewell family for being surrounded with an abusive atmosphere. Jem understands Atticus’ reasoning since they are privileged to have a caring father. With this explanation from Atticus, he learns that every family is different . He also learns the value of being compassionate and being sensitive to other’s problems. By learning this value, he knows that finding the root of the problem can help prevent a vicious cycle of, which in this case is the abusive nature of the Ewells.

After finding out that Tom Robinson was convicted for rape despite the strong evidence the proves otherwise. Jem begins to cry and lapses into despondency. Aunt Alexandra notices what is going on and ask Atticus. He knows that the result of the trial shook Jem’s faith in justice terribly. “It was Jem’s turn to cry. His face was streaked with angry tears as we...