I think Boo shares a connection with the children, after the gifts in the tree, and all the other measures that Jem, Scout, and Dill took to try and see him. Also, Scout still sees Boo as a part of her imagination, a legend. When Scout sees a man she thinks is Atticus carrying Jem, she has no idea it is Boo Radley. But, her understanding of Boo being a ghost totally changes when on page 362 she says “His lips parted into a timid smile, and our neighbor’s image blurred with my sudden tears. ‘Hey, Boo,’ I said.” Now she sees Boo as a real person, a person who saved her brother and herself from being murdered, and Scout now holds Boo in the highest standard. Another point i would like to bring up is how Aunt Alexandra changes after such a scare. She immediately hands Scout the clothes that she despises to see Scout wearing. Now, she is showing the vulnerable, raw side of herself opposed to the ladylike shell she wears out in Maycomb. A couple questions;
1.How does Scout's opinion of Aunty change in this chapter?
2. Why does Scout keep asking, "is Jem dead?"
The font got really screwed up after i embedded the link...sorry about that.
ReplyDeleteFirst I would say that Aunt Alexandra totally changes her personality in this chapter, as Benal stated. I think this is because, after hearing what happened, she is just glad they are alive. Scout is no longer haunted by the lady-like ghost who is always criticizing everything she wears, how she looks, and even how she smells. Scout has realized that Aunt Alexandra has been influenced by their entire house, and leaves behind the southern woman attitude and looks on the bright side for once, just as Atticus has told her to do.
ReplyDeleteThings to think about: How will the book end?/Will Boo Radley come out of hiding in the end of the story?
As Benal says, Boo changes from the unknown into a real neighbor who saves Jem and Scout. In the action following, Aunt Alexandra reveals a new character to her. It doesn't seem that Scout openly displays her change of opinion of Aunt Alexandra, but rather notices her new character after the attack. Coming from Scout's point of view, Aunt Alexandra becomes more lenient and caring of Scout and Jem's personal needs rather than focusing on the Maycomb standard. However, Scout feels that her aunt hasn't completely changed; Scout quotes, "in her distraction, Aunty brought me my overalls”. Scout shows Aunt Alexandra's actions as a consequence of the excitement and rush at the time, where it does not matter what Scout changes into from her Halloween clothes. Most likely, Scout has a sense of gratitude for Aunt Alexandra's recent actions and care for them rather than the Maycomb images she strives to create. Scout acknowledges this, and moves on to Jem's more important problem.
ReplyDeleteI think that when scout sees Arthur, she doesn't believe her eyes. Sometimes, when you have wanted something for so long, but never gotten it, you begin to see it drifting farther and farther away, like a dream as you wake from a deep sleep. I know that when i read this, i couldn't believe my eyes, wow! Boo came out after so many years! My mind was running circles in my head. The place in which Harper Lee brings Boo back into the story is brilliant, the final blow to the head that Boo is a REAL, CARING, HERO. This ties the knot that he really left the gifts in the tree and that he was the one who was always there, Jem and Scouts personal Guardian Angel.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I am SOOOOO happy that Boo didn't end up dying... i would have honestly cried.
When Jem and Scout were younger, they used to "play" Boo Radley with Dill, roleplaying different characters in his storyline. This is a big coming-of-age moment because, as Benal mentioned, he becomes a real person. He's no longer the mystery Scout used to imagine. When she said, "Hey, Boo," it seemed almost normal, and he became an actual person to her. The gradual change in Aunt Alexandra and in Scout's respect for her was also brilliant. The fact that she handed her overalls showed that during the situation, Aunt Alexandra cared more about Scout's wellbeing than about her being a lady, proving that she does care about her niece. I think Scout's going through a monumental period in her life and is starting to learn that not everyone is how they appear to be at first.
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