Boo (Arthur) Radley, Maycomb Boogie Man
Written by Alec, Jessie, Anonymous, Anonymous
Boo Radley is thought of as a night prowler, a cat eater and a skeleton like ghost of a person. The citizens of Maycomb spread rumors about him which are passed from generation to generation. Many of these rumors are completely false. He lives in the “Radley Place” next door to the Finches in a rundown old house. Never seen in public, the citizens of Maycomb hardly believe that he still is alive. Boo Radley is not thought of as a person to the citizens of Maycomb he is thought of as an outsider.
Boo Radley is a foil for Tom Robinson. Throughout the book there are many examples of when Boo Radley mirrors Tom Robinson. One example is when Jem and Scout tell Dill about Miss Stephanie Crawford’s run in with Boo Radley. “She woke up in the middle of the night one time and saw him looking straight through the window at her… said his head was like a skull lookin’ at her’” (Lee 13). This is like the time when Mrs. Dubose made fun of Scout and Jem about Atticus defending Tom. Mrs. Dubose does not see Tom Robinson as a person, she is sees him as “trash” (102). This shows Boo being a foil for Tom because they are not viewed as people. Another example is when Boo want s to say goodbye to Jem. Scout says to Boo “You’d like to say good night to Jem, wouldn’t you, Mr. Arthur? Come right in” (277). This shows how now that Scout has gotten to know Boo she thinks of him as more human because she called him Mr. Arthur instead of Boo. This is a lot like the time when Dill got angry because of how Tom Robinson was treated in the courtroom. This shows that Dill is seeing Tom as a human because he is saying that he deserves rights and fairness just like anyone else. The kids views of both men started as monsters or inhuman, but now they see them both as human beings.
Boo Radley lives in reclusion inside his family’s old run-down house. His father was a foot-washing Baptist and according to Miss Maudie “foot-washers believe anything that’s pleasure is a sin,” (44).
His father’s lifestyle and religious views could have an effect on Boo’s lifestyle choices. As time progresses Jem believes he know why Boo Radley stays inside. He told scout, “I think I’m beginning to understand why Boo Radley stayed shut up his house all this time… it’s because he wants to stay inside,” (227). Later in the book Scout meets Boo Radley, and she can tell he had not sees the sun. He had “sickly white hands that had never seen the sun…” (270) she said.
Boo Radley plays a large part in the conflict between Bob Ewell, Jem, and Scout. On their way home from a school play Jem and Scout are passing by the big oak. Bob had been sitting in wait for them and attacked Jem and Scout. Scout falls and hears him fighting with Jem. The fighting sounds as though it is over until the point Scout hears a crack then Jem scream before passing out. Bob goes after Scout and is ripped away. Scout hears, “a man heavily breathing,” (262). Thinking it is Jem she calls out hoping to find him in the darkness. Scout later hears, “a man groan, then a dragging sound,” (262). She stumbles to the road seeing a figure carrying Jem’s unconscious body home. Boo saved Scout and Jem from being killed by Bob Ewell. In this conflict Boo uses all his strength to protect Jem and Scout from a drunken Bob Ewell. He succeeds and becomes good friends with the Finches.
In conclusion Boo Radley is not a night prowler, a cat eater, and a skeleton like ghost of a person. Boo Radley is a foil to Tom Robinson, because they are both not seen as a human being. His ather has taught him that pleasure is a sin; therefore he spends all day light ours indoors. In the middle of conflict he shows true strength and determination when he without hesitating put his life on the line to protect Jem and Scout. Lastly, Boo Radley is just an average citizen of Maycomb and is not what any of the other citizens believe him to be.
Boo Radley is a foil for Tom Robinson. Throughout the book there are many examples of when Boo Radley mirrors Tom Robinson. One example is when Jem and Scout tell Dill about Miss Stephanie Crawford’s run in with Boo Radley. “She woke up in the middle of the night one time and saw him looking straight through the window at her… said his head was like a skull lookin’ at her’” (Lee 13). This is like the time when Mrs. Dubose made fun of Scout and Jem about Atticus defending Tom. Mrs. Dubose does not see Tom Robinson as a person, she is sees him as “trash” (102). This shows Boo being a foil for Tom because they are not viewed as people. Another example is when Boo want s to say goodbye to Jem. Scout says to Boo “You’d like to say good night to Jem, wouldn’t you, Mr. Arthur? Come right in” (277). This shows how now that Scout has gotten to know Boo she thinks of him as more human because she called him Mr. Arthur instead of Boo. This is a lot like the time when Dill got angry because of how Tom Robinson was treated in the courtroom. This shows that Dill is seeing Tom as a human because he is saying that he deserves rights and fairness just like anyone else. The kids views of both men started as monsters or inhuman, but now they see them both as human beings.
Boo Radley lives in reclusion inside his family’s old run-down house. His father was a foot-washing Baptist and according to Miss Maudie “foot-washers believe anything that’s pleasure is a sin,” (44).
His father’s lifestyle and religious views could have an effect on Boo’s lifestyle choices. As time progresses Jem believes he know why Boo Radley stays inside. He told scout, “I think I’m beginning to understand why Boo Radley stayed shut up his house all this time… it’s because he wants to stay inside,” (227). Later in the book Scout meets Boo Radley, and she can tell he had not sees the sun. He had “sickly white hands that had never seen the sun…” (270) she said.
Boo Radley plays a large part in the conflict between Bob Ewell, Jem, and Scout. On their way home from a school play Jem and Scout are passing by the big oak. Bob had been sitting in wait for them and attacked Jem and Scout. Scout falls and hears him fighting with Jem. The fighting sounds as though it is over until the point Scout hears a crack then Jem scream before passing out. Bob goes after Scout and is ripped away. Scout hears, “a man heavily breathing,” (262). Thinking it is Jem she calls out hoping to find him in the darkness. Scout later hears, “a man groan, then a dragging sound,” (262). She stumbles to the road seeing a figure carrying Jem’s unconscious body home. Boo saved Scout and Jem from being killed by Bob Ewell. In this conflict Boo uses all his strength to protect Jem and Scout from a drunken Bob Ewell. He succeeds and becomes good friends with the Finches.
In conclusion Boo Radley is not a night prowler, a cat eater, and a skeleton like ghost of a person. Boo Radley is a foil to Tom Robinson, because they are both not seen as a human being. His ather has taught him that pleasure is a sin; therefore he spends all day light ours indoors. In the middle of conflict he shows true strength and determination when he without hesitating put his life on the line to protect Jem and Scout. Lastly, Boo Radley is just an average citizen of Maycomb and is not what any of the other citizens believe him to be.