Personalities that Played an Important Roles in The Formation of Jem and Scouts’ Characters

Who people turn out to be is a reflection of who they had as a role model. Albert Schweitzer stated that “Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.” Therefore, who Scout and Jem are has to do with the examples they had set for them. Aunt Alexandra, Calpurnia, and Atticus, however different, all played important roles in the formation of Jem and Scouts’ character.

A role model in the lives of Scout and Jem is Aunt Alexandra. She is their father’s, Atticus, sister. It is clear that Jem and Scout do not have the best feelings towards their aunt, hence their reactions when she reveals that she is there to stay. “For a while in Maycomb meant anywhere from three days to thirty years. Jem and I exchanged glances.” They probably felt this way about her because she “fit into the world of Maycomb like a hand into a glove, but never into” their world. They do not care for her because she has a strict teaching style and has an arrogance to her that can be hard to stand. She wants them to be a young gentleman and a lady because she views the Finches as high up on the hierarchy of Maycomb. However, she loves her brother and as she learns more about Jem and Scout, she learns to love them as well. Going through the trial together also helped to strengthen their bond. In the end, she learned as much from them as they did from her.

Another authority figure is Calpurnia. She is kind of a mother figure to them since their mother is departed. Even though she is the cook, she goes beyond that task. It is clear that she really cares for the children by this quote “I missed you today… the house got lonesome.” Calpurnia taught Scout how to write and she tries to be a good example for them even though they do not think much about her outside life. “That Calpurnia led a modest double life never dawned on me,” confirms this. She has a kind yet firm manner since she is their worker, but she is also like family. She wants Scout and Jem to be the best that they can be. When she brought them to her church, she made sure they were dressed well and were clean. She wants the same as Aunt Alexandra wants for them, and that is for them to grow up to be a gentleman and a lady. Nevertheless, she has a different way of showing it. While Aunt Alexandra scolds them and tells them that they are of a higher class, Calpurnia asks them to dress a certain way and reprimands them when it is needed. She has a family of her own, but she will always be there for them when they need it and vice versa.

Atticus is by far the most significant role model in Jem and Scout’s life. He is their father and therefore they look up to him with respect and try to follow the example that he has led for them. Since he is a lawyer, he is not always there. However, he still tries to teach his children right from wrong. He is unlike Calpurnia and Aunt Alexandra in that he does not punish them when they do wrong. Instead, he expects them to try and that is all he asks. That is why during Christmas, after Scout beat up Francis and Uncle Jack asked Atticus why he never laid a hand on Scout, he said “she knows I know she tries. That’s what makes the difference.” He is a gentleman in many ways and Jem looks up to him. Atticus plays an important role in Jem’s life especially because of the fact that he has no other male figures in his life. Even though he gets upset with Atticus at times, Jem still wants to be like him. “Jem’s ears reddened” when Atticus compliments him shows that he looks up to his father and wants to do right in his eyes. So as their father, Atticus is the main example in their lives; he does his job well even though he is not perfect.

Aunt Alexandra, Calpurnia, and Atticus all played essential parts as mentors in the lives of Jem and Scout. As they matured throughout the story and underwent many challenges, Jem and Scout came out all right. They accepted the advice, and followed the examples shown to them by these stellar teachers. They all had good intentions behind their actions. The fact that they wanted the best for Jem and Scout proved them to be good role models. So based off the words of Andrew Shue, “People who dream of something bigger and better are good role models,” they were the best role models that Jem and Scout could have possibly had.