On the last night before Dill leaves Maycomb, Jem, Scout, and Dill decide to peep in the window with the loose shutter at the Radley Place to get a look at Boo Radley. They got caught by Mr. Nathan Radley, and Jem lost his pants trying to escape. Jem lied to Atticus so that Atticus wouldn’t find out that what they had done. Jem decides to go back to retrieve his pants rather than risk having Atticus beat him for lying when he finds out the truth. When Jem tells Scout he is going to do this, Scout says, “It was then that Jem and I first began to part company,” (Lee 75). This quote by Scout means that this is the first time one of them didn’t agree with the other on a major decision. Scout says that Jem’s decision to risk his life to retrieve his pants is “beyond me,” (Lee 75). Before this, the times when Scout didn’t understand Jem were short-lived. This is the first time that Scout is so bewildered that she truly cannot understand Jem. Scout is afraid that Jem will get shot, but he is willing to risk his life rather than having Atticus whip him. Scout would rather have Atticus angry with Jem than have Jem get shot by Mr. Radley. Scout says to Jem, “It’s not like he’d never speak to you again or somethin’ . . .” (Lee 75). Scout is more afraid of the Radleys than she is of Atticus. Jem is willing to risk getting shot in order to avoid having Atticus find out he lied. This quote also shows how the relationship between Jem and Scout has changed over the summer. Jem says, “Scout, I’m tellin’ you for the last time, shut your trap or go home- I declare to the Lord you’re gettin’ more like a girl every day,” (Lee 69). When they were younger, Jem and Scout would put on plays together and play together with Dill. Neither of them did anything alone. They attended the same school and passed by Boo Radley’s house together. During their summer with Dill, however, Scout started to become distant from Dill and Jem. Jem is changing and is beginning to see the world differently from Scout.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI also believe that not only was this a moment where they disagreed, but maybe also where they began to grow apart. The disagreement begins it all, and then they start to grow up and make more of their own decisions from then on. On page 75, Scout says, "Sometimes I did not understand him, but my periods of bewilderment were short lived. This was beyond me" (Lee, 75). Scout begins to realize that she cannot control what Jem does anymore, and that they can't always agree. As Jem and Scout grow up, they also grow apart, having different opinions and not trying to control one another as much anymore.
ReplyDeleteFor me, the first example tthat I thought about is in chapter two when Scout starts school for the first time. Jem tells Scout that she shouldn't talk to him about anything, especially what they do outside of school. This is a big change for Scout, whose only entertainment and frendship in her life has been Jem. So I think that school drives them apart a bit.
ReplyDeleteFor me, the first example tthat I thought about is in chapter two when Scout starts school for the first time. Jem tells Scout that she shouldn't talk to him about anything, especially what they do outside of school. "Sometimes I did not understand him, but my periods of bewilderment were short lived. This was beyond me" (Lee, 75) This is a big change for Scout, whose only entertainment and frendship in her life has been Jem. So I think that school drives them apart a bit.
ReplyDelete