MindMap Gallery Jem Finch Personality
Use this mind map to articulate the important qualities about the character you are studying.
Edited at 2020-12-22 09:24:36Jem Finch Personality
ACTS LIKE
Acts like an adult and a fatherly figure towards Scout
Nothin' to it. I swear, Scout, sometimes you act so much like a girl, it's mortifyin' PAGE 41
Jem speaks like an adult a lot and also bosses Scout around, just like a father would. Sometimes Scout doesnt like the things he does and says, but sometimes she embraces it and is really proud of her brother and the things he does
A protection and brotherly role modelof scout
when they are outside the Radley house and Jem doesn't want to go because of her little sister
As scout's older brother, Jem feels the need to be a role model and a protective figure towards his family. Jem may also feel that he is all Scout has except for Atticus and plays a major role in her life.
Curious
"Two live oaks stood at the end of the Radley lot; their roots reached into the sideroad and made it bumpy. Something about one of the trees attracted my attention.
"Tinfoil was sticking out of a knothole just above my eye level, winking at me in the afternoon sun. I stood on my tiptoe, hastily looked around once more, reached into the hole, and withdrew two pieces of chewing gum minus their outer wrappers."
This shows how curious Jem (and Scout) are about finding things in the knot hole, and when they find it they always take it because of their curiosity
MOTIVATED BY
School
Jem is going through a bit of an egyptian phase. "Scout" Gaining a lot of wisdom
Throughout the novel Jem develops and grows his knowledge of the world surrounding them and it is mentioned that he progressed through primary school well and into high school
Atticus Finch motivates Jem a lot
Jem, see if you can stand in Bob Ewell's shoes a minute. I destroyed his last shred of credibility at that trial, if he had any to begin with. The man had to have some kind of comeback, his kind always does. So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beaating, that's something i'll gladly take. He had to take it out on somebody and I'd rather it be me than that houseful of children out there. You understand? Page 238
Jem really tries to learn from Atticus as he is growing and getting older and wants to be more and more like his father.
TEXTUAL ISSUES
Childish cruelty
"I know what we are going to play," he announced. "Something new, something different. […] Boo Radley."
Jem created their best and favourite childhood play based on rumour's passed around by the town about the Radleys. Atticus did not aprove of this sort of entertainment
HOW OTHERS SEE HIM OR HER
Secretive, sneaky
Quote or Evidence (Including page #)
In the beggining of the book Jem hides a lot of the kids secrets from Atticus and others around the county. Especially around and about Boo Radley.
A leader
School started, and so did our daily trips past the Radley Place. Jem was in the seventh grade and went to high school, beyond the grammarschool building; I was now in the third grade, and our routines were so different I only walked to school with Jem in the mornings and saw him at meal times. He went out for football, but was too slender and too young yet to do anything but carry the team water buckets.
When Jem has either Jem or Scout by his side it always seems as though they are following him. Throughout their many adventures such as the trip to the jail, when Dill begun crying in the courthouse and during their 'Boo Radley' playsJem always seemed to take charge and lead the other two children
A growing boy, Sir
During the novel Jem grows into much more than just a boy, he becomes a much more fatherly figure to Scout, instructing her, telling her what to do, trying to control her decisions and they begin to drift. Other grown ups including alpurnia begin refering to Jem as sir or Mister Jem.
BELIEFS & VALUES
Tom Robinson was innocent
It was Jem's turn to cry. His face was streaked with angry tears as we made our way through the cheerful crowd. "It ain't right," he muttered, all the way to the corner of the square where we found Atticus waiting. Atticus was standing under the street light looking as though nothing had happened: his vest was buttoned, his collar and tie were neatly in place, his watchchain glistened, he was his impassive self again.
"It ain't right, Atticus," said Jem.
"No son, it's not right."
On numerous occasions Jem truly believed that Atticus had won over the judge and Tom would be proven not guilty. He was infuenced in some aspects of this topic by Atticus and his opinion and how he raised Jem and Scout. When Jem found out that Tom was proven guilty he was very sad and couldnt believe the outcome based on the previous arguments
A gentle man even in the hardest of times
Jem heard me. He thrust his head around the connecting door. As he came to my bed Atticus's light flashed on. We stayed where we were until it went off; we heard him turn over, and we waited until he was still again.
Jem took me to his room and put me in bed beside him. "Try to go to sleep," he said. "It'll be all over after tomorrow, maybe."
Jem Finch is made out to be a gentle man by Harper Lee, a very respectful personality towards other people and his surroundings including the black community that had been outcasted by some in the county
LOOKS LIKE
different arm lengths
His rights arm was somewhat shorter than his left page 1
The slenderness of his body at the time
School started, and so did our daily trips past the Radley Place. Jem was in the seventh grade and went to high school, beyond the grammarschool building; I was now in the third grade, and our routines were so different I only walked to school with Jem in the mornings and saw him at meal times. He went out for football, but was too slender and too young yet to do anything but carry the team water buckets.
This is explaining what Jem looks like when he reaches high school