“To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee is a perfect example of how the plot progression of the story was closely related to the character development. Lee used Jean Louise, also known as “Scout” as a main model of character development, as she grows through her understandings of racism, how to handle social situations and her intelligence . The plot progression throughout the novel was very close in relationship of bildungsroman in the characters personal stories. This book being fiction is not true but it depicts how life was during the time period of the 1930’s. The characters also are very close to portraying common people of the time in Macon County of Alabama.…
From the first chapter, Lee creates mystery with Boo. She doesn’t explicitly introduce him as a main character. She uses the words and actions of others to build interest in Boo and creates a setting for Jem to see him as a human being instead of a “malevolent phantom”.…
Boo Radley, for instance, is like a mockingbird—just as mockingbirds do not harm people but only “sing their hearts out for us,” Boo does not harm anyone; instead, he leaves Jem and Scout presents, covers Scout with a blanket during the fire, and eventually saves the children from Bob Ewell. Despite the pureness of his heart, however, Boo has been damaged by an abusive father. The connection between songbirds and innocents is made explicitly several times in the book: in Chapter 25, Mr. Underwood likens Tom Robinson’s death to “the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children”; in Chapter 30, Scout tells Atticus that hurting Boo Radley would be “sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird.” The moral imperative to protect the vulnerable governs Atticus’s decision to take Tom’s case, just as it leads Jem to protect the roly-poly bug from Scout’s…
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird the character “Boo” Radley is portrayed as an evil and creepy specter of a person who prowls the neighborhood at dusk as if to remain invisible to the outside world around him who would otherwise judge and reticule him. He is thought to be all of these horrible accusations as well as others such as dangerous and prone to violence when in reality he is a mockingbird, a symbol of good and innocence . It is not until the end of the novel that Boo’s true character is reviled when he saves the Finch children from a truly evil man who wishes to harm or even kill them. Boo’s arrival seems to serve as a sense of justice in a time much deserving of it.…
The mockingbird. The primary object of symbolism used throughout the entire novel is this small bird. And yet, despite being small, the mockingbird is filled with a large amount of importance throughout the novel. The use of symbolism with this bird is especially used when it comes to the misunderstood character Boo Radley.…
While people see failure as something to look down upon, some choose to realize that without it, no one would mature or come of age. In the beginning of To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout starts out as a normal little girl learning from stories spread throughout Maycomb. But soon, school starts and it starts to broaden her knowledge both in education and opinions. Scout later learns control over her attitude, taking a huge step in the coming of age process. She next shows bravery, again showing yet another leap in maturity. Then, when a stressing trial comes around and is put into Atticus’s hands, Scout is opened to bigger things such as government, racial problems, and the judicial system. Final, Boo Radley changes Scouts…
Boo Radley symbolises a beautiful, but tortured mockingbird that is misunderstood and ostracised by both his family and the wider community. He is kept as a prisoner in his own home, kept in confinement by his god-fearing Baptist family. Despite this treatment Boo remains gentle and harmless. However, people tell stories about how he eats squirrels and cats and poisons the pecan nuts in the school yard. To the community Boo is a "malevolent phantom". Gradually Scout and Jem begin to see things from Boo's perspective. Like the mockingbird Boo gives pleasure and comfort: for example, the gifts in the tree, the blanket placed around their shoulders as they watch Miss Maudie's home go up in flames. Finally, he saves Scout and Jem's lives. In turn, Scout realises to drag Boo into the limelight would be like "shootin' a mockingbird" and a cruel betrayal of all the inherent goodness Boo symbolises as a mockingbird.…
Analyse how a significant event illustrated one or more key theme(s) in the written text.…
The game played by Dill, Jem, and Scout throughout the fourth chapter of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird shows that Maycomb is a town run on gossip and ignorance which directly influences the children making it an even bigger problem. For example Jem tells Scout, “‘Besides, I don't’ think he’s still in there. He died a few years ago and they stuffed him up the chimney’” (Lee 51). Even though Jem has never seen or heard from Boo himself, he believes the rumors spread throughout the town and continues to spread the false information unknowingly. All three kids believe everything they hear about Boo Radley, which makes them think it is okay to spread the rumors further and further. This is relevant to everyday life in the sense of all the…
