Final answer:
Jem risks his safety to retrieve his pants as a significant step in his moral development, reflecting his understanding of responsibility and the weight of societal expectations in 'To Kill a Mockingbird'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The importance of Jem risking his safety to retrieve his pants can be intertwined with themes of honor, courage, and the transition from childhood to adulthood. Harper Lee's novel, 'To Kill a Mockingbird', presents a coming-of-age story where Jem's actions are pivotal to his moral development. Risking his safety symbolizes a significant step in Jem's character growth, as it reflects his understanding of personal responsibility and the weight of societal expectations. In the context of the story, Jem's pants getting caught represent his entanglement with the societal issues around him, and retrieving them is a metaphor for taking responsibility and facing the consequences of one's actions directly.