In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout's (the narrator) older brother, Jem, plays an ironically important role. He may seem similar to the other Maycomb boys given his brotherly characteristics, but there's more to his character. Jem is a luminary to his sister. He realizes Maycomb's inhuman qualities and ultimately stands up for what is right, even if he is scorned for it. Undoubtedly, Jem is an example of tolerance that many people should look up to, although Lee also manages to present him as an everyday kid. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay From the beginning of the book, Jem serves as a leader figure for Scout and Dill. Jem is a loving and benevolent older brother and allows her to play with him. This is why Scout automatically admires him. For example, Jem assists them across the street (Scout and Dill) as they investigate the Radley house. After Scout decided to follow him, “Jem lifted the bottom thread and motioned for Dill to step under it. I followed him and held the line for Jem” (Lee 69). Jem is important to Scout, as is how well they work together. Without Jem's major role in Scout's life, she would have no courage and courage. Jem and Scout live motherless for most of their lives, and although Calpurnia acts as a mother figure towards Scout, Jem is one of the most influential people in her life. Although Jem sometimes tries to act tough and smarter than Scout, he is still a leader who provided guidance. Jem goes through a difficult, but successful discovery while attending the Tom Robinson trial. For example, he does not understand the injustice of racism and realizes that his city and the people he admired are guilty of this violation. With this struggle overwhelming him, Jem doesn't know what to believe. Atticus always lets Jem know that justice is an important quality to have, and this only reinforces the confusion because no one plays by those rules. Jem knows that Tom Robinson was innocent and after realizing that Tom would only go to prison because he was black, his perception of his community infuriates him: "Judge Taylor was questioning the jury: 'Guilty...guilty... guilty…guilty…” I peered at Jem: his hands were white from gripping the balcony railing, and his shoulders were shaking as if each “guilty” were a separate blow from each other” (Lee 282). Jem grew up always trusting Maycomb and its kind community, but seeing someone be accused of something they didn't do because of the color of their skin makes him uncomfortable and ultimately deteriorates his trust in society. For example, as the words “guilty” become “stab,” the reader begins to recognize the pain and anguish of Jem's sudden loss of innocence. However, Jem realizes that through injustice, there can be good in people. Although Tom was put in prison due to racism, Jem finds that people should still do good because Atticus sets a good example before and after the trial. Throughout the story, Jem tries to listen to Atticus and hopefully also grow up with his own values. For example, Jem always fears that he will be a disappointment to Atticus and hopes to defend Atticus throughout the book because of the trial of Tom Robinson. After hearing many insults about his father from Mrs. Dubose, Jem decides to violate his camellias by cutting off the tops of all the flowers. The scout is confused by the situation. For example: “In later years, I sometimes wondered exactly what made Jem do it, what.