Topic 4: Examine and analyze the character Arthur “Boo” Radley.

Topic 4: Examine and analyze the character Arthur “Boo” Radley. What is his purpose in the novel—why does he exist? How would the story be different without him?

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Permalink Reply by The Authentic Socializer 9B on May 6, 2017 at 8:11pm

I disagree with you Cake that Boo Radley was scared. He is mostly shy because the way he whispers to Scout and walks to his home with her without saying a word shows shyness not being scared. He may be scared at some point because of the way society judges him but his actions show shyness. In the book To kill a mockingbird, Harper Lee writes “he would be sitting on the porch…Boo would feel more comfortable in the dark” (Lee 364). This shows that he would rather sit in the dark since no one can really see him. If he were to be scared, then he wouldn’t have been outside at all. But he stayed out even though it wasn’t long. Overall Boo Radley is a shy character which is shown by his shy actions.

Permalink Reply by Mavireck Apples 9c on May 7, 2017 at 3:50pm

I disagree with you cake becuase Boo radley is cheerful based on how he puts candy and toys for jem and scout. As Harper lee the auther of To Kill a Mockingbird states:"He gave us two soap dolls, a broken watch and chain, a pair of good-luck pennies, and our lives."(Lee 30). This shows that Boo is happy for them to come and he is cheerful. Plus his brother doesn't want him to get out but he wants to.

Permalink Reply by Cake 9A on May 7, 2017 at 6:54pm

Boo Radley giving Scout and Jem gifts wasn't about being cheerful. He was being kind, Harper Lee didn't state how Boo Radley felt when he gave them these gifts, in fact we never will knnow how Boo Radley felt in that moment.

Permalink Reply by Mavireck Apples 9c on May 7, 2017 at 7:07pm

Still no body would give anything without being happy, so you are telling me if you go up to a homeless man you would go at him with anger and throw your money at him. No you are going to be happy that you are giving good and helping others and getting ajar.

Permalink Reply by Categorize Fitness 9D on May 7, 2017 at 9:06am

I disagree with you Authentic Socilizer. I fell like it's a mixer of shyness and being scard. This is becuase Harper Lee writes “he would be sitting on the porch…Boo would feel more comfortable in the dark” (Lee 364). This shows that he's not just scard he's also shy. Don't you think shy and scard actually links together? Boo Radley is a very unique character. He's a type of character that allows the reader to think and draw conclusions.

Permalink Reply by Smiley 9A on May 7, 2017 at 7:29pm

I completely disagree that Arthur (Boo) Radley's purpose in the book is to be a role model figure for scout. Scout and Jem have many role model figures in their lives that Boo isn't needed. Furthermore, if Boo was Scout's "guide" through life, then what is he showing her? Is he teaching Scout to not fight back against those that are discriminating against her? That she should hide away in her house with fear at the slightest sign of trouble? Boo's character isn't there to model Scout's life, but he is there to teach us an important lesson; Do not judge a person based on an action, a rumor, or even one encounter. Boo shows his kindness through giving the kids gifts. Scout realizes at the end of the book that " (Boo) was real nice" (Lee 285). Even though Boo is nice that isn't his purpose. The purpose of Boo being kind is to show the kids that no matter what people say about people that isn't how you decipher your opinion on them. Your relationship with the person and how you get to know him/her should assist in how you think about him/her. Although, that doesn't mean you push your opinions onto others and start fallacious rumors about them because of a mistake or bad encounter. Boo was judged harshly, Scout stood on his porch, saw her life through his eyes and feel anything but disgust or hatred toward the misunderstood man nicknamed "Boo".

Permalink Reply by Infinite 9A on May 2, 2017 at 6:10pm

I feel that one of the purposes of the character Arthur "Boo" Radley is to teach understanding and acceptance, as well as sympathy. If Arthur was not in the story, Scout and Jem wouldn't have learned to accept others and learn not to judge others before being in their position. By getting to know Arthur little by little, Scout and Jem learn that there is another side to a person beside the rumors and gossip about them. Little by little, as Scout Jem and Dill take more interest in 'Boo' and hear more stories about him, Dill actually shows some sympathy towards him. In the book, To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Dill shows that he actually wants to get to know Arthur and that if he comes out to sit with them, he might feel better. Dill says, "Well how'd you feel if you'd been shut up for a hundred years with nothin' but cats to eat?" (Lee 47). This piece of evidence suggests that Dill feels some sympathy for Arthur and what he's gone through. He's trying to understand and imagine what it might feel like, and acting out the life of Arthur might be just the kid's way of trying to understand Boo. Later on in the story, Scout and Jem realize that Arthur is not like the image people created of him and is a human just like them.

