Ailsa Burke

To Kill a Mockingbird Character Analysis

What is a persons obligation to protect the innocent? What does that obligation mean? If
someone were in trouble, would a person stop to help, or would they turn the other way? In To Kill a
Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses multiple techniques to show how Arthur Boo Radley symbolizes the
mockingbird and proves the importance of people protecting the innocent. Lee shows Boos relation to
the mockingbird by explaining Boos innocence, the consequences of harassing him, and how people go
out of their way to protect him. In addition, Lee shows other similarities between Boo and the
mockingbird by his physical appearance, by finally showing Boo spreading his wings as a mockingbird
does to show his unique characteristics.
Throughout the entire book, Lee shows how Boo relates to the mockingbird in the sense that he
has never done anything to harm or bother anyone. Miss Maudie explains to Scout early on why Atticus
says that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird:
Mockingbirds dont do one thing except make music for us to enjoy. They dont eat up peoples
gardens, dont nest in corncribs, they dont do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. Thats why its a
sin to kill a mockingbird. (p.103) At the beginning of the book, the children believe that Boo stabbed his
father as an adolescent. However, when Scout asks Miss Maudie about this story she believes to be true,
Miss Maudie neither outright denies their accuracy nor affirms the tales, leaving room to infer that Boo
never stabbed his father. In the end of the book, Boo rescues Jem and Scout from Bob Ewells attack,
which displays Boos innocence.
As quoted above, it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. To commit a sin is to act against a divine law,
and with said action, comes punishment. In chapter 5, Jem, Dill, and Scout are trying to get a note to
Boo by using a fishing pole when Atticus discovers what they are trying to do. Atticus gives the children
an assertive lecture on why they should not be pestering Boo Radley that shakes each one of the kids:
No, said Atticus, putting his lifes history on display for the edification of the neighborhood.
Jem seemed to swell a little. I didnt say we were doin that, I didnt say it!
Atticus grinned dryly. You just told me, he said. You stop this nonsense right now, every one of you.
Jem gaped at him. (p. 55) This lecture was the kids form of punishment, making themselves feel
shameful for what they were doing to Boo, thus, the result of their sinful actions.
As the book closes, Boo requests that Scout leads him home. Scout, seeing this opportunity to
help prevent further negative assumptions about Boo, has him escort her to his house, in order to make
him look like a gentleman:
He had to stoop a little to accommodate me, but if Miss Stephanie Crawford was watching from her
upstairs window, she would see Arthur Radley escorting me down the sidewalk, as any gentleman would
do. (p. 320) This small act of courage could be seen as Scouts attempt to diminish any last adverse
assumptions of Boo. This is Scouts way of further protecting the mockingbird from harm: helping not
only Boo, but also the neighborhood to know Boo is a good man, and giving them no reason conclude
that Boo is an unfavorable character.
In short, Lees portrayal of Boo Radley in order to create a symbol for the mockingbird is
evident. Lee uses Boos innocence, the negative results of harassing Boo, as well as Scouts actions to
protect Boo at the end of the book allude to Boos relation to the mockingbird. Similar to a mockingbird,
Boo is exceptionally pale; mockingbirds also have unique markings on their wings, typically not visible
until flight. Until the end of the book, when Boo saves Jem and Scout and Scout shows everyone that he
can be a gentleman, he is able to spread his wings to show his individuality.