To Kill a Mockingbird: Mock Article

The Tale of the Boo
Jem Scout

Maycomb County - In the small neighborhood on my block lives a house that may or may not contain a malevolent phantom. This is the Radley’s place. Dill, Scout, and I know the tale of this evil Boo Radley, and during the summer we share the tale of him to tell people of the tales. It started with one summer, when Dill dared me to go touch the Radley’s house.

Usually , we play out scenes of the stories of Arthur. As Dill says, “I played old Mr.Arthur and walked up and down the sidewalked. Coughed when Jem, who played as Boo, talked to me. He went under the front steps and shrieked and howled from time to time.” {Reference to page 51-52} Atticus claims that we are tormenting Boo Radley, and says, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” {Chapter 3: TKAM}

This time though, Dill took my book, The Gray, and I needed it back. He said he would give me my book back afterwards if I touched the Radley’s house. When I went to touch the house though, “the house was the same, droopy and sick, but as we stared down the street we saw an inside shutter move. Flick. A tiny, almost invisible movement, and the house was still.” {page 19, TKAM}

Another time, there was a fire at Miss Maudie’s house. Scout and I had to stay by the Radley’s home, and we didn’t even notice who put the blanket on Scout. Atticus says, “Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire, you didn't notice when he put the blanket around you.” {Page 96, TKAM}

Miss Maudie says, “His name is Arthur and he’s alive.” {Page 57, TKAM} I don’t believe it, I think he’s been dead and was stuffed up the chimney. And even if he is alive, why would he be cooped up in the Radley’s house? Dill said this:
“Why do you reckon Boo Radley's never run off?” … “Maybe he doesn't have anywhere to run off to...” {Page... 163? TKAM} Whether Boo Radley is alive or dead, he is here.