Atticus makes Jem read to Mrs.Dubose as punishment to show him another one of his many life lessons that he gives the kids. Mrs. Dubose refused to take her pain medicine so each day she would put it off longer and longer until she passed away. That's why Jem thought each day it felt that he was reading longer and longer... because it was. Atticus taught Jem that Mrs. Dubose wasn't just the cranky old lady next door she was a strong woman
who had purpose in life and her wrong doings... she felt bad for them... she put herself in pain to give back to the things she had said or done
