Who Is Boo Radley Innocent

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In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, a mockingbird is portrayed as a symbol of innocence, goodness, and beauty. It is considered to be a sin to kill them as they do no harm and only makes songs for people to enjoy. Atticus Finch, a lawyer who believes in having high morales and treating everybody with the same equality, Tom Robinson, a noble character who is generous and hardworking, and Boo Radley, an innocent reclusive character, all share similar qualities that metaphorically portray a mockingbird. Firstly, they all share an innocent quality that defines the mockingbird motif. Secondly, they all go out of their way to help others. Finally, similar to a mockingbird, all three characters are defenseless and vulnerable throughout the novel …show more content…

Atticus represents this in the novel by nurturing his children, Jem and Scout, rather than asserting harsh punishments. Boo Radley is a reclusive citizen in Maycomb who is of interest to Atticus’s children and their summertime friend Dill, because he rarely ever has been seen. Atticus forbids the children from bothering him by slipping him a letter, or performing other acts of intrusion so that Boo Radley can live in peace. Atticus states “What Mr. Radley does is his own business. If he wanted to come out, he would. If he wanted to stay inside his own house he had the right to stay inside free from the attentions of inquisitive children” (Lee, 65). This concern proves how Atticus only wants the best for people and does not want unnecessary harm done to anyone. This also demonstrates how he is metaphorically a mockingbird. Tom Robinson also portrays innocence by having no intentions of harming anybody or doing wrong, but like a mockingbird, sings his heart out through good deeds, such as helping a neighbour of his, Mayella Ewell, with odd jobs. However, Tom’s goodness is recognized by very few characters in the book due to the fact he is black. Toms employer, Link Deas, leaves a statement in court while Tom is on trial for beating up Mayella Ewell, the eldest of the Ewell children and a neighbour to Tom, and states “I just want the whole …show more content…

In the novel, Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley all go out of their way to help others. By his own choosing, Atticus decides to be Tom Robinson's lawyer. When asked by his daughter Scout why he does so, Atticus replies, “For a number of reasons...The main one is if I didn’t, I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this country in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something because I could never ask you to mind me again” (Lee, 100). This quote demonstrates how Atticus feels it is his moral obligation to take on Tom's case as he knows it is the right thing to do, and is Tom’s best chance of getting a lesser sentence or prolonging the trial. By taking on Tom's case and carrying it out to the best of his abilities portrays him as a mockingbird. In the novel, Tom Robinson also proves he is a mockingbird from when he went out of his way and generously helped Mayella Ewell, without receiving anything in return. Tom stated to the court “No suh, not after she offered me a nickel the first time. I was glad to do it, Mr. Ewell didn’t seem to help her none, and neither did the chillun, and I knowed she didn’t have no nickel to spare” (Lee, 256). Tom explains he only helps her because he feels bad nobody else does. He did it because he is a kind, sympathetic

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