Post #6
TKAM
Chapters 16-19
Quote
Quote #5 Beginning of Chapter 19
As Tom Robinson gave his testimony, it came to me that Mayella Ewell must have been the loneliest person in the world. She was even lonelier than Boo Radley, who had not been out of the house in twenty-five years.
(This was when Jem, Dill, and Scout were watching Atticus talking to Tom Robinson during the trial)
Response
I though that it was weird that Boo Radley had become such a big part of the Finch’s life that Scout just used Boo as a person to compare other people to. At the same time Scout is using a proper metaphor, saying that Mayella is so lonely that she is more lonely that Boo is saying a lot. Considering how Boo acts Mayella wouldn’t only have to be lonely she would have to try desperately to try to be around other people.
Significance
This quote shows that Boo Radley and the Radley place, and the whole Radley family in general is slowing becoming part of the neighborhood and being known as just a normal person on the block, instead of a cooped up stranger who just happens to live on their block. I think that eventually Boo will come in with the next important event in the book and will play a role in what happens with that significant event.
Questions
- I personally think that Mayella was scared into saying that she was raped by her father and Tom didn’t actually rape her, what do you guys think happened that would make Mayella accuse Tom of rape?
- I have noticed that since Aunt Alexandra came, she hasn’t really been doing much to make Scout more of a women, in my opinion she is actually making her worse. What is your guys’ opinion on that?