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, the mockingbird has come to symbolize many people, especially Tom Robinson and Arthur (Boo) Radley. Although they are often blamed for the misfortunes of others, both Arthur and Tom only intend well for the community and have made efforts to contribute to the well-being of others. Although he is feared by many children and adults in the town he has done many good things for the finches. He continually gave gifts to the children through the hole in a tree, with his brother later filled in with cement. When Miss Maudie's house catches on fire, Boo makes an appearance and wraps a blanket around Scout's shoulders. The Finch children are surprised that Boo ventures from his home, but are thankful that he did,…
In the novel to kill a mockingbird they present Atticus Finch a character who seems Christ like centered. However Maycomb the small town where to kill a mockingbird takes place is racist we will see how Atticus acts upon this. Atticus is a Christ like centered character because he has many similar characteristics to Jesus. This essay talks about three traits; loving, compassionate, caring.…
What is courage? According to dictionary.com, courage is the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain etc., without fear; bravery. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, both Atticus and Boo Radley are both courageous through the challenges they are faced with. Both of these men are citizens of Maycomb and create change within their town. Although Atticus and Boo Radley are very different people, they prove to be similar through their acts of courage. Though their acts of courage are similar, they both generate change to different aspects of their lives. Both men change things through their acts of courage, but the changes are drastically different. Atticus’ courage is a long term change, and it will help Maycomb see African Americans as equals and not as inferiors. Boo’s change on their other hand, will be more of a lesson that teaches not to judge a book by its cover.…
The mysterious neighbor to them, never seen but always there watching. When they first introduced Boo, they feared him until they became to ridicule what they did not know. Scout and Jems maturation process is facilitated by how they handle and overcome their fear of Boo Radley, the towns “boogey man”. When Miss Maudie’s house flamed up Scout and Jem stood by the Radley fence, throughout the night someone came and covered Scouts back with a blanket; it was Boo Radley. That was the first night that Jem started to realize Boo is as pure as a mockingbird, just misunderstood. In the conversation- “Mr. Tate was right…’what do you mean?… 'Well, it'd be sort of like shootin' a mockingbird, wouldn't it?'" (Scout, p.276) took place, it showed insight to a deeper level of thinking that the kids had developed- metaphoric understanding. Jem knew they were wrong about Boo when Boo had stitched up his pants leaving them on the fence for Jem to find and when he did, he cried an emotional silent cry of remorse for they had contributed to the ridicule Boo endured. With this new understanding in chapter twenty three Jem enlightens Scout why Boo doesn’t leave his house; he doesn’t want to, it’s a confusing corrupt world he’d rather not live in. In a way Boo had taught Scout how to empathize with people. As she was escorted by him to his porch she stood there with tears filling her eyes for the man who saved their lives. Empathetic as she gazed the yard “in his shoes” watching memories from the past three…
Lastly, Boo Radley also shows maturity in To Kill A Mockingbird several ways Arthur "Boo" Radley is Maycomb's town loner. Myths and bits of gossip about Boo and his family flourish. As per town gossip, Boo wounded his dad in the leg when he was a kid and has since been confined to his home. Jem and Scout imagine Boo as a ghoulish figure who eats cats and stalks about the neighbourhood under the cover of night. Truth be told, Boo remains as a figure of honesty who becomes a close acquaintence with and protects the youngsters in his own particular…
I believe in judging someone by their actions and character rather than by the color of their skin and sexuality. This I believe because there is good and bad in all of us. The color of our skin does not depict the flaws we have. In the second amendment it states that all men are created equal, but we still do not treat each other equally. Defending Tom Robinson was not easy because I knew that from the minute Mayella opened her mouth Tom was a dead man. But everyone including a black man deserves a second chance. How could I ever tell my own children “You never really understand a person until you consider things from their point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” if I didn’t pick up Tom’s case because I was afraid of what people would think of me. When people say things about me like “Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public streets” why would I prove them wrong? You are only as good as you portray yourself to be. But when you are a black man in the town of Maycomb, Alabama you were never dealt the good hand to begin with. Sadly Tom never got a second chance. Tom was a good man but because of the color of his skin he was not treated as fairly as the rest of us.…