Boo Radley Character Analysis Essay

Gabrielle Wright

Honors 10, 3rd hour

1/30/23

Character Analysis

“...his hands were bloodstained… There was a long jagged scar that ran across his face; what teeth he had were yellow and rotten; his eyes popped, and he drooled most of the time” (Lee, 13). Although he was only seen once throughout the story, Arthur “Boo” Radley is crucial to the plot of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Roughly 30 years prior to the novel’s beginning, he was locked inside for trouble with the law. Jean Louise “Scout” Finch and Jeremy Atticus “Jem” Finch wanted their neighbor Boo to come out of hiding. As the book progresses, Jem and Scout forget about their plans; however, Boo is brought back to their attention when he finally shows himself. Despite the rumors

Scout observed, “The boy had on shorts, and a shock of soapy hair fell to his eyebrows. I looked up at Jem. A point of straight brown hair kicked downwards from his part… The girl-doll wore bangs. So did I” (Lee, 60). Boo had seldom seen the children face-to-face, yet accurately depicted them in their respective sculptures, even including traits of Jem that his own sister had never noticed. Later on, when Jem was unconscious, Boo petted his hair. Their father Atticus did the same not long before, and Scout reveals it as his only exhibit of affection. Boo likely watched this happen and saw it as an opportunity to show affection toward Jem. The most significant instance was during Miss Maudie’s housefire. Scout realized as she watched, “...but I became aware that I was slowly freezing where I stood” (Lee, 70). Afterward, Atticus says, “‘Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you didn't know it when he put the blanket around you’” (Lee, 72). Scout herself didn't notice that she was cold, but Boo did and gave her his blanket. Giving up his secrecy to help Scout after noticing she was troubled also shows his caring

He first displayed this when he left gifts in a tree for Jem and Scout. After school one day, the Finchs decided, “Our biggest prize appeared four days later. It was a pocket watch that wouldn’t run, on a chain with an aluminum knife… Atticus said it would probably be worth ten dollars, knife, chain, and all, if it were new” (Lee, 60-61). Some gifts, such as a pocket watch or spelling bee medal, were special or expensive, and likely his own possessions. This kindness was revealed again by him stitching up Jem’s torn pants and leaving them on the fence. Even though Jem snuck into the Radleys’ yard, Boo spent his time repairing the pants and putting them somewhere Jem could easily find. The most important example of kindness is Boo saving Jem and Scout from Bob Ewell. Scout sensed, “Suddenly he was jerked back-wards and flung on the ground, almost carrying me with him… the man began moving around, as if searching for something. I heard him groan and pull something heavy along the ground” (Lee, 262). Boo protected Scout when she was attacked, then carried injured Jem home in spite of him being too heavy to hold. Protecting the children put his life and legal security in danger, as he could have been arrested for manslaughter, but proved he had a good