Scout and Jem had always been extremely close growing up, but when Scout tells the readers that, "It was then that Jem and I first began to part company," (Lee, 75) it is clear that they are beginning to drift apart. Before Scout's realization, she is arguing with Jem about whether or not he should try to go back to the Radley's house to get the pants that got caught in the fence when Dill, Scout, and Jem were running away from Nathan Radley's shotgun. Scout is begging Jem not to go after his pants because she is afraid that Mr. Radley will keep to his promise that he's "got the other barrel waitin' for the next sound he heard in that patch," (Lee, 72) which frightens Scout into thinking that if Jem leaves, he won't come back. Jem insists that he has to get his pants because he can't risk losing Atticus's respect and trust since he admires him very much. Jem shouts at Scout to shut up and then nearly chokes her when she promises that she'll wake Atticus up. He then leaves, and after Scout lies awake in terror, he eventually returns.
Throughout the book, we see how Jem's and Scout's relationship transforms with their age as their two personalities begin to change. On the first day of school, Jem tells Scout that she can't play with him in front of his classmates, and when Scout protests, Jem explains that, "We'll do like we always do at home, but you'll see- school's different." (Lee, 21) This is the first time we see Jem reject Scout, and she gets a little taste of what happens in later chapters when Dill and Jem are up in their tree house alone not including her in the games that they always used to play together. Then, things change even more. Jem starts accusing Scout of being a girl, and whenever this happens, Scout automatically seems to follow anything the boys say blindly. "Scout, I'm tellin' you for the last time, shut your trap or go home- I declare to the Lord you're gettin' more like a girl everyday!" (Lee, 69) This seems to be the beginning of a theme that will have more significance later in the book: girls vs. boys. Jem and Dill seem not to care about breaking the rules unless they get caught, and Scout is definitely more cautious. Also, as each sibling grows older, their ideas of right and wrong change until they are two completely different people, which causes Scout to think that they were slowly starting to "part company" or drift apart while they literally part ways as Jem goes off on a Radley adventure for the first time without Scout. Because of their age and gender difference, Scout and Jem are becoming less and less alike every day, and Dill, Jem, and Scout are becoming less like the 3 musketeers that they used to be as they begin to develop more of their own individual personalities.
Questions: How do you think Scout and Jem's relationship will change in the future? What themes/ ideas are you beginning to notice as Scout and Jem grow apart? How does this have to do with the time period and how each gender was viewed?
Jem and Scout used to have a strong brother-sister bond that would last a lifetime, but now they seem to be slowly splitting apart. Jem is growing up, and changing into a daring boy who drags his sister around for fun. When Scout starts to mature and realize not everything is fun and games, Jem uses intimidation tactics to get her to join him in his risky activities, like calling her a girl. “Jem told me I was being a girl, that girls always imagined things, that’s why other people hated them so, and if I started behaving like one I could just go off” (Lee, 54). As the two of them grow older and face new hardships, their bond will be fully tested.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Scout and Jem are slowly drifting apart. There are a few reasons I believe that this is happening. In the post above it says that Jem is always telling Scout she is becoming more like a girl. I think as Scout gets older and starts going to school, and sees other girls her age she will become more feminine. She lives in a house with a father and a brother so she has always been somewhat like a "tomboy." Now that she gets older I predict she will become less adventurous and act like other girls her age from her time and Jem will feel neglected and just let go of her. I predict that there will be an argument in the future which finalizes (or decides) how the future relationship of Jem and Scout will be.
ReplyDeleteI agree and I also think that Jem and Scout are starting to take on different views. Now that Scout is growing up she is gaining different opinions and sometimes is against what Jem thinks. Though Scout is gaining different opinions she still is hesitant to speak up and challenge her brother for she knows that she shouldn't step in his way as his little sister.
ReplyDeleteIts an interesting that you point out the time period. I believe that plays a large part in the reason why Jem and Scout have grown apart. Scout is starting to see herself as more of a woman whilst being a woman means something very different back then than it does now. It appears that scout has a real issue with what being a woman means. Her closest and only real friends are Jem and Dill who are both male and she doesn't have a mother. She is bombarded with male energy and feels a certain need to live up to the male people in her life. That being said she is a woman and being a woman in the 1930's meant being less than a man. As she furthers her journey into womanhood this will become a lasting struggle for her.
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