What Does The Radley Places Symbolize In To Kill A Mockingbird

In charter 1 the children view courage as something physical. Provide examples from the text and explain how Jem, Scout and Dill would define courage.
The definition of courage is “the ability to do something that frightens one” or “strength in the face of pain or grief.” In the beginning of the book, “To Kill a Mockingbird” the readers were introduces to several different characters. The three character were Jem who was “ nearly ten,”(7), Scout “ almost six,”(7) and Dill “ goin’ on seven” (8) Each character viewed courage as something physical. The Radley Place was known to scare the forks of Maycomb. The house had “rain-rotted shingles dropped over the eaves of the veranda: oak trees kept the sun away.”(10) The house appearances wasn’t the only thing keeping the members of the society away but “ inside the house lived a malevolent phantom”(10) always known as Boo. To Jem and Scout “The
Radley Place was inhabited by an unknown entity the mere description of whom was enough to make us behave for days on end.”(7) That was in till Dill came.
Dill “ was a curiosity.” (9) Dill fascination for the Radely house “drew him as the moon draws water, but him no nearer then the light pole on the corner, a safe distance from the Radley gate.”(10) The more Scout and Jem told “Dill about the Radleys, the more he wanted to know,”(15) As a result Dill became so curious he wanted to see how Boo looked, “ lets try to make him come out” (16) This
example shows courage because Dill knowing how Boo looks like, what he does and after hearing the story had the courage to make a plan for him to come out. Dill wasn’t the only one showing courage but Jem did as well. Dill plans to see Boo got him to dare Jem to make the “The Gray Ghost”(16) come out. Jem was truly frighten by the Radley Place but “he loved his honor more then his head”(16) He had never turned down a dare before and planned to keep it that way. Scout knew he was afraid but Jem showed courage by putting his fears aside and doing the dare. Courage is defined as the ability to do something that frightens them. Jem finally “threw open the gate and sped to the side of the house, slapped it with his palm.”(18) The true test to anyone’s courage was the Radley house. Jem had a choice to rather be a gutless or hero. Dill bet to Jem and Jem fulfilling the bet made him courageous. Jem’s action was seen as courageous and Dill curiosity was seen as courageous.

Journal 2
In chapter 1 we are introduced to Boo and the Radley family. What do we actually know about Boo and the Radley family? Why are the kids so fascinated with Boo Radley? The Radley house is a famous place known by everyone in Maycomb. It has many different types of stories on the people that live in it. In chapter 1 the readers were introduced to the mysterious Radely family. The appearance of the place is described as creepy, old, dull and dark. The people such as Boo, Mr. Radley, Mrs. Radley and Nathan Radley are described as unsocial, scary, and gloomy. Boo lived with his father Mr. Radley, his mother Ms. Radley and Nathan Radley, Boo older brother. Author Radley also known as Boo, is described as the town criminal in chapter one. Any big or “small crimes committed in Maycomb were his work”(10) Boo appearance didn’t help his situation either. “ Boo was six and a half feet tall”(16) He fed on “ raw squirrels and any cats he could catch”(16) His face had a “ long jagged scar that run across his face: what teeth he had were yellow and rotten: his eyes popped and he drooled most of the time”(16) Long before Author became Boo he was known as Author to the town. Author was in a gang with some of the Cunningham’s. “In an excessive spurt” (12) the boys borrowed a car, drove around, cussed and tied the town sheriff. He was a young troublemaker who was trapped in the house by his father, Mr., Radley and never seen for many years after. There were other stories about him such as when Boo “drove the scissors into his parents leg” He was taken to the jail and later was released but never seen. Furthermore he became Boo Radley. “The Radley family, welcome anywhere in town kept to themselves, a predilection unforgivable principal recreation, but worshiped at home.”(11) The Radley place had its stutters and door “closed on Sundays, another thing alien Maycomb’s ways: closed door meant illness and cold weather only.”(11) Mr. Radley was extremely religious and never showed any emotions. He would come out to buy cotton every day “eleven-thirty every morning.”(11) Mrs. Radely also kept to herself and didn’t have many friends. As a result of her having a hard life and being married to Mrs. Radley, she became sad and depressed. Mr. Nathan and his father believed in similar aspects. After he grew up he left to finish his education. He would come to visit occasionally and was known as the friendly one in his family. Over all the Radleys were rejected in the society and some family members were misjudged. They were a family that was low-spirited when it came to being active in the society. They were a small, sorrowful, dejected family.