Curiosity In To Kill A Mockingbird
Thesis: In To Kill A Mockingbird, the author, Harper Lee, conveys how curiosity in children can lead to trouble when they do not consider the consequences of their actions.
Jem, Dill and Scout’s interest in their mysterious neighbor, Boo Radley, leads to trouble when they do not consider the consequences of their actions. They have only heard rumors about Boo, like how he supposedly stabbed his father with scissors and at night he looks inside houses, watching people sleep. Because Boo stays inside all day and does not have conversations with the other people in town, the kids attempt to give Boo Radley a letter, hoping to meet him. They attach the letter to a fishing pole to give it to Boo and the children decide to climb through Boo’s window.
Right when they are almost through the window, Atticus notices what they are doing and tells the kids to “‘stop tormenting that man’” (65). The kids are curious about Boo and how he lives, but they do not think about the consequences and what their parents would do if they found out. Even though Atticus caught them, they still are curious and are intent with meeting him. Later, the kids plan another attempt to meet Boo. This time, they want to personally see Boo Radley’s appearance. One night, they decide to sneak out so they can peer into his house. Dill and Scout are frightened by the eeriness, so they stay back while Jem looked in. Suddenly, they realize that there is a “shadow of a man with a hat on…[who] moved across the porch toward Jem”(71). The children started to run away to safety, but, “[Scout] tripped; [because she was distracted by]...the roar of a shotgun [which] shattered the neighborhood” (71). Scout has a near-death experience, which is caused by their interest in Boo. They should leave Boo alone and stop continuing to take part in dangerous activities, which may include risking their lives. Even though the children are specifically told not to bother Boo, they choose to ignore their dad and suffer the repercussions from their curiosity. Scout, Dill, and Jem’s fascination with Boo Radley leads them to experience harsh consequences which demonstrate that curiosity can lead to trouble.
Jem, Dill and Scout’s interest in their mysterious neighbor, Boo Radley, leads to trouble when they do not consider the consequences of their actions. They have only heard rumors about Boo, like how he supposedly stabbed his father with scissors and at night he looks inside houses, watching people sleep. Because Boo stays inside all day and does not have conversations with the other people in town, the kids attempt to give Boo Radley a letter, hoping to meet him. They attach the letter to a fishing pole to give it to Boo and the children decide to climb through Boo’s window.
Right when they are almost through the window, Atticus notices what they are doing and tells the kids to “‘stop tormenting that man’” (65). The kids are curious about Boo and how he lives, but they do not think about the consequences and what their parents would do if they found out. Even though Atticus caught them, they still are curious and are intent with meeting him. Later, the kids plan another attempt to meet Boo. This time, they want to personally see Boo Radley’s appearance. One night, they decide to sneak out so they can peer into his house. Dill and Scout are frightened by the eeriness, so they stay back while Jem looked in. Suddenly, they realize that there is a “shadow of a man with a hat on…[who] moved across the porch toward Jem”(71). The children started to run away to safety, but, “[Scout] tripped; [because she was distracted by]...the roar of a shotgun [which] shattered the neighborhood” (71). Scout has a near-death experience, which is caused by their interest in Boo. They should leave Boo alone and stop continuing to take part in dangerous activities, which may include risking their lives. Even though the children are specifically told not to bother Boo, they choose to ignore their dad and suffer the repercussions from their curiosity. Scout, Dill, and Jem’s fascination with Boo Radley leads them to experience harsh consequences which demonstrate that curiosity can lead to trouble.