Jem is also portrayed to be chivalrous and very proud when he “... goes to retrieve his Trousers from the Radley place” in order to prevent Atticus from “Whipping him”. One sees from this extract Jem’s willingness to do anything to keep his pride (by not allowing his father to hit him) and his sheer bravery in the face of death (Nathan Radley threatening to shoot any trespassers). This can also be interpreted as an act of maturity as he is settling his own despites with out the guidance of an adult.
As the novel progresses, Jem begins to mature physically and mentally which is acknowledge by Scout when she said “His maddening superiority was unbearable these days. He did not want to do anything but read and go off by himself.". This demonstrates to the reader the authority that Jem has obtained with time and how the adult world can imprint itself on to children who are faced with adult circumstances such as the Tom Robinson trial.
On top of Jem’s chivalry and intellect, it is apparent that he is very imaginative and is absorbed in the gossip surrounding Boo Radley, describing him to be “six and a half feet tall... he dined on raw squirrels and any cat that he could catch..”. Jem’s Gothic description shows that he is still relatively immature and captivated by his childlike imagination.
Atticus Finch is a widower and father of two children. He can best be summed up as a man whose character is nearly the complete opposite of the general population of the town and indeed, many white people who lived in the southern states of America. He is without prejudice and racial hatred and is a good-hearted man of strong morals. He also brings up his children the way he sees right, and defends the innocent represented by Tom Robinson in the novel. His character portrays intelligence, calmness wisdom, and commendable behaviour.
Atticus is a man who knows no prejudice or racial hatred which is what makes him unique in the novel. Contrary to the general feeling of the town, Atticus sees past a man’s colour and looks into the depth of his character which is evident when he advices his daughter Scout to “climb into his skin and walk around in it.” This demonstrates to the reader that Atticus is a man of strong morals and principles who will stand up for what he believes is right. Because of these strong morals and principles, he is greatly respected by those in Maycomb “who count” on him and “trust him to do what is right.”
One also determines that Atticus is chivalrous which is demonstrated in his attempted to defend Tom Robinson from the “Maycomb Mob”. This shows Atticus’s strong sense of justice and his willingness to protect the innocent demonstrating to the reader how high his morals are.
Atticus is also heroic figure in the novel; however, Scout and Jem take him for granted. They are embarrassed that he is not like the other fathers as “He does not hunt or fish and he is older than other parents”. However, when a disease ridden dog comes to town, Atticus is the one chosen to put the dog out of its misery. Sheriff Tate recognizes that only Atticus could take the dog down in a single shot. At first, Atticus shows his modesty by denying his won ability. He finally accepted and indeed hit the dog on the first shot. He does not hunt because he does not believe in killing, but when it comes to protecting his family and the people of Maycomb, he takes the task head on. This demonstrates to the reader just how reliant Maycomb is on Atticus.
