In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee tells the story of a white family's struggle as they face discrimination for standing up for a black man. Scout and Jem are two young children living in Maycomb who believe that everyone is like their father, Atticus, who embodies justice and equality. Atticus defends Tom Robinson, a man accused of raping a white woman. Before the trial, the Finches are forced to endure the torments of the townspeople. Their beliefs are shaken when a black man is given a rigged trial and he is innocent. At the end of the book, Scout and Jem are brutally attacked by the accuser, Bob Ewell. The man they were so curious about, Boo Radley, comes to their rescue and saves them. Becoming an adult means growing up. Growing up involves maturely managing difficult situations and drawing wisdom from them. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee shows Jem and Scout coming of age through events that force them to mature rapidly. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee shows Scout coming of age when she demonstrates her maturity by refraining from arguments when her pride is insulted. The oppressive town of Maycomb is shocked when Atticus decides to defend a black man in court. Many people verbally lash out at the Finches as punishment. One of the first insults Scout hears is directed at Atticus by Cecil Jones, her classmate. Scout is enraged, but instead chooses to "walk away" from a fight for the "first time" in her life. She believes that she will “disappoint Atticus” because he asked her to remain calm despite being called a “coward” (77). The words "first time" are an example of Scout's maturity because they show that she is experiencing new challenges and events that Scout has to...middle of paper......as through Jem's ability to see beyond surface appearances of society and the people who are coming of age. In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout and Jem symbolize coming of age through the burdensome events they face that require maturity. People, like Jem and Scout, evolve through life experiences that evoke wisdom and composure. Two young children show that when faced with difficult events, people mature to be able to manage the situation. The Scout knows that coming of age is a package deal with other personal qualities that emerge along the way. This story shows that growing up is a necessary and frustrating task. However, people must handle everything that life throws at them with wisdom beyond their years. The curse of aging prevents people from remaining young and innocent, instead forcing them to enter adulthood and face the challenges they face.