I thought about this and came across that there were two houses next to the oak tree, where the attack took place. One house was Miss Maudie's house and the other was the Radley's house. What was revealed was that the "country man" that saved Jem was Boo Radley. My theory is that the "kitchen knife" was Boo's knife. First, Bob Ewell would not have brought a large knife to kill children and would have been more discrete. Second, Bob Ewell "smelled stale whiskey," (352) meaning that he was drunk, and it would be hard for a drunk person to be walking around with a large knife, without dropping or messing with the knife. This is, to the fact that Ewell did not stab himself. I believe that Boo took a knife from his kitchen and heard Jem "holler." Boo saw that Bob Ewell was attacking the children and stabbed him "under the ribs."
Throughout To Kill a Mocking Bird Harper Lee has continuously portrayed Boo as a nice character. For example, Harper Lee had Boo lay a blanket around Scout's shoulders when she was cold. I think Boo was the savior of Jem (and Scout) to really emphasize the character that Boo is. Harper Lee is saying that you should not judge people on their reputation but their actions. Leading to a wider picture, people should be given the benefit of the doubt and not be assumed by "myths"and "rumors"is what Harper Lee is passing on to the readers.
What is your story about what happened under the Oak Tree? Would Boo Radley really kill another person? What is the significance of Bob Ewell smelling like whiskey? Why did not Bob Ewell go straight to Atticus and try to kill him? What does all of this show about Ewell?
I think that Bob Ewell really had no idea what was going on. Harper Lee has told us that he is a drunk and when he drinks, he drinks heavily. I think he was indeed planning on hurting the Finch kids somehow, and in his drunken mind, a knife was the way to go. I do think that it was Bob's "kitchen knife" but I also believe that Boo Radley was the one who killed him. This is just yet another symbol of Mr. Radley doing something nice for the kids. He killed Mr. Ewell out of kindness and thought for the Finch's, not to be a killer and to have the whole town of Maycomb hate him all over again. Harper Lee is really putting a strong symbolism that Boo is a nice man, not an evil man like they presumed him to be in the first few chapters in the book. What I thought was interesting, was that it did not take Scout long to figure out that it wasn't that "Atticus had come to help" (362). It was Boo Radley.
ReplyDeleteDo you think that Boo Radley was the one who killed Bob Ewell? Out of kindness or cruelty? Why?
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ReplyDeleteI think that Boo Radley was the one who killed Bob Ewell, but I do think that it was an act of self defense. I think that Boo Radley stabbed Bob to make sure that he wouldn't hurt Jem and Scout any more.
ReplyDeleteI also think that coldness of being under the oak tree was a foreshadow of something bad was going to happen that night because it is cold and dark and no under sun light, just darkness, and that is like the intentions of Bob Ewell when he wanted to kill Scout (out of guilt and anger, which are very dark emotions).
I Feel the reason that Bob Ewell did go for Atticus was because he doesn't have the Integrity, so he can't even be compared to Atticus. I Also feel that the kids are Atticus's Achilles heel or the only place he can really be "hurt". As an example, when Bob Ewell spits on Atticus all Atticus does is tell him not to chew tobacco. Bob Ewell clearly deduces from this that even if he hurts Atticus nothing will change between the two of them. The kids are Atticus's only weakness as we can see from the court case, Atticus shows a little angry from a man dying, but is fine the next morning. Imagine if Atticus's family was taken away from him, how would he react?
ReplyDeleteDo you feel Bob Ewell deserved to die? Do you think the book has hit the climax? Why? What do you think will happen next? why?
I feel like Bob Ewell had it coming for himself to be honest. He knew he was drinking and when drunk is so fragile to even walk. Even though he is so fragile i believe that Boo still killed Bob Ewell just in protection to the city of Maycomb and recognizing that Bob is an obvious threat to the city with his stupidity. "Jem takes the blame" and makes Atticus not have him go through any other consequences in protection to Boo. If Atticus were to think its Boo he would probably arrest him but knowing that it was his son and that "he has a reasoning of it" makes Atticus have high morals.
ReplyDeleteDo you believe that the town will find out what really happened? Why do you think Harper Lee included this passage out of things and have Boo come in at this moment?
I disagree with Erica's comment pertaining to Boo's involvement in the death of Bob Ewell.
ReplyDeleteBoo Radley is represented as this pale, trembling, delicate almost, creature. He is, as Scout says, "as if he has never seen the sun" (298), a reason that leads to my doubt that Boo was able to raise a knife to stab Ewell; his hands being the ones that trembled even when simply making human contact.
Bob Ewell went for Atticus because he felt he had been shamed by him. Ewell felt that Atticus had humiliated him in front the entire court, and this was his way of showing Atticus not to mess with him. I don't believe the thought of "integrity" (as 'Thomaster ManDILL' mentioned) ever crossed his mind. He was an impulsive sort of downright-dirty folk, and didn't seem to have given two thoughts about getting back at Atticus. The assault seemed to have shocked Atticus -proving that he is still, after all, human. Shaken by the nights events, Harper Lee introduces to us another side of Atticus. Every man has a weakness, and Atticus's is his family. Being the natural protector of the victimized and innocent, it would make sense for him to feel even more so protective of his children and relations.
In answer to Thomas's question, I do believe the book has finally reached its climax. Harper Lee has been building up to this moment in all the chapters before, and there is simply nothing else she can fit into the last few chapters except for Atticus preaching, conclusions, and a final ending. This is another reason I believe Harper Lee never wrote a sequel. It would not be possible, because she had already written the end. There is nothing left unresolved, and all motives are made clear.
Final questions:
What do you think Bob Ewell was thinking when he went out to attack the children? Do you think we will see anymore from the Ewells? Why might nothing but family be able to truly shake Atticus? How do you think Harper Lee might use this event to further mature Jem and Scout? After all, this book is still about the children growing up.