What important lesson does Jem learn from his experience with Mrs. Dubose in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Through 's
experience with Mrs. Dubose, he learns that there are consequences for his actions. When he
takes 's baton and thrashes Mrs. Dubose's camellia bushes, he demonstrates his inability to
control his temper in certain situations, thereby causing him to face the consequences of such
behavior. Yes, it takes courage to face Mrs. Dubose for a month to read to her, but it is also a
very long penance to have to complete for just a few minutes of vengeful satisfaction. If he
doesn't want to make up for his misdeeds in such a way again, maybe he will start to think twice
before losing his temper. It's a great learning experience for Jem, though. Even though he hates
going over to read for a mean, drooling, sick woman, he learns more about her own personal
struggles. This helps him to grow as a man, and hopefully it teaches him that it isn't worth
losing one's temper over someone else's inability to control their own.