From the very genesis of the novel, Arthur Radley, known to the denizens of Maycomb County as

Boo Radley holds a status of a undetected and benign existence, in spite of his fundamental role in
the development of the novel up until its penultimate twist. Often the figure of vented hatred, Boo is
an example of the transitions possible when the strength of rumour and words are exercised. This
essay shall explore the many attributes of Boo Radley and demonstrate the great lengths of dehumanisation he has endured.
The introduction of Boo Radley comes swiftly in the beginning of the book although no physical
encounters are ever made between the protagonists and this malevolent phantom. Jem being the
eldest son of the Finch family first introduces this obscure character to Scout when he proclaims that
Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall, judging from his tracks; he dined on raw squirrels and any
cats he could catch, thats why his hands were bloodstainedif you ate an animal raw, you could
never wash the blood off. This elaborate, subjective yet childish description of Boo Radley allows the
reader to picture an almost feral creature rather than an actual human being. In the initial declarative,
Jem provides an animalistic assessment of Boo Radley through the adverbial phrase judging from
his tracks, a term almost exclusively reserved for game. Jems childish naivety is also plainly shown
through his final statement further enforcing the fundamental idea encapsulated behind the purpose
of the bildungsroman. Listing is utilised to create more complete picture of Boo Radley although the
nature of the declarative is speculative and subjective. The parallel construct exemplifies Jems
lacking understanding as the fallacy of eating an animal raw, and not ever being able to wash the
blood off, is preposterous and demonstrates an immature understanding, customary to his young
age. This also shines a spotlight on a more worrying aspect inherent to Maycomb County as even at
such a young age, children are influenced by rumour and happily exaggerate facts and speculative
information.
Having aroused intrigue surrounding Boo Radley, childish curiosity kicks in as the trio attempt to
make contact with their illusive neighbour. Despite various warnings from their father Atticus not to
invade into the privacy of others, citing the fact that every individual has rationale for their actions or
beliefs, an underlying concept to his take on justice, Jem, Scout and Dill venture on into the Radley
estate at the dead of night. After their botched attempt that ended in the discharge of a shotgun
round, Dill explains to a frustrated Atticus that We're askin' him real politely to come out sometimes,
and tell us what he does in therewe said we wouldn't hurt him and we'd buy him an ice cream.
Here Dill demonstrates a heightened awareness towards humanity and provides the reader with an
alternative assessment of the situation. Although he is still a child, as exemplified by noun phrase
buy him an ice cream, he shows to be an independent conscience, like an impartial observer. The
tripling of the personal pronoun we, demonstrates that their intentions are collective and pure of
heart rather than sinister. The juxtaposition between the verbs hurt, and buy, further exemplify the
fact that their actions were done out of curiosity and were intended to be well-meaning. However the
childish mentality oscillates within the statement leaving the reader to believe that these were still
immature actions done in an immature manner, be it out of curiosity or bravery.

The childrens changing attitude toward Boo Radley is an important measurement of their
development from innocence toward a grown-up moral perspective. This time both Dill and Jem
demonstrate the extent of their paradigm shift by revoking their obsession and oppression of Boo in
very distint but vocal ways. Jem says to Scout in a discussion one day I think Im beginning to
understand why Boo Radleys stayed shut up in the house all this time its because he wants to
stay inside. Having seen a sample of the horrible things their fellow townspeople can do, choosing
to stay out of the mess of humanity doesn't seem like such a strange choice. But it turns out only the
ugly side of humanity can actually drag Boo out, when he sees Bob Ewell attacking the Finch kids.
At the beginning of the book, Boo is merely a source of childhood superstition. As he leaves Jem and
Scout presents and mends Jems pants, he gradually becomes increasingly and intriguingly real to
them. At the end of the novel, he becomes fully human to Scout, illustrating that she has developed
into a sympathetic and understanding individual.
Through Boo Radley, exploration into the nature and purpose of justice is also explored. In the very
concluding episode of the book, Bob Ewell decides to take revenge on the Finches for smearing his
already bad image. In a surprise appearance, Boo Radley emerges from the shadows to defend the
two children, slaying Bob Ewell in the process. Atticus, a man of stature and ridged morality believes
his son to be the one behind the death has to uphold his values by taking responsibility. However,
Heck Tate the sheriff of Maycomb County turns and says to Atticus to me, that's a sin. It's a sin and
I'm not about to have it on my head. If it was any other man, it'd be different. But not this man, Mr.
Finch. The repitition of the noun man, finally attributes a long overdue humanisation of Boo Radley.
The parallelism emphasises that allowing one sin, is the best response, even to the total-equalityunder-the-law Atticus. This new concept to think that sometimes a little inequality is what's really fair
is an underlying message inherent to the book itself.
To conclude, Boo Radley embodies the oppression and destruction of purity and innocence. Boo is
also an important symbol of the good that exists within people. Despite the pain that Boo has
suffered, the purity of his heart rules his interaction with the children. In saving Jem and Scout from
Bob Ewell, Boo proves the ultimate symbol of good triumphant even in the darkest of times; leaving
the reader with the final notion that it is Boo Radley who is the true mockingbird of the book, who
gives to society while expecting nothing in return.
An intelligent child emotionally damaged by his cruel father, Boo distinctively provides an example of
the threat that evil poses to innocence and goodness, in a world full of cruelty, discrimination and
injustice. He is one of the novels mockingbirds, a good person injured by the evil of mankind.