In the last line of chapter 14, Dill says, “Maybe he doesn’t have anywhere to run off to…” (Lee 192) when answering Scout about why Boo Radley has never run away from home. This conversation takes place in Scout’s room after Scout questions Dill about why he ran away from home. Dill explains to Scout that he ran away because his family doesn’t care about him or need him and he feels ignored. He always feels as if he doesn’t contribute to the family. As Scout and Dill are talking, Dill says, “...they do get along better without me, I can’t help them any. They ain’t mean.” (Lee 191). Dill’s parents buy him all of the things he wants, but they want him to be more independent and to play by himself or out playing baseball with other kids. Scout feels the opposite of this. She tells Dill that her family is always paying attention to her and she often feels that she has too much attention. She says, “I was fixin’ to run off tonight because they were all there. You don’t want’ em around you all the time, Dill…” (Lee 190). During the conversation, Scout wonders what her life would be like if her family didn’t need her, and she can’t understand why Dill would run away. She can’t imagine that his family doesn’t need him, so she thinks his family must be mean. Dill is trying to make up excuses for why he ran away from home when all he wants to do is spend time with Scout and the Finches. What Dill means in the last line of the chapter is that, since Boo (Arthur) Radley knows no one else in the community other than his father, he can’t run away. He has nowhere to go. He has to stay in his home or else he will be alone and frightened. It is not surprising to me that Boo Radley can't run away because he has nowhere to run off to. This isn't surprising because Boo knows practically no one in Maycomb and if he did try to run away, his family wouldn't even care. Dill is admitting that he wouldn’t have run away unless he had somewhere better to go to.
In the end of chapter 14, Dill and Scout are discussing Dill's reasons to have run away. As stated above, Dill feels as if he receives too little attention, and Scout feels like she receives too much. Scout questions Dill by asking, "Why do you think Boo Radley's never run off?" (Lee 192). Dill replies by saying the line "maybe he doesn't have anything to run off too" (Lee 192). This is a very meaningful ending to the chapter, as we realize that Boo Radley, really doesn't have anything. He has never come out of his home, either, because he has nothing to come out to. People treat his family as one of the disgraces of Maycomb. Although his father may have been rude, readers know nothing about Boo, except for legends. Boo has been shunned by his community , which has a drastic impact on his life. Scout and Dill want to run away from what they do have, but don't realize how lucky they are. They are usually immature when it comes to the Radley family, but are starting to think deeper about them. This is a little surprising, but also shows that the children are starting to grow up.
ReplyDeleteScout and Jem are being raised in a family that is loving and caring. Even though their mother passes, Atticus, Calpurnia, and even Aunt Alexandra want the best for Jem and Scout. When Dill is talking about running away Scout says, "As Dill explained, I found myself wondering what life would be if Jem were different, even from what he was now; what I would do if Atticus did not feel the necessity of my presence, help and advice. Why, he couldn't get along unless I was there. They needed me". (Lee 191). Scout is very fortunate to have her family. And she may not have realized it before she realizes it now after Dill tells her about what he goes through.
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