Similarities Between Boo Radley And Farewell To Manzanar

When reading To Kill a Mockingbird, and Farewell to Manzanar, the identicality of the two novels can be recognised if one explores the character's reputations problems and the environment they live in. Two distinct situations where this exists is between Boo Radley and Jeanne Wakatsuki. Boo Radley’s and Jeanne Wakatsuki's differences and similarities are manifested through their reputations, problems, and the environment they live in.

Boo’s and Jeanne’s reputation is a key feature to identifying their role and purpose in their novel. Boo Radley’s entire reputation is formed by society being afraid of the unknown: “...he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch...” (Lee 16). This quote helps illustrate this fear society has of the

Boo Radley has had many problems throughout his life. His confinement has made him unable to express himself to the world creating a very tepid personality. Boo Radley “had not made a sound.” (Lee 371). This quote shows how one’s entire personality can be altered; from a ‘menace’ to society to the most quiet person in town. Jeanne Wakatsuki's situation was polar to that of Boo’s. Jeanne started off as a modest girl with no real problems, to a member of a war plagued America who faces discrimination, hate, and distrust from those who don’t understand her. Jeanne announced in her novel: “This sort of treatment did not discourage me. I was used to it.”(Houston 122) This shows the shaping of Jeanne’s personality. All the troubles she goes through sets the mindset and personality Jeanne has. No matter what situation you are in, that situation will impact you, revealing your true personality and

For most of all of Boo’s life, he has been locked away in his house, shunned from the outside world. This has influenced his actions in many ways. One of those times was when“Mr. Radley passed by, Boo drove the scissors into his parents leg,...” (Lee 13). Boo’s confinement has made him go somewhat insane. This insanity has influenced his actions such as stabbing his father with scissors. Jeanne, also confined to and isolated from the outside world has been influenced by her environment. Throughout the novel she consistently struggles with the events at manzanar, her identity, and what others think of her. The racial separation made her believe that their was something wrong with her and her race when she went to Manzanar. She has experienced much guilt even thirty plus years after the events at manzanar. Jeanne stated at the end of the novel that she “...no longer wanted to lose it or have those years erased. Having found it, I could say what you can only say when you’ve truly come to know a place: Farewell.” ( Houston 140). This quote shows great meaning in this novel because Jeanne finally accepts that Manzanar is apart of who she is, a piece of her identity. Although Manzanar was not a bright time in her life, she learns to let it go. No matter if the environment you are in is bad like Boo’s and Jeanne’s, it is apart of who you