Sunday, September 23, 2012
Chapter 6&7- Explain Jem’s statement: “When I went back they were folded across the fence . . . like they were expectin’ me.” (Oakes Austin)
More than any other reason, Scout looks up to Jem because she sees him as a strong, commanding, and most importantly, fearless figure. Jem is always calm and unruffled in any scary situation, so the Radley house is made all the more scary for Scout by the fact that Jem is also scared by it. Scout, Jem, and Dill all go to the Radley house at night to try and catch a glimpse of Boo Radley. Jem’s voice is full of fear when he finally tells her about how he found his pants. “When I went back, they were folded across the fence... like they were expecting me. And something else... they’d been sewed up” (Lee 78). Even after being caught at the Radley house, Scout still perceived Jem as “fearless” as shown when she says “Safely behind [the fence] we gave in to numbness, but Jem’s mind was racing” (Lee 72). Scout trusted Jem to find a way out of the situation, and she was reassured by his quick thinking. Jem’s quote marks a turning point for him and Scout. They are realizing that the Radleys are not a joke anymore, and that they should treat them with more respect. This comment helps the reader understand that Jem looks out for Scout and because he doesn’t want her to be afraid, and is willing to hide his own fear for her. Although Jem is breaking Scout’s trust by confiding in her that he is afraid, he is also trying to protect her, and bring her closer.
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When Jem was telling Scout about the night he went back to retrieve his pants he said, “When I went back, they were folded across the fence... like they were expecting me. And something else... they’d been sewed up” (Lee 78). I think that Boo Radley folded Jem’s pants and sewed them. When Scout rolled into the Radley’s yard in the tire she said that, “Someone inside the house was laughing.” (Lee 54) I think that Boo isn’t what people say he is and that he has been watching Scout, Dill, and Jem this whole time. When Boo saw Jem’s pants come off he decided to sew, fold, and place them on the fence so that when Jem came back they would be ready for him. Jem told Scout that, “They’d been sewed up. Not like a lady sewed em, like somethin’ I’d try to do. All crooked.” (Lee 780) Jem thinks that it couldn’t have been a woman who sewed them it had to be a man. Nathan Radley was the one who shot the gun because he was mad that the kids were on his property. Boo felt badly for the frightened kids because Nathan had shot a gun at them, so to make them feel better, he decided to sew the pants. Do you think that Boo Radley is what people says he is or do you think he is a good person?
ReplyDeletePeople in this neighborhood exaggerate on stories they have heard, and make up lies about Boo Radley, even though he could be a good person. Miss Maudie, who is always outside observing the neighborhood, told Scout, "I remember Arthur Radley when he was a boy. He always spoke nicely to me, no matter what folks said he did" (Lee 61). This means that Miss Maudie, a very trustworthy person according to Scout, believes that despite what everyone has said about Boo Radley, he is a good person. Miss Maudie also believes that Boo Radley just stays in his house simply because he doesn't want to come out. Do you think there is any truth to the rumors floating around the neighborhood, or are they all stories made up by people?
DeleteWas Jem really being fearless by going to the Radley house? Or was he just being disrespectful of the Radleys. The Radleys put up a fence to impede intruders. Was Jem just another unwanted intruders that was breaking the law? Miss Stephine stated “Mr. Radley shot a negro in his collard patch.” [lee 72] This quote shows that everyone thinks that it was a good for nothing negro trespasser trying to steal the collards. This quote shows the town did not respect the choice that Jem made, to go onto the property. I feel that he was just breaking the law and his actions should not be interpreted as fearless.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, the pants left on the fence can be interpreted as a signal of appology. The pants where fixed and hung on the fence. This must have felt like a greeting because it was a nice thing to do. This was a different message from the firing of the shot gun to scare the intruders. I believe that each Radley sent out different message through their actions. Nathan Radley shot the gun at the kids and I believe “Boo” Radley sewed the pants and hung them on the fence for Jem. One is a message to keep away and the other is a welcoming message.
Did Boo really know what he was shooting at, or was he just shooting as a signal for whoever was in his yard to leave? Many of the neighbors say he was shooting at a negro and "he's got the other barrel waitin'". What may have happened is that Boo could have not known what he was shooting at, but upon going out in his yard to check he found Jems pants. He knew they were jem's and after shooting at them he felt badly and decided to sew them up and hang the pants on the fence as an act of kindness. Maybe Boo thought that Jem, Dill, and Scout lost a ball in his yard and realized he had accidentally shot at them, thinking they were intruders.
ReplyDeleteOkay does anyone know the darn page number for when Jem finally tells scout about his pants?!
ReplyDelete