Final Draft
Boo Radley and Tom Robinson’s Comparison
in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird
In the mid 1930’s, racism, slavery and segregation was legal. Whites had domination over the Blacks and were treated with more respect. The Whites were also favoured in their decisions whether they were true or not. To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel, in the mid 1950’s, written by Harper Lee. It was narrated by the main character, Scout, who reflects back to her childhood life (sparknotes). Two important characters mentioned in the novel are, Boo Radley and Tom Robinson. They are both portrayed as mockingbird figures that share many similarities. These include the community’s false perspective on them and their kind gestures toward the people of Maycomb.
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However, there was one key difference between them; one mockingbird was killed, while the other was required to kill. Firstly, the community viewed Boo Radley and Tom Robinson as outcasts. They often spread untrue rumors about their nature. Boo Radley was confined to the house, but the neighbourhood never understood why. The community formulated two main reasons for this; Boo was either troubled as a teenager and was imprisoned, or his family's religious beliefs, which trapped him inside. An example of the people’s view can be seen when Scout asked Jem what kind of person Boo was, Jem replied, “...he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, that's why his hands were bloodstained” (16). Boo was a recluse, an isolated person, who had several false accusations made about him. Scout and Jem thought of him as a monstrous, dangerous and violent person. Jem described Boo’s hands as “bloodstained”, symbolizing death. However, no one had ever seen Boo because he was seen as a threat to whoever crossed paths with him. On the other hand, a Black male, named Tom Robinson, was accused of raping a woman, called Mayella Ewell. There was no proof of Tom taking advantage of her, yet he was blamed. During the trial, Mayella’s father, Bob Ewell, presented Tom’s neighbourhood as an unsafe place.He complained, “Jedge, I've asked this county for fifteen years to clean out that nest down yonder, they're dangero”us to live around 'sides devaluin' my property” (234). Boo and Tom were seen in a similar way, however, Tom was considered more threatening due to his skin colour. Although Bob lived near the dump, which bordered with the Blacks, he thought that their society was dangerous and unsanitized. This is quite ironic because the dump was the least valuable and unclean area. Bob indirectly asked the government to “clean up” the Black neighbourhood, wanting to get rid of them or specifically “kill” them. Overall, the citizens of Maycomb referred to Boo and Tom as intimidating individuals without knowing the truth about their reality. Secondly, Boo and Tom, with good intentions, regularly tried to help out the people in their neighbourhood.
Boo tried his best to stitch Jem’s pants after they got stuck on his fence. When Jem explained to Scout how he found his pants, he said confusingly, “...they were folded across the fence... like they were expecting me/ And something else... they’d been sewed up” (78). The outcome of Boo mending Jem's pants might have made both, Jem and Scout, rethink the assumptions they made about the Radleys. They also found the same thread used to sew the pants on a tree, which was planted in the Radley territory. Carved sculptures of the siblings, Scout and Jem, were also placed in the same tree. These kind acts from Boo proved that he was a pure hearted person and cared for the Finches. Similar to Boo, Tom was helping Mayella with pure intentions, but unaware at the time, Mayella was flirting with him. During the trial Atticus asked Tom, if Mayella was paying him for his chores. Tom replied, “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 nickels to spare” (256). This quote determines that Tom had his best interest and made an effort to assist Mayella with her daily household duties. These generous acts towards Mayella show the thoughtful personality Tom displayed. Although Tom is not related to her, he was still a better person than her own father, …show more content…
who abused her and blamed Tom. This shows the sympathetic behaviour Tom had towards people in the town. Nonetheless, these considerable actions proved the positive personalities both, Boo and Tom, conveyed throughout the novel. Lastly, although it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird, Boo lived and Tom died.
The reason behind Tom’s death was that he was a victim of racism. After Boo saved Jem and Scout from Bob Ewell, they realized why Boo was acts differently. When Scout was standing on the Radley porch, she recalled Atticus saying, “ ‘...you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them’ ” (374). Boo Radley always remained a mystery to Scout, Jem and Dill. Seeing the world from Boo’s eyes made Scout’s viewpoint on issues more understanding. It showed that stereotypes, racism and labelling does not define a person, however, their personality does. At the beginning of the novel Scout saw Boo as a monster but now she refers to him as a father. The neighbourhood had lied about Boo’s character, but Scout now saw the truth. Even though, Mayella’s rape case had the county's attention, Tom tried his hardest to prove himself innocent but no one could see it from his perspective. When Atticus found out about Tom’s death, he said, “i guess tom was tired of white men's chances and preferred to take his own” (315). The main reason Tom attempted to escape is that he was convicted of something he didn’t commit. Further, the court, had no evidence to support it. What Atticus meant was that only a white man will ever get a chance to his freedom, but a Black man would always be accused. Blacks were seen as criminals, villains, and threatening individuals who covered up the tracks of
others. Tom chose to fight and tried to set himself free but his disability slowed him down. Tom was unnecessarily shot 17 times, which is revolting. To summarize, Tom’s death was a symbolic killing of a mockingbird, even though he was not guilty. Boo’s save of, Scout and Jem, highlighted the protectiveness and braveness of a mockingbird, which was noticed and perceived. In conclusion, the outlook the neighbourhood had on Boo Radley and Tom Robinson never changed. As for the children, Scout, Jem and Dill, their thoughts on racial issues, