Boo Radley Innocent

Throughout time the weak and innocent are often picked on for many reasons this is best explained by Atticus, “It is a sin to kill a mocking bird.”. The central idea of this book is not to prey on the innocent and harmless because they are often misunderstood. This idea is illustrated, and developed through many different characters such as Boo Radley, Scout, and Tom Robison all harmless characters, but misunderstood like the mockingbird.
Boo Radley is first introduced as a mysterious monster-like man that doesn’t leave his house, but the truth is later revealed. Boo’s backstory was one of a misunderstood teen that hung around the wrong crowd d out the truth with a strict father. Boo was preyed upon by a couple of boys that led him to get into trouble and then seen as a creepy shameful man although he was just a harmless mentally ill person. Boo was very reclusive and possibly autistic. This explains why his father was so protective, also why he was very shy never left his house because he could be socially awkward. Boo’s possible undiagnosed autism and lack of knowledge of mental illness

during the time led him to be picked on and rumored about when he was a harmless man.
The symbol of a mockingbird is one of joy and innocence, Scout illustrates both of these points.

Like a mockingbird, children are generally a joy for most people, free from committing the sins that come with growing up. Scout was a joy to Miss Maudie this is seen when scout says “She called us by our names … a gesture of cordiality that cemented our friendship”. This quote shows that she is like a mockingbird because she’s just good to be around even with an adult. Also, since she wasn’t raised as a racist during this time she was seen as an outcast, some kids challenged her ideals and the fact that her father was defending a black man. Scout is a harmless child who is just trying to understand why people are racist. The innocence Scout remains throughout the story, though they witness actions that are far from innocent; The Ewells accuse an innocent man of terrible

crimes.
Like the other characters mentioned Tom Robinson symbolizes a person preyed upon when he is no harm, but his life is on the line. He is an innocent misunderstood man who just helps Mayella with everyday tasks. Tom was a considerate, loving man, but Mayella’s father was a racist man who couldn’t accept his daughter, gave in to her desire with a black man, and to get rid of him he accused him raping his daughter. Even Mayella couldn’t live with the guilt of giving into her desire with a black man so she had to accuse him of rape to rid herself of the guilt. As you can see an innocent man was accused because of the social perspective of racism and inter-racial relations during that time.
In conclusion, all of these characters are mocking birds in their own way and all illustrate different important lessons from mental illness, child innocence, and racism. Although horrible things like this happened during that time period, it allows future people to learn about the wrongs of preying on the weak. This book gives the reader a chance to see how far America has come America has come a long way from plain racism and preying on the weak, but this has not disappeared people are still divided by fear tactics and still are still discriminated against.