Jem becomes more mature as he discovers the evil in the world when the hole in the Radley tree is filled and when Tom Robinson is found guilty by the jury. Additionally, his respect for his family is strengthened after his father shoots the rabid dog and when he and Scout are attacked. Finally, through Atticus's determination to help Tom and the reading Jem is forced to do for Mrs. Dubose, Jem's maturity increases significantly as he learns the true value of courage. As Jem's thoughts change through these events, so does his outlook on life. His innocence is lifted and he matures first in relation to his family, then in relation to the other people in his life. He is influenced by his thoughts and he shows his maturity through his actions. Jem's example shows that the events a person experiences in life will shape the kind of person they become. The more we experiment, the more we develop, whether for