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Post by Elena Dunz on Jul 19, 2016 17:41:14 GMT
(I apologize that this is not under my account. This site won't let me log in.) So I remembered back to the beginning of the book when we were first introduced to Charles Baker Harris (Dill) . He stated his name and then immediately said that he could read. I feel like this is his way of saying 'Please accept me. Look at how good I am.' He just wants to be accepted. It's like in Harry Potter how Draco Malfoy says his last name first to show that he has power. Ron says his first name first because he has always been made fun of for his last name and how Harry says his first name first because he doesn't want all of the attention or people to worship him and whatnot.
What do you all think?
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isaacthompson
New Member
“Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.” ― Harper Lee
Posts: 11 
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Post by isaacthompson on Jul 20, 2016 14:45:39 GMT
Nice allusion!
This also reminds of the beginning of the Lord of the Flies.
Dill introduces himself as Charles Baker Harris, just like Piggy introduces himself as Piggy, but they both have different outcomes. Scout thinks his name is too long so Dill says to call him Dill. Piggy gets branded as the fat pig-like boy once again.
Dill's nickname fits his character as well. It's short and easy to say. Dill is short and easy-going.
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Post by angelinablanco on Jul 20, 2016 17:09:05 GMT
(I apologize that this is not under my account. This site won't let me log in.) So I remembered back to the beginning of the book when we were first introduced to Charles Baker Harris (Dill) . He stated his name and then immediately said that he could read. I feel like this is his way of saying 'Please accept me. Look at how good I am.' He just wants to be accepted. It's like in Harry Potter how Draco Malfoy says his last name first to show that he has power. Ron says his first name first because he has always been made fun of for his last name and how Harry says his first name first because he doesn't want all of the attention or people to worship him and whatnot. What do you all think? I think that Dill immediately saying he can read could have two completely different meanings. You have to remember that Dill doesn't live in Maycomb and therefore he could just be trying to fit in with the people in his new summer home. Or Dill could also have done this because he is proud that he can read and thinks of it as an asset that separates him from the others. |
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Post by madisondobson on Jul 23, 2016 19:12:38 GMT
I agree with Angelina. Dill could be saying this to fit in but also to separate him. I also think he may think he's better than Scout and Jem because of his ability to read. Since he is from a whole other town, this might make him feel as if he has power over them because of his "special" ability that the two don't have a very high reading ability.
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Post by annalandolfi on Jul 24, 2016 19:31:33 GMT
I feel that Dill is just has a "large personality" as we clearly see later in the novel as we get to know him more. I think his reasons for introducing himself in this way was to make an impression, intimidate, as well, it gives great insight into his character of boldness,and strong influence and opinion.
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Post by dianadelvalle on Jul 27, 2016 15:41:12 GMT
Dill had grown with his mother and no father, so the dynamics of his household were already out of balance; his mother would have to work to take care of him, probably leaving him alone for extended periods of time. Then, he was sent to his aunt, Miss Rachel, so at this point he must have felt like no one really needed him. When he met Jem and Scout, he must have had this in mind and told them his proud accomplishment of literacy. They take this comment and shoot back one about his small stature, something he must get teased for often. Later in the novel, we see that Dill has a habit of weaving tall-tales and lies to make his life seem more interesting than it actually is. When his mother and new father neglect to care for him as something worthwhile, he ran away and straight for his friends who he knew cared about him.
Dill is insecure and small in multiple ways, so he must have wanted someone to think him important. That someone happened to be the only kids in the nieghborhood, Jem and Scout. I don't think he finds himself above anyone or very special; he just wants others to think it.
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Post by torytherit on Jul 31, 2016 16:16:19 GMT
I agree with Elena. His statement about reading is odd but it seems more like a grasping for power, respect, and identity more than anything. Dill's home life is somewhat of a mystery. However, we find that he is "passed around from relative to relative" from Scout's cousin at Christmas. I think that growing up moving between his family family relatives and his aunt's house every summer has mad him feel inferior in a way and he uses his education as a way to assert his importance.
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Post by noahenoch on Aug 1, 2016 4:40:43 GMT
In my opinion, I don't think Dill was old enough to feel like he needed to prove himself to fit in with Jem and Scout. However, I do believe Dill was just being arrogant, which a lot of kids his age do. Rather than feeling a need to fit in I believe Dill was just strutting his stuff in front on Jem and Scout. I say this because when Jem and Scout make fun of Dill for his short height he is undeterred and continues being the same old Dill.
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Post by rykerseats on Aug 5, 2016 22:47:01 GMT
I agree with Elena. When Dill stated that he was trying to make himself look good. If Scout and Jem did not know how to read at the time it might have not gone over well because that would made him sound very cocky.
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Post by isabellalyda on Aug 9, 2016 3:25:50 GMT
Yes, I agree that Dill mentioned he could read when he first introduced himself to impress his new friends. This topic reminded me of when Scout first started school and she was ahead of all her classmates. Atticus taught her to read at home, but her teacher was more disappointed and worried than impressed. It has me thinking that maybe during the time the book is set, reading was not something everyone could do. Maybe African Americans were not taught to read, or maybe not everyone could read where Dill lived. He must have used this line to impress his friends because it was a big deal back then.
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Post by kassidydye on Aug 11, 2016 22:54:00 GMT
Charles Backer Harris (Dill) is a very unique and interesting character in my opinion. He has a great personality. Having him live with his mom with no dad is probably really hard and is stressful on him but he look at the bright side and finds positivity around him. He comes to Maycomb every summer to live with his Aunt. He just relaxes and enjoys his summers without worrying about anything.
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Post by jeresabarnett42 on Aug 12, 2016 18:10:18 GMT
I agree with the statement that Dill states that he can read to make an impression. It is evident even in the beginning that he wants to impress people, which is shown by him telling lies. I believe that he wanted to impress Jem and Scout, maybe in hopes that they would befriend him.
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Post by sierrameisner on Aug 15, 2016 1:31:12 GMT
I do not personally believe that Dill did this to show off or to prove himself, but instead because he just plain and simple is a compulsive liar.Further on in the novel, he goes to tell them grand stories of how he did things like travel the world and many different descriptions of his "father", all that clash against one another.
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Post by michaelamiles on Aug 21, 2016 18:03:47 GMT
I agree with Sierra, he constantly lies. Mostly because he wants to seem like more than everyone else he wants people to see him as superior so that they wont mess with him/ wont want to.
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Post by marliegroshans on Aug 22, 2016 2:05:41 GMT
Dill could have two reasons to showing off his ability to read like Angelina said. He could be showing off his "accomplishment" of being able to read, or he could be trying to recieve acceptance and praise from these new people that he has never met. But either way, he wants to befriend Jem and Scout and is using his ability to read to make a bridge between the three.
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