Ruby; How can I update the nested hashes in this one? - ruby

Question

Sorry, it's a little bit too long. I need to change the status of :hero and :heroine to "dead"
def update_status
epic_tragedy = {
:montague => {
:patriarch => {name: "Lord Montague", age: "53"},
:matriarch => {name: "Lady Montague", age: "54"},
:hero => {name: "Romeo", age: "15", status: "alive"},
:hero_friends => [
{name: "Benvolio", age: "17", attitude: "worried"},
{name: "Mercutio", age: "18", attitude: "hot-headed"}
]
},
:capulet => {
:patriarch => {name: "Lord Capulet", age: "50"},
:matriarch => {name: "Lady Capulet", age: "51"},
:heroine => {name: "Juliet", age: "15", status: "alive"},
:heroine_friends => [
{name: "Steven", age: "30", attitude: "confused"},
{name: "Nurse", age: "44", attitude: "worried"}
]
}
}
I did add the code below inside the method but it shows error.
epic_tragedy[:montague][:hero][:status] = "dead"
epic_tragedy[:capulet][:hero][:status] = "dead"
Is there any additional step before I put those lines?

Answer 1

epic_tragedy is a local variable within the method definition. Such local variables cannot be accessed from outside the method.
However, the hash is returned when the method is executed, so try
h = update_status
#=> {:montague=>{
# :patriarch=>{:name=>"Lord Montague", :age=>"53"},
# :matriarch=>{:name=>"Lady Montague", :age=>"54"},
# :hero=>{:name=>"Romeo", :age=>"15", :status=>"alive"},
# :hero_friends=>[
# {:name=>"Benvolio", :age=>"17", :attitude=>"worried"},
# {:name=>"Mercutio", :age=>"18", :attitude=>"hot-headed"}
# ]
# },
# :capulet=>{
# :patriarch=>{:name=>"Lord Capulet", :age=>"50"},
# :matriarch=>{:name=>"Lady Capulet", :age=>"51"},
# :heroine=>{:name=>"Juliet", :age=>"15", :status=>"alive"},
# :heroine_friends=>[
# {:name=>"Steven", :age=>"30", :attitude=>"confused"},
# {:name=>"Nurse", :age=>"44", :attitude=>"worried"}
# ]
# }
# }
h[:montague][:hero][:status] = "dead"
h[:capulet][:heroine][:status] = "dead"
h #=> {:montague=>{
# :patriarch=>{:name=>"Lord Montague", :age=>"53"},
# :matriarch=>{:name=>"Lady Montague", :age=>"54"},
# :hero=>{:name=>"Romeo", :age=>"15", :status=>"dead"},
# :hero_friends=>[
# {:name=>"Benvolio", :age=>"17", :attitude=>"worried"},
# {:name=>"Mercutio", :age=>"18", :attitude=>"hot-headed"}
# ]
# },
# :capulet=>{
# :patriarch=>{:name=>"Lord Capulet", :age=>"50"},
# :matriarch=>{:name=>"Lady Capulet", :age=>"51"},
# :heroine=>{:name=>"Juliet", :age=>"15", :status=>"dead"},
# :heroine_friends=>[
# {:name=>"Steven", :age=>"30", :attitude=>"confused"},
# {:name=>"Nurse", :age=>"44", :attitude=>"worried"}
# ]
# }
# }