Jem is the brother of Scout Finch, four years older than she is. Jem represents the idea of bravery in the novel, and the way that his definition changes over the course of the story is important. The shift that occurs probably has as much to do with age as experience, although the experiences provide a better framework for the reader. He sees bravery from Mrs. Dubose's addiction, from Atticus and the mad dog, and from Scout's confrontation with the mob, among other incidents. Along the way, he grows from a boy who drags his sister along as a co-conspirator to a maturing young man who helps Scout understand the problems and events around them. Jem and Scout both learn throughout the novel to look at the good in human nature, as well as the bad.
