Jem is characterized as reflective and sensitive as he is growing up in this chapter.
In this chapter, we see Jem as a young man who is trying to understand the world. Much of the chapter is about Jem and his reaction to recent events. Jem is coming of age, and facing racism and the fact that the world is not fair.
Jem reacts to Bob Ewell’s spitting in Atticus’s face. He is frightened, thinking that this was not all Ewell was going to do. This shows Jem is still sensitive.
Jem is also still upset about the verdict in the Tom Robinson case. He was convinced that Robinson would be acquitted because Atticus proved that no crime was committed and Mayella’s injuries were most likely caused by her father.
Jem was sprawled on the sofa reading Popular Mechanics. He looked up. “It ain’t right. He didn’t kill anybody even if he was guilty. He didn’t take anybody’s life” (Chapter 23).
Jem reflects on circumstantial evidence and the rape statute, which makes rape a capital offense. He is trying to find a way to make everything that happened make sense to him, and to feel that justice has been done. He doesn’t feel that Robinson should have been convicted.
Atticus tells Jem that there is nothing wrong with making rape a capital offense and many people are convicted on circumstantial evidence alone. When Jem says maybe they should just get rid of juries, he is again trying to rationalize what happened and blame someone. In Jem’s mind, it was the jury’s fault.
When Atticus tells him Mr. Cunningham did not agree with the verdict, Jem is again confused.
“Golly Moses,” Jem said reverently. “One minute they’re tryin‘ to kill him and the next they’re tryin’ to turn him loose… I’ll never understand those folks as long as I live” (Chapter 23).
This shows Atticus has managed to change the minds of some of the people of Maycomb. Atticus tells Jem that he will understand as he gets older. Atticus came very close to getting a hung jury.
More proof of Jem's growing up is when he shows Scout that he is getting hair under his arms and on his chest. Jem is proud of his maturity, and he wants to share the changes in his body with his sister. The two of them are still close, even as he is maturing while she is still young.
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