How does Scout end up with a blanket across her shoulders? Why would Harper Lee include this moment in the book?
After being out in the cold and watching Miss Maudie’s house burn down, the conversation afterwards allows Harper Lee to further prove that Arthur isn’t the monster the town thinks he is and is really a nice man trying to connect with the outside world. At first Atticus was angry at Scout and Jem for getting a blanket instead of staying put until he saw that they were genuinely confused to where the blanket had come from. “’I looked down and found myself clutching a brown woolen blanket I was wearing squaw-fashion.’… ‘Atticus, I don’t know, sir...’ I turned to Jem for an answer, but Jem was even more bewildered than I.” (95) It is finally clear who put the blanket on Scout when Atticus concludes: “’Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you didn’t know it when he put the blanket around you.’”
Harper
Lee uses this moment to further characterize Boo Radley. The blanket represents
how Arthur is a warm and caring person and how he isn’t a mean monster like
what the town thinks. The gifts in the knothole, sewing of Jem’s pants, and
putting the blanket around Scout are all small indications that Harper Lee is trying
to show how Boo wants to come out of his shell and be part of the town.
What
would you say about Boo if the blanket had been old, dirty, and worn-out?
Will
Boo ever be accepted into the town community?
Will
Boo become great friends with Scout and Jem?
Even if Boo gave Scout a dirty, old and worn-out blanket I still would've thought what Boo did was very considerate and kind. Maybe he didn't have any good blankets to give to Scout, and he still made an effort to make Scout warm while she was outside in the cold. That act of kindness shows that Boo is not the person the town thinks he is and that he wants to keep his connection with Jem and Scout.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Boo will ever be accepted into the Maycomb community just because there are so many rumors about him it's impossible to erase what people think about him. People have thought of him for years as a monster and an outcast, and it's most likely too late to change what the people think about him.
Boo will most likely not become great friends with Scout and Jem because Harper Lee still wants to keep Boo as a mysterious character. I think there will be a point in the book Scout and Jem will at least get to see Boo and to figure out what he really looks like, but only once or twice.
When do you think they will see Boo if they ever do and in what situation? Do you think Boo's relationship with Scout and Jem will become closer as the book goes on?
Boo's relationship with Scout and Jem already improved a bit when the two kids realized he left the gifts in the tree for them. Boo's character is still mysterious the the kids, especially since he gave them a blanket when they were cold. Due to the fact they missed a chance to see what he looked like, it might have added fuel to the fire. Scout and Jem will probably try to figure out more about Boo in the future, which will eventually lead to them possibly having contact with Boo. Already, they have a different view point on Boo. As the story progresses, I'm positive Scout and Jem will get closer to Boo as friends in some way.
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ReplyDeleteWill Boo Ever become Part Of The Town Community?
ReplyDeleteEven though so far in the novel boo has stayed drawn back and alone, he can eventually become part of the town community if he actually comes out of his house and shows that he is not what people think he is but is in fact a nice guy. He is trying to already become friends with scout and jem by giving them the blanket and leaving them things in the knothole, which is a big step forward from staying in his house. Now that he has friends outside of his house, it will be easier for him to come out and be part o the community because he will already have someone who understands hum who is part of the community.