Monday, May 20, 2013

In To Kill a Mockingbird, what does Scout come to realize while standing on the Radley's porch at the end of the novel?

At the end of the novel, after walking Arthur "Boo" Radley home, Scout looks out at the view of town from the Radley's front porch.  She notices just how much Boo could see just by looking out the window, since, being a recluse, was his only means of experiencing the world. 

She also notices just how clear the view of her house was, as well as the tree.  Recalling all the times she, Jem, and dill spent playing in plain view of the house, she realizes that in a sense, they were "Boo's kids", and he was actively a part of their lives, if only from the outside looking in. 

It's really a touching/moving part of the novel, as it directly follows a much-anticipated meeting of Scout and Boo for the first time.  He saved she and Jem from certain death at the hands of Bob Ewell, even killing the attacker in order to ensure the children's safety.  Scout has a new understanding of her friend and guardian, and learns a great deal about how others can be an active part of our lives, if even unknowingly. 

No comments:

Post a Comment

What is the main function of the fool in "King Lear"? What is the secondly function?

The fool as a character is confusing, but part of this is the difference between the 1600s and today, as well as the difference in place. If...