Do You Think Boo Radley Still Alive

Josh Dudovitz

Mrs. Kennedy

English 8, Period 6

1 March 2016

To Kill A Mockingbird Essay

The book To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in the 1930’s. In this novel, Harper Lee uses signposts and craft moves such as tough questions, contrasts and contradictions, and symbolism throughout this book to try to build up a mood. During the 1930’s Aafrican Aamerican people were not treated as equals and did not have the same rights as white people. Scout and Jem’s dad, Atticus Finch takes a case where he defends an African American man, Tom Robinson, who was accused of rape by a white woman. This was not looked on highly and people were not supportive of his decision to support a black man. This is the backdrop of the story. The author takes us through

One example is seen on page 57 when Scout was talking to Miss Maudie. “Do you think Boo Radley is still alive.” (pg 57). This shows that Scout has developed a curiosity for Boo Radley from hearing stories about him. This sets the mood in the book of curiosity, which eventually leads the kids to go in search for Boo Radley to see if he is still alive. There is another tough question in this novel on page 101 when Atticus was explaining why he wanted to take this case and help the African American Tom Robinson. “Atticus we going to win it.’ ‘No, honey’ ‘Then why’ - ‘Simply because we licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win. ” (pg 101). The mood of hope is created as we see Atticus explain that all people are equal and how he wants to help Tom Robinson win his case to prove his

WOn page 96 when Atticus was talking about how Boo Radley had comforted Scout and how she will understand when she is older. “Someday, maybe, Scout can thank him for covering her up. ‘Thank who?’ I asked. ‘Boo Radley you were busy looking at the fire you did not know it when he put the blanket around you.” (pg 96). This scene develops the mood of compassion and humanity in the novel. Here the character Boo Radley is seen as a compassionate man and he helps to save Scout from the fire. He provided Scout with a comfortable blanket and took her out of the way of the fire. Another contrast and contradiction that Harper Lee uses to build a mood occurswas on page 144 when Atticus was explaining to Scout about why he chose this case and how it is good to help African American people. “Scout, said Atticus ni**** lover is just one of those terms that do not mean anything.” (pg 144). This sets a mood in this book because at this time it the accepted norm for a white person to help a black person. Atticus shows his indifference to this attitude by being a reasonable and understanding person. He explains to Scout why it is okay to ignore something if it is wrong and do the correct thing, which in this situation is to help another human being regardless of the color of his