Boo Radley Essay

The clock ticks in your dark, secluded room. You are isolated from the world. People even question your existence. This description represents Arthur “Boo” Radley in the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. He is introduced as a mysterious figure with no connection to the outside world, and his existence fuels the curiosity of Scout and Jem Finch, the children in the neighborhood. Boo is a symbol of innocence, loneliness, and kindness, despite being a minor character. Although Boo does not make many appearances throughout the story, he is a fundamental character contributing to the novel’s many themes and the children’s welfare as the story develops. The innocence of a child is something that should be protected at all costs. Boo Radley

Towards the story’s beginning, Jem explains to Scout what the mysterious neighbor looks like. He described him as if he were a monster in a horror movie, saying things like “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, 12). As time progresses and we begin to know and understand Boo Radley’s character, we realize that he looks nothing like this. Although this may seem just like a generalized description, it represents how nobody truly knows who Boo is, let alone his appearance. In reality, it was not true; those rumors only spread because Boo Radley was incredibly lonely from a young age, and nobody got a chance to know him. There are many underlying themes of loneliness in the novel, and Boo is described as a monster is one of many actions that applies to it. Another scene that shows Boo’s true nature of being isolated is towards the end of the novel, after saving the children, when he shows his desire to return to his isolated nature. When Scout led him back to his house, she stated, “he was still holding my hand, and he gave no sign of letting me go. “Will you take me home?” He almost whispered it, in the voice of a child afraid of the dark” (Lee, 319). Boo was isolated and lonely for so long that even the littlest of social interactions made him shut down. He is overall a

Boo Radley shows himself as a symbolic character throughout the novel despite his little appearances, but each time he appears shows his sympathetic nature and contribution to the novel’s theme. Boo does many kind things for the children, but one that stands out is when he places the blanket around Scout. Jem begins to explain to her when they are outside, and Boo is the one who puts the blanket on her. “Someday, maybe, Scout can thank him for covering her up.” “Thank who?” I asked. “Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you did not know it when he put the blanket around you” (Lee, 81-82). At this point, all we know about Boo is that he indeed cares for the children but is still extremely shy and has not physically appeared yet. This massive act of kindness contributes to the theme significantly because it shows that Boo is stepping out of his comfort zone to help the children. As seen later in the novel, the littlest of social interaction with the Finch children made him anxious. This act is a considerable contribution to his sympathetic nature and the theme of kindness in the novel because it shows that he cares for the welfare of others, especially the children. Another scene that altered the overall perception of Boo and contributed to the novel’s theme was the killing of Bob Ewell. He was attacking the children, and Boo seeing this took his life