Towards the end of Chapter 4, the children play a game in which they act out various parts of Boo Radley's life story. Scout describes it as a "melancholy drama," created from bits and pieces of rumors and neighborhood legend. They named the play "One Man's Family," and during Boo's big scene, Jem would sneak into the house and steal Calpurnia's scissors to reenact the time Boo stabbed his father in the leg for no...
Towards the end of Chapter 4, the children play a game in which they act out various parts of Boo Radley's life story. Scout describes it as a "melancholy drama," created from bits and pieces of rumors and neighborhood legend. They named the play "One Man's Family," and during Boo's big scene, Jem would sneak into the house and steal Calpurnia's scissors to reenact the time Boo stabbed his father in the leg for no reason. Dill played the role of Mr. Radley in the scene, and he would casually walk past Jem, and Jem would "fake plunge" the scissors into Dill's thigh. Scout mentioned that one day they were so engrossed in playing "One Man's Family," that Atticus walked by and asked what they were doing. Jem told him, "Nothing" (Lee 53). Atticus continued to question Jem about what he was doing with the scissors and why he was tearing up the newspaper, and Jem responded by saying, "Nothing," again (Lee 53). Atticus took the scissors and asked if their "game" had anything to do with the Radleys. Jem turned red and said, "No sir" (Lee 53). Atticus said, "I hope it doesn't," and walked inside the house (Lee 54).
Atticus was skeptical about Jem's explanation and doesn't believe Jem when he said that the game had nothing to do with the Radleys. Atticus took the scissors as a precaution, and Scout realized that her father suspected that Jem was lying. After Atticus left, Jem candidly explained to Scout that Atticus technically never said they had to stop playing, but Scout refused to play anymore because she feared that they would all get into trouble.
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