Arthur Radley, also known as ‘Boo Radley,’ for many years been described as a malevolent, dangerous, and scary man. But as time goes on, is Arthur as bad as the people of Maycomb describe him? The novel “To Kill a Mockingbird,” written by Harper Lee, is a story told by Scout Finch, a six-year-old living through the great depression in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama where her and her brother must mature fast when they experience the real world face-to-face. Arthur Radley is described as a scary figure by the people of Maycomb, but as the novel progresses, many perceptions of Arthur change for the better.
In the very first chapter of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Jem describes Arthur, “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, 16). This shows the rumors that were said about Arthur spread to the kids, and he is assumed to look like
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Arthur, hearing the commotion outside his home, immediately acts to save the children. He stabbed Bob Ewell and carried injured Jem to their home, Scout following close behind. “Thank you for my children, Arthur” -Atticus Finch (Lee, 370). During this chapter, Scout has been seen to warm up and be kind and comfortable with Arthur. “You’d like to say good night to Jem, wouldn’t you Mr. Arthur? Come right in” (Lee, 371) “...I took him by the hand, a hand surprisingly warm for its whiteness. I tugged him a little, and he allowed me to lead him to Jems bed” (Lee, 372). This shows that Scout realizes that Arthur Radley is not a threat or a monster like the town of Maycomb makes him out to be, or else she would not be so comfortable around him. This also shows that Arthur is not a malevolent monster, but a misunderstood man who has been shielded most his life because of a few mistakes he made as a