How does Scout end up with a blanket across her shoulders? Why would Harper Lee include this moment in the book?-Coughlan

After the long and cold night of standing and watching the fire, Scout is surprised to find a blanket
across her shoulders. Jem instantly knows that it was Boo Radley, as he quickly makes the connection
between the blanket and the tree. Scout never realized that it was him, and seems shocked that “a monster” would
do something nice and she did not notice. Scout now sees that what Jem told her was not true, Boo is not
a pet eater or a killer, but a real person. It does not seem that she has realized that Mr. Radley is keeping
Boo inside. Scout was surprised and scared when she learned that it was Boo who put the blanket over
her. She still thinks back to him as a monster even though she has had more interaction with him. It is her
instinct and learning that he could have just as easily grabbed her or killed her as he put the blanket over
her shows that he is capable of interaction with them. 
Harper Lee shows how Boo is not just trying to have fun with the kids, like leaving them gifts, but
he also cares for them. When Atticus also realizes that it was Boo after Jem telling him everything,
he knows he cannot thank him. This shows how Boo is doing something against the rules and
Mr. Radley is trying to stop him. If Atticus did tell Mr. Radley, Boo would be in trouble.
Harper Lee uses Atticus to show how severe Boo’s Situation is. It is a learning moment of Scout,
without the blanket, she would know nothing about Boo, not even what Jem knows. It gives her
the ability to see that he has never had the intention of harming them, he has only enjoyed watching them
play and giving them gifts.
How do you think Scout will feel about Boo in the future?

 Do you think that Scout will try to thank Boo in any way?

 What do you think the blanket could be a symbol of?

Comments

  1. HadleySeptember 17, 2019 at 5:15 PM

    Responding to the question, “How do you think Scout will feel about Boo in the future?” Scout will change her envision of Boo as what she has been told to her is not true. Agreeing, to Lilly, I think that Jems “accurate” description of Boo made Scout envision a monster that eats animals and humans when really all that we know is that he is an actual caring human. Since, Scout is only seven years old she listens most of the time to Jem because that’s what younger siblings do at a younger age. Jems misleading description created a whole new envision of what Book looked like to Scout. From now on, Scout will have a new understanding of Boo as he is caring, and a real human that looks out for Scout, as he gave her a blanket on the night of the fire. In the future, Scout will want to look further into Boo’s life as her whole perspective on him has changed. I believe, that also as Scout is maturing and soon is going into adulthood she will no longer listen to what her brother says but take learning for her own self as she wants to look further into the mystery life of Boo as he is a mystery to her. As Scout becomes an adult I thin she will grow to be like her curious brother and in the future will wonder and fugure out what Boo looks like and the secrets of his life.

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  2. AnonymousSeptember 17, 2019 at 5:17 PM

    The journey throughout Scout and Jem’s obsession with Boo Radley has matured both of them in many ways. One of these ways is that Scout and Jem view Boo Radley as a human. In response to Boo Radley putting a blanket on Scout’s shoulder, I think that Scout will try to thank Boo for his actions. I think this because Scout is brought up as a polite young woman, and I think that she will feel guilty if she doesn’t thank him. I also think that if Scout is afraid to thank Boo Radley, Jem will encourage her to send him a note, or give her thanks in person. Why did Boo Radley give her a blanket? How come Boo Radley didn’t help put out the fire? Why does Boo Radley try to be hidden from Scout?

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  3. ACaverley-LightSeptember 18, 2019 at 3:56 AM

    Scout has shows growth immensely throughout the book so far and in this chapter it is seen again. From this interaction, Scout has learned that maybe Boo Radley isn't the monster he is thought to be. Jem's "reasonable" description isn't reasonable but maybe to Scout it is. She is now realizing that there is so much more to the story. In the future I think Scout will be surprised by Boo just as she had been with the blanket. Maybe he really caring and not a monster like he's depicted to be. Has Jem realized his description isn't reasonable? Why didn't Boo Radley help control the fire? Why does Nathan Radley keep Boo Radley hidden?

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  4. AnonymousSeptember 18, 2019 at 8:38 AM

    Scout's view of Boo has changed drastically throughout the course of the book as she grows, and she is beginning to see Boo as more of a person than a monster. Boo's act of giving scout a blanket while she was cold is Harper Lee's way of humanizing Boo, both to scout and to the reader. Seeing as Scout is still a child, it would be very hard for her to believe that a monster would do something nice, so a small thing like Boo giving her a blanket changes a lot. As Scout grows and learns even more I think she will come to realize that Jem's description of Boo was never reasonable at all.

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