Tolerance(Online Lesson)

After some serious consideration, my group and I have decided to write about Jem for this online assignment.



In the opening part of the story, it was stated...

“When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken ly at the elbow. When it healed, and Jem’s fears of never being able to play football were assuaged, who was seldom self-conscious about his injury. His left arm was somewhat shorter than his right; when he stood or walked, the back of his hand was at right angles to his body, his thumb parallel to his thigh. He couldn’t have cared less so long as he could pass and punt.”



Physically, Jem would need great tolerance of pain. Being different from others in terms of physical appearances, every other person would feel inferior and helpless. If you were in a similar situation, I am sure you would feel sad too. Every person wants to look good, and be normal. Furthermore, at that time, Jem as only about thirteen years old! He still has a long way to go in life, yet such an accident caused him to live with his body for the rest of his life! But, “He couldn’t have cared less so long as he could pass and punt.” This sentence tells us that Jem tolerated it. He was probably mature enough and optimistic enough to tell himself that he could not change it, but he has to live with it and make the best of his life. In this area, Jem has impressively displayed tolerance.



On page 21, at the bottom of the page, it was stated that “Jem condescended to take me to school the first day, a job usually done by one’s parents, but Atticus had said Jem would be delighted to show me where my room was.” Here, Jem took on a role which one’s parents would usually do. Although Jem might be delighted to show his younger sister her the location of her room, I am sure he would not have liked taking his sister to school, the main activity is to show her her room. Often, children don’t like to do jobs which their parents are supposed to do. But, Jem endured it and brought his sister to school. Tolerance.


Through the whole novel, Jem had slowly understood that there are racism and prejudice in the society. In page 217, when Jem heard the results of the jury, he knew it was the jury’s prejudice that caused the result to be guilty. He clenched his fist, both in anger and uncontrollably disappointed. This was when his tolerance came in and he did not turn it into a commotion, but merely cried it out. In such a case, one would need especial tolerance and endurance to be able to handle such mixed emotions.



On page 113 it was stated that “when Jem came to a word he didn’t know, he skipped it, but Mrs Dubose would catch him and make him spell it out. ” Mrs Dubose kept on correcting Jem’s mistake, when Jem took the time to rea for her. She did not treasure the privilage she had at all. However, Jem was not angered at all. Often, children feel angry an irritated when they are doing something that is not fun, like reading a book to a person they hate, and being corrected with every mistake they made. But Jem did not feel angered at all and tolerated the words and comments from Mrs Dubose.