Josh+Matt

**February 17, 1-5 ** ** J- Hey Matt, this is your partner Josh. What do you think of the book so far, I think it is interesting. I think the Ewells are very interesting. It is kind of weird that they live like animals. (33,34) I wonder how they got to where they are no, what do you think about these characters?? ** **M- Hey Josh. I agree with you that Ewells could be an interesting group of characters because it say on the very first page that it was the Ewells fault that Jem broke his arm (3). I also think that Boo Radley is a real person because some of the older people remember him (48-50) and I just dont think that he died, because he plays too big of a role in the story. J- I think your perspective on boo radley is interesting, and I agree with it. Also on page 3, Dill gave them the idea of making boo radely come out of hidding, do you think that that has any signifigance to later on in the book?

M- I think that Dill giving them the idea of making Boo Radley come out does have a significant effect on the book. I just havent figured out how yet, but I think that Boo Radley might have some effect on the kids. I find something interesting in the book and that is the respect that the kids and even the adults show to each other. They are always polite by calling there father Sir (54), however as polite and respectful as most everyone in the book seems to be there is still that racism and hatefulness. I find this interesting because they are way more respectful then than we are today but we are not so hateful. What is your oponion on this? J- Yes, I agree that Boo Radley coming out would have an effect on the kids. As for when you say how polite they re being, I think most of them are kind to each other, but not to the poor, or black people.

M- I would disagree with your thinking that the poor and black people are not respectful. My reasons for this is mainly Walter Cunningham is poorer that dirt but is just as respectful as Scout and Jem, when he calls Miss Caroline "Ma'am" and is very polite to her (22-24). Also Cal is very respectful to there guest, Walter when he comes over (26-28). So overall I think that it was just a different times and the ways they did things were different from now.

February 29, 6-10

J- When winter comes early in Maycomb, it seems to me that Mr. Avery is telling Scout and Jem, that it is their fault. "When children disobeyed their parents, smoked cigarettes and made war on each other, would change" (72) Later on in that paragraph it said that Jem and Scout were burdened with guilt. Why do you think Mr. Avery is telling them this, does this have to do with the death of Mrs. Radley?

M- I think that Mr. Avery is just looking for someone to blame. I dont think that he is actually blaming them for it, just sort of teasing them. However Jem and Scout feel guilty because they had been making fun of the Radley's, (57-60) and I think that they feel bad because of it, so I dont think it has any real signifacance of Mrs. Radley's death. I was wondering why you think that Mr. Radley filled that hole with cement? I think its because he doesnt want Arthur coming out of the house, and I do think that it was Arthur who put stuff in the hole. What are your opinions on this and do you think the stuff put in the hole has any significance?

J- The reason for Mr. Radley filling the whole with cement is, he knows its them. I also agree with the thought of he doesn't want Arthur to come out of the house. (57-60)

M- Why do you think Boo Radley put the blanket on Scout (81-82) and do you think it has any significance?

J- I don't think it has a later significance to the book, I think he just did it without thinking. Why do you think scout is so prone to fighting (85)?

M- I think that Scout is so prone to fighting and fights alot because she tries to prove to Jem that she isnt a girl, and wants to prove that she is tough and is a boy. Even though i think that she is starting to come more comfortable with her being a girl, but not all the way.

Chat 3 11-16

J- Jem is starting to become a man, I wonder if he is going to take everything so seriously. (131) It says he is growing a lot, do you think he will act more like Atticus?

M- I dont think that Jem will neccessarily be more like Atticus, just because he is such a good hearted person that it would be difficult for anyone to be like him. I think that Jem is just starting to not be interested in childrens games. I wonder if he is going to lose that innocence that is so present in the children in this book, what do you think about this? I think that Jem just likes new and different things (131-132).

J- I agree with you that Jem won't like the childhood games as much, but how did Atticus become so nice? Maybe because him and his wife were from a little farther north.

M- I do agree with the idea that Atticus is so different because he went away up north for college. I wondered what you thought about Aunt Alexandra coming to visit. I think that it was her idea more than Atticus just because right away when she arrives she acts like a snob and bossed Cal around (144). This makes me think that she probably wasnt invited by Atticus. what do you think?

J- Yeah, I don't have a good feeling about Aunt Alexandra. I think she might affect the desisions of Scout and Jem in a negative way later on. I'm glad that I don't have an Aunt that is as mean as her. I hope she doesn't try to rule the household later on. I wonder if it will affect Atticus' trial?

