When Ms. Maudies house was burning down, Scout and Jem woke up outside with the surprise of a blanket drawn over them. This is proof that Boo Radley, or Arthur is not the mean and vicious guy that everyone thinks he is. As Jem and Scout wake up Atticus is angry at them for not staying put like they were supposed to, because he thought that they went inside and got a blanket. He soon realizes that it was not them who got the blanket. Atticus then said "Boo Radley. you were so busy looking at the fire you didn't know it when he put the blanket arround you." We now find out that it was actually Boo Radley who put the blanket over them.
Harper Lee puts this part of the story in to build up Boo Radley's character. Thsi tells us that Boo Radley is actually just a nice person who wants to be a part of the town, and help people. This can not happen because people are afraid of him because of all of the false rumors about Boo.
How do you think Boo will try to be apart of the town further in the story? Do you think Boo Radley will ever come out of his house again, and show the town who he really is? How do you think the town would react if Boo did do this?
If Boo Radley actually put the blanket over Scout and Jem, I think the town would be extremely surprised and shocked because the rumors around town are that Boo is a bad person. But if we believe Boo stitched Jem’s pants (Chapter 6) and that Boo put the pocket watch and other trinkets in the tree (Chapter 7) then Boo’s showing a pattern of kindness that the town doesn’t believe he’s capable of. And if someone like Miss Stephanie Crawford, the town gossip, found out that Boo had done nice things for the kids, she may spread a whole new set of rumors about the Radleys. But this time, the rumors would now be about how nice and kind Boo can actually be. And this would probably raise Jem, Dill and Scout’s curiosity level about Boo to new heights and they’d probably try even harder to get Boo out of the house. So if Boo Radley actually put the blanket around Scout and Jem, it may have a positive impact on the whole town’s view of the Radley family.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with what Jay said in his comment. I think that Mr. Arthur is going to become a very important character in the near future. I believe that Arthur is in some way going to help Jean and Jem through a tough time that could possibly be uprising in the town. Scout is being "bullied" by some of her peers, and I think this will lead up to the climax. I think that what Harper Lee is trying to show by having Atticus tell Jem and Scout that Mr. Arthur put the blanket on them. When Ms. Maudie's house is burning down. Although Boo isn't accepted by almost everybody in the village, I think that Boo is warming his way into the hearts of Jem and Scout. Also the Finches are becoming outsiders because Atticus is defending a Negro man in court.
ReplyDeleteWill the Finches become outcasts because of what Atticus did? What do the Finches now have in common with the Radleys?
I disagree that Boo wants to be more involved with the town. When he put the blanket around Scout's shoulders, it does show that he is nice, but I think he would make himself more visible to the neighbors of his "kind act" if he really wants to be more involved in the town. Boo only made himself visible to Jem and Scout because he can trust them. It is obvious that Boo has been watching Jem and Scout grow up. How else would he know how to put a pocket watch in the knot hole (when pocket watches interested Jem) or how to carve Jem and Scout into soap figurines. Along with their interests Boo knows that the Finches are different from others in Maycomb, they are not very prejudice, that is why he can trust them not to get him involved with the town. Boo certainly doesn't want to deal with the prejudice in Maycomb, but like any human needs someone else to be "friends" with. Scout and Jem are perfect friends for Boo.
ReplyDeleteDo you think that Boo can truly trust the Finches? Do you think Boo watching the children is more creepy or friendly?
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ReplyDeleteSince Tom Robinson is a black man accused of raping a white women, Maycomb's white residents are furious Atticus is choosing to defend his case. This results to Jem and Scout's innocent happy childish world getting intruded on by the adult world. The town's people are unwilling to display their anger towards Atticus himself, so instead they take it out on Jem and Scout; which exposes the racist southern side of Maycomb.
ReplyDeleteFrom the start, no one really knew who the real Boo Radley was and constantly made up rumors to fulfill their curiosity without knowing the truth. This relates to Maycomb's inhabitants not truly knowing the real reason why Atticus is choosing to defend Robinson, but just basing it off the stereotypical belief of the white's views of right and wrong.
Do you think Boo watching the children is more creepy or friendly?
I believe that Boo did all this out of kindness and also as a way to form a friendship with these kids. Even with all the chaos of Miss Maudie's house burning down and the unbelievably cold weather, he was still thinking about Jem and Scout which shows he really does care and wants to break out of his "shell" of being portrayed as a lunatic and freak. Even when his brother plugged up the knothole, he continued to find a way to show and gain the sympathy of Scout and Jem.
Do you think Atticus made the right decision of choosing to defend Tom Robinson? Why do you think Atticus wanted Scout to overhear his conversation with Jack? Do you agree with Atticus' parenting style?