Harper Lee is trying to show the changes of Scout and Jem as they grow older. Considering that To Kill A Mockingbird is a "coming of age" novel Harper Lee's job is to show the changes in Jem and Scout's maturity. One way she does this is she makes Boo Radley more and more real changing Jem and Scout's views about Boo. Through this scene Harper Lee makes Boo Radley frighteningly real to Scout. A way she makes Boo Radley real is she has Atticus acknowledge Boo's existence and recognize how close Scout wa
s to him. He says on pg. 96 "You ought to thank him.... Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you didn't know it when he put the blanket around you." This scene is extremely crucial in the development of Boo Radley's character and Scout and Jem's Maturity. One question emerges from the passage though, why do you think Boo Radley put a blanket on Scout?
s to him. He says on pg. 96 "You ought to thank him.... Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you didn't know it when he put the blanket around you." This scene is extremely crucial in the development of Boo Radley's character and Scout and Jem's Maturity. One question emerges from the passage though, why do you think Boo Radley put a blanket on Scout?
I agree with you Brace. Another point is relating to a theme of the book To Kill A Mockingbird, and its: Don't judge a book by its cover. It shows that Boo Radley was thought to be the scariest man alive who is crazy and eats squirells and small animals, but really he is just a man who stays in his house more than everyone else. This scene shows immaturity(as said by Brace) of the children of Maycomb who make up rumors of Boo when they do not even now him.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both of you. This moment shows that the more real Arthur “Boo” Radley becomes the more the duo matures. This moment also stresses the characterization of Boo. Between the prizes in the tree and the blanket Boo must really care about these children. It makes you wonder why? Why doesn’t Boo come out often? There is Miss Maudie’s explanation of his religion of course but what really is the reason? Why does Boo care about the kids so much? I think that this moment is also key because Scout didn’t notice it. She had been waiting for so long to see Boo. When she gets a chance she is too overcome with curiosity for something else.
ReplyDeleteBoo Radley is a person surrounded in mystery and creepiness, and this act of kindness (giving Scout a blanket), and the other “present exchanges” from the tree also represent the idea of “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” I feel Boo Radley is most likely a child who was threatened by the rest of his family (especially his father) by their strict religious rules, and just their overall way of life (thinking along the lines of Miss Maudie Atkinson). Another theme of this novel is the coexistence of good and evil, and I think Boo is a perfect example of that.
ReplyDeleteBoo is a mysterious character in many ways. He seems to have the core of a decent human, but is being enshrouded by dark rumors. It is curious though, why he doesn't come out of his house often. It is plausible that his religious beliefs restrict him, but there may be alternative reasons. It is possible that he is ashamed of the connotations his name carries, and has become so estranged that social contact "frightens" him. But he cares about the Finch children because they have taken an active interest in him. One question that arises is: Is Boo a monstrous person, or a caring man?
ReplyDeleteBoo Radley proves to be a crucial character, who is perceived by Scout and Jem as dangerous, but who they gradually realize may not be the man people portray him to be. Scout and Jem soon discover Boo may be more than a character created by rumors and assumptions, but a kind individual and the blanket was key to this realization. Furthermore, the blanket may be a symbol of warmth, protection and security and it is significant that Boo was the one to provide it, for it shows that he cares for the children. This is a necessary scene because it emphasizes that rumors can be deceiving and misleading.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter eight, Boo Radley's personality is awaken from the coma of rumors which have shadowed his inner-self. I agrre with Brace, that this represents the maturity of the young, Jem and Scout, but also opens up a new door. This door leads to the many possibilities in which Boo could establish a strong connection with the world outside his window.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Brace's analysis of this scene, but would particularly like to emphasize one related point. Boo Radley is very mysterious, isolated, and entirely different than everyone else in Maycomb County. Because of his idiosyncrasies, he is frightening to Scout, Jem, and the rest of the Maycomb County. In addition, as result of Boo’s isolation and his perplexing history and character, rumors emerge. The fear and rumors associated with Boo Radley are natural and in many ways compare to the fear and rumors (stereotypes) associated with African-Americans in Maycomb County. As Harper Lee gives us deeper and deeper insight to the average southern county, it becomes clear that black people in the south are viewed as mysterious, isolated, and entirely different. The fear that drove the people of Maycomb County to think that Boo Radley could be walking the streets at night eating squirrels, also makes them think that these mysterious people, who look, act, and talk differently from them could jeopardize the happiness of their county. Boo Radley’s growing reality represents the reality of racism in Maycomb emerging for Scout. However, the amusing and generous nature of Boo Radley seems to be becoming more clear and, just as Scout may be able to look through the rumors and accept Boo Radley as a kind person, she may be able to look through the stereotypes and accept African-Americans as people.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with all of you but I would also like to make another point...I think Boo is afraid what people might say about him and I am writing from a reader's perspective and I didn't even finish the book yet. I think Boo is ashamed of what he did and is afraid of what people might think if he came out after 30 years of hiding. He is not angry at his brother who is obviously so mean to him(when he sowed up the tree hiding place) and when he shoots at the children because he doesn't want his brother to go out. Really here all the Maycomb people should be afraid of Boo's brother and not Boo himself. Boo did a lot of things to encourage the children to like him and prove that he is a human being and not some kind of trash while his brother went around and he literally scared people.
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