Permalink Reply by Categorize Fitness 9D on May 2, 2017 at 7:35pm

I agree with you Infinite 9A. Harper Lee states " I wonder how many times Jem and I had made this journey, but I entered the Radley front gate for the second time in my life" (Lee 320). This clearly states the Jem and Scout was terrified to even step foot on Mr.Radley yard (before they actually figured out that he's actually a good person). The kids learn how to look past what others have said about him and too actually give him a chance. After all, Scout and Jem had a whole new interpretation about him and realized he's not so different after all.

Permalink Reply by Cranberry 9C on May 7, 2017 at 4:06pm

I agree with what you have to say Infinite, about Boo Radley's purpose in To Kill a MockingBird is to teach acceptance. Most characters in the book usually cant accept each others differences, and beliefs. Everyone except Atticus, judge based on biases, race, skin color, and pretty much about everything else. So Boo is that one character who just stays in house, who doesn't know anyone except Jem and Scout. Everyone thought he was a very creepy and scary person, including Jem and Scout, but after he had saved them, Scout had learned to accept him. "Atticus said you never really knew a man until you stand in his shoes. He was right" (Lee 373). This quote explains how Scout came to an understanding about Boo. She had finally accepted who he was, after she knew what he was going through. Everyone else in the book, can't accept each other, like how White people don't accept Black people, or like how everyone in Maycomb County does not accept Boo. And so, Boo taught Scout to not judge right away, and learn acceptance.

Permalink Reply by Infinite 9A on May 5, 2017 at 6:06pm

One of the purposes of Arthur Radley in the novel is to be someone that changes Scout and Jem's mindset regarding difference/anomalous behavior. They start to have more empathy and understanding towards people. He also makes them realize things that they would not think of, if Boo was not in the story. Early in the book, Atticus gives Scout a really important piece of advice, and that was: "You never really understand a person a person until you consider things from his point of view -- until you climb into his skin and walk around in it" (Lee 30). Scout actually applies this to her life at the end of the book when she tries to see how life was like in Boo's eyes all these years. At the end of the book - when Scout walks Arthur home, she says "Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough" (Lee 279). This piece of evidence shows how Scout used her father's advice to better understand how Arthur Radley felt. Scout might have never really took this piece of advice to heart without this experience with Boo Radley -- because many of us know that we should never judge anyone before we consider things from he/she's perspective, yet we rarely ever use this piece of advice. After Tom Robinson's trial, Jem comes to realization of the horrible and cruel actions that the Maycomb people have towards difference. Him and Scout start to view Boo Radley in a different way. After Tom's trial, Jem says, "Scout, I think I'm beginning to understand something. I think I'm beginning to understand why Boo Radley's stayed shut up in the house all this time...it's because he wants to stay inside" (Lee 227). This piece of evidence shows the sense of understanding Scout and Jem begin to have for Boo after experiencing the cruelty people can have towards people. They comprehend that sometimes people have their own reasons for doing what they do. Scout and Jem's mindset towards people changes as the story goes on and one of the reasons is because of Arthur Radley. The experience they had with him and seeing what's behind all the gossip and rumors expresses the major themes of the story.

Permalink Reply by Timid Math Wiz 9B on May 7, 2017 at 4:03pm

Without Arthur Radley, the book would be different. In the book, the children see Boo Radley as basically a monster- even though they never met him. when the kids were in danger at the end of the book, Boo helped and saved them. the character Boo shows while saving the kids was opposite of that they thought. Boo Radley was just like any of their neighbors. After Boo saved the children, Scout walked him home. "Arthur Radley [escorted scout] down the sidewalk, as any gentleman would do" (Lee 278). Boo walked with her, just like a "gentleman" would. in the beginning, the children would have never thought of Arthur as a gentleman, but they realize it at the end. this teaches the children to not judge someone without knowing them. without Arthur, they wouldn't have learned this lesson.

Permalink Reply by Mavireck Apples 9c on May 7, 2017 at 4:22pm

First they new he was a gentleman at the beginning of the chapter. When he put toys, candy, and other stuff in the tree. This showed that he is a kind monster that might not be an actual monster. That is how Boo Radley shows gentleman's act.