M- Well I'm still curious about how the case will go. I mean its hard to relate the racism that goes on in this book to our life. There are so many things in this book that we just couldnt imagine saying, like "Colored Folks dont show their age so fast." (142). I just cant imagine people talking like that now. I wonder if the jury will be rasict because now it just seems that Mr. Ewell wouldnt even have a case. What are your thoughts on how the rasicm in this book is so different/or not from out lives today?

Chat 4-5 17-

J- Why do you think that Atticus asks Mayelle so many questions? does he think she will crack? I'm not too surprised that she "raped" Tom Robinson instead of the other way around. What do you think?

M- Haha I like how you put it; "raped". I dont think thats how the court see's it. I think that we find something about Atticus that is new, or a different perspective that we have seen before. He is more serious and, while still respecting Mayelle is forcing her to say things. I think she already did crack. I was wondering if you understood why Atticus unbuttoned his shirt and "loosened" up before his final statement? (230)

J- I was pondering why he loosened up his shirt before the final statement. I think it was because he was really nervous, he new he was right, but he new the jury wouldn't. When Dill got "emotional" during the trial, is it important that they ran into an adult outside?

M- I think that Dill getting emotional is very important. It shows how innocent that children are. There are many examples of innocence in this book, which is what I think that this book is all about. You know how Atticus says "Shoot all the Bluejays you want, if you can catch them. But remember its a sin to kill a mockingbird." He says this because all they do is make beautiful music.

J- I agree, I think it is very interesting on how he says this because all they do is make beautiful music. I think that means, they didn't do anything wrong but they are being punished.

M- I think there are 3 other things in the book that represent innocence other than the children, and how they all (or maybe all) get killed. First one is Tom Robinson, he didnt do anything wrong other than try to help out, he was innocent yet he ended up dead, a mockingbird was killed.

J- Yeah, I didn't really understand why they killed a mockingbird, the mockingingbird was innocent just like Tom.

M- My second one is Boo Radley, he doesnt do anything other than mind his own buisness but people assume things and torment him because he is different.

J- I think that Boo Radley is kind of a fun joke to people. Some don't think he is real, and some people make up crazy things about him, what is your third?

M- My third thing in the book that represents innocence is the tree that had the hole in it that Nathan Radley filled up with cement. Now the tree wasnt doing anything except providing shade and oxygen. However since Mr. Radley filled that whole up with cement Scout said that the place around the hole was turning yellow (278). I assume that this means that it is dying and there is another example of someone killing a mockingbird.

J- It is interesting how so many things in this book relate to innocent things dying or getting hurt, and a loss of innocence. If you think about it, it is really sad. What did you think about the end of the book, and the controversal killing of Bob Ewell? M- The ending of the book to me was very interesting to me when Mr. Tate and Atticus are arguing about who killed Bob Ewell. I think that this is a very interesting point of view we get to see with Atticus. For once he is not calm and smart. He cant even remember how old Jem is (313), so I dont think that he is really thinking very clearly when he says Jem killed Bob Ewell. I think that it is pretty obvious that Arthur (Boo) killed Mr. Ewell. However this is the most interesting point when Mr. Tate denies that anyone killed Mr. Ewell and that he accidently killed himself (313). Atticus thinks that this is to protect Jem, but it is actually to protect Boo Radley. This shows an amazing change in Mr. Tate. In the begging he was very racist and prosecuted Tom Robinson. However he realizes that the killing on Tom Robinson was terrible, and he knew that Boo Radley would be prosecuted the same way by the town because he was different. That is why Mr. Tate makes up by the story about how Mr. Tate stumbled.

J- I think that When Atticus is not himself, it shows that even he lost his innocence. It also shows that even the most rational man in town can become stoop down to the level of everybody else. How do you think that the author Harper Lee portrayed this?

M- I would like to make one more connnection about how TKM relates to our discussions in LOTF. We talked about whether Golding thinks that there is hope for humanity. Now I think that Mr. Tate protecting Boo shows that Harper Lee (author) thinks that there is hope for humanity: If in town that prosecutes everyone for being different, someone who was on the side of prosecuting can come over and protect someone I think that Lee thinks that humanity can be saved.

Hey Josh & Matt -- you guys should make up the chat you missed when Matt was gone and stay current with the next chat. I'd encourage you to have 3 or so exchanges per chat, at least. Make sure that you are finding a way to link the book to your own lives, too -- think about what it reminds you of. **    -- Ms. C.