by Larik Sonfar

Created on: May 23, 2008   Last Updated: August 23, 2011

"Every human being on this earth is born with a tragedy, and it isn't original sin. He's born with the tragedy that he has to grow up. That he has to leave the nest, the security, and go out to do battle. He has to lose everything that is lovely and fight for a new loveliness of his own making, and it's a tragedy. A lot of people don't have the courage to do it." These words by Helen Hayes offer us a bridge of insight into the world of maturity. Maturity encompasses much more than just physical growth; it is defined by exposure to the evils of our world. Harper Lee, in To Kill a Mockingbird, journeys out using Jem and Scout's coming of age to open our eyes to these very wrongs. Her entire novel revolves around events in Jem and Scout's childhood which leave astronomic impacts on the way they look at life. Using three central climaxes involving prejudice, mob mentality, and personal hatred, Lee transforms Jem and Scout from the innocent children who fool around at the novel's exposition to the mature individuals who understand life at the novel's conclusion.

The first dagger of impact Lee launches at Jem and Scout is the near-lynching of Tom Robinson. When the story opens, Scout is introduced as an innocent youngster yet unadulterated by mankind. As her father stares into the face of a mob determined to taste blood, Scout can do nothing but think of fun. "it meant somebody's man would get jumped. This was too good to miss" (Lee 154). Scout could not have imagined the capabilities of a mob. The truth is a bullet to Scout's heart. "I thought he would have a fine surprise, but his face killed my joy" (Lee 154). It is almost inconceivable that an individual would cease to be himself for the sole reason that he is in a group, and so even after realizing the situation's tense nature, Scout still dares to strike up a conversation with one of the mob, Mr. Cunningham. Although the situation is later diffused, Jem and Scout are taught the results of mob mentality. "He'da killed you last night..." (Lee 159). Through these words, Jem reveals how haunted he was by the bare cruelty of individuals lost in the mindset of a mindless group. While not a climax of the plot, the mob's attempt to lynch is, however, the first turning point in the coming of age of Lee's characters.

The announcement of Tom Robinson's verdict serves as both one of the plot's climaxes as well as one of the children's educational turning points. At To Kill a Mockingbird's exposition, Scout and Jem, though

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