As CS Lewis said: "Experience: the brutalest of teachers. But you learn, God, you teach yourself." From life to death, a person goes through many experiences that shape their personality and ideals. Every decision made and every adventure encountered ends up defining the type of person we become. Scout and Jem spend almost every minute together, growing up in the same environment and sharing events throughout the novel. They each observe the cruel racism of the South, suffer the ravages of the Great Depression and live without a mother. The children live almost identical lives growing up in Maycomb; however, their views and opinions from the beginning to the end of the novel differ drastically. At the beginning of To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout and Jem have different beliefs about what is considered morally right. For example, Scout lashes out at Walter Cunningham after he ruins Scout's chances of making a good first impression with Miss Caroline, but, clearly thinking these actions are immoral, "Jem came and told [Scout] to stop. 'You're bigger than him,' he said" (Lee 27). , telling Scout to put herself in other people's shoes however, before being told this, Scout did not understand empathy Jem and Scout had different understandings of this subject, despite being raised in it; the same environment and by the same people On the other hand, it can be argued that because Jem is older and knowing that he was a handful to Atticus, he had learned this lesson before Scout. This would explain why he is in it. advances in his knowledge of empathy: he had this experience without Scout Jem also disagrees with Scout when ...... middle of paper ...... age, therefore,. even living in the same environment, Scout couldn't think about it herself. They may have grown up in the same environment, but Scout and Jem have radically separated, philosophically speaking, on the question of what is morally right. Throughout the novel, the reader can see that, as they grew up together, Jem and Scout developed completely different morals. Having experienced a handful of events, their values ​​have been shaped. It may take longer, but Scout will eventually understand the world like Jem and, eventually, she will have the wisdom of Atticus. No one can agree on everything, even if they are raised the same way; people just aren't like that. However, this is not a bad thing at all. The world needs its Scouts and its Jems. Without them, how would he shine? Works Cited Lee, Harper. To kill a mockingbird. Np: Popular Library, 1960. Print