Throughout the novel, Jem matures and hits puberty as the story progresses. There are several scenes and comments that depict Jem's physical growth. In Chapter 14, Jem attempts to discipline Scout and tells her that he will spank her. Scout takes offense at her brother's threat and punches him in the face. The two begin to fight, and Atticus runs into Jem's room and breaks it up. After the scuffle, the two children go...
Throughout the novel, Jem matures and hits puberty as the story progresses. There are several scenes and comments that depict Jem's physical growth. In Chapter 14, Jem attempts to discipline Scout and tells her that he will spank her. Scout takes offense at her brother's threat and punches him in the face. The two begin to fight, and Atticus runs into Jem's room and breaks it up. After the scuffle, the two children go to bed and discover that Dill has been hiding underneath the bed. After Dill tells them a fascinating story about how he traveled from Meridian to Maycomb, Scout mentions,
"He had considered emerging and helping me beat Jem, as Jem had grown far taller, but he knew Mr. Finch would break it up soon, so he thought it best to stay where he was" (Lee 187).
Dill does not try to help Scout out during the struggle because Jem has grown a considerable amount. Jem is maturing and becoming a young man, and soon, Scout will think twice about trying to beat him up.
In Chapter 23, Jem takes Scout into his room to settle her down after Aunt Alexandra upsets her. Scout mentions,
"His eyebrows were becoming heavier, and I noticed a new slimness about his body. He was growing taller" (Lee 301).
Jem looks at Scout and says that he'll show her something if she promises not to tell anyone. He unbuttons his shirt and points to his chest. Scout is confused because she can't see anything. Jem smiles and tells her that he is getting hair on his chest, and that it is also growing underneath his armpits. Jem is excited about the fact that he is becoming a man and tells his sister that he will try out for football next year.
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