The talk of Atticus’ limitations is included to highlight the stark contrast of his marksmanship skills. Again, Harper Lee uses wisdom and maturity to encourage the children to reflect upon the actions of others. Miss Maudie is instrumental in attempting to encourage the children to appreciate Atticus and refrain from looking at him superficially. Quote – If your father was thirty you’d find life quite different’
Atticus concealed his shooting skills from his children, until such a time dictated. He was mindful of influencing their views and understanding of what constitutes courage. He is very aware of how learned behaviour can shape the innocent mind and is protecting Jem and Scout from receiving mixed messages. Atticus is very clear about the lesson to be learned here: to learn the true meaning of courage – Quote ‘ I want you to see what real courage is instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand’.
Harper Lee is subtle in exposing Atticus’s skills. It is not until Miss Maudie tells Jem ‘ Forgot to tell you the other day that besides playing the jews harp, Atticus Finch was the deadest shot in Maycome country at this time’
Jem is truly stunned and begins to see his father in a different light. His respect for Atticus rapidly grows from this point. Initially it is because he can finally draw parallels with his peers about their fathers. This however, is short lived when he realises the real reasons why his father has concealed his skill. Jem develops a deep connection with Atticus, evident when Jem tells Scout ‘ Don’t say anything about it’ ‘ I reckon if he had wanted us to know, he would have told us, if he was proud of it he would have told us’
Jem demonstrates a marked sense of maturity here, unlike Scout who wants to boast about his father’s silent skill. He is beginning to appreciate and understands parenting skills and the life long learning messages that Atticus is imparting.
Another example of how perceptive Jem is becoming is when Zeebo comes to collect the mad dog. It is at this point that he realises the standing of black people in society. The mad dog incident is the catalyst which shapes Jem’s attitude towards racial prejudice; a timely development in light of the forthcoming trial.
Over the course of chapter ten Jem’s experiences with Miss Maudie, Calpurnia and Atticus begins to shape Jem’s inner development and growth. From chapter 7 to said chapter, Harper Lee has skilfully shown the reader how he is going though the process of discarding youthful assumptions and ideas. Both Jem and Scout have learned something new about their father and their attitudes change towards him. In particular, Jem’s growing up process leads him to deal with situations in a mature manner; he admires Atticus’s silence regarding his skill with a gun.
Jem has developed to self reflect and in doing so has become to realise that as people grow up their views of things change, provided they keep an open and tolerant mind. It is at this point that parallels can be drawn between the characters of Jem and Atticus.
Jem’s character has played an important part in emphasising one of the main themes in the book: growing up.