To Kill A Mockingbird

Essay by PaperNerd ContributorHigh School, 10th grade October 2001

download word file, 3 pages 3.0

To Kill a Mockingbird I believe that one of the main themes in To Kill a Mockingbird is the development of the Arthur Radley in relevance to the symbol of innocence in relation to the Mockingbird. Harper Lee finds ways to change his character. As the book goes on more and more details surface about Arthur "Boo"� Radley. This adds more conclusions about the fact that Boo just wants to fit in, somehow, the world's big puzzle of life.

Scout and Jem befriend a summer resident named Dill. The children become fascinated with the character of Boo Radley early on in Chapter 1. He was described as a recluse and no one ever really took note of him. The children were influenced by town superstitions that Boo was a "malevolent phantom"� who ate squirrels and cats. It is noticed that rumors are constantly being made up about Boo which illustrates the innocence in the fact that he has no control over what others think about him.

Early on, it is seen that, like a mockingbird, Boo doesn't wish to harm anyone and only wishes to be left alone. He leaves gifts in a knothole in the tree in his front yard for Scout and Jem. It is his own way of contacting the outer world. It helps him to bond with others since he has been trapped in his house since a very young age. After Jem leaves a thank you note for their secret giver Nathan Radley, Boo's brother and owner of the house, cements up the hole claiming that it will help the dieing of the tree. Jem sympathizes with Boo because his only mode of communication was now nonexistent. This also illustrates the fact of innocence.

Boo Radley commits several acts of kindness during the course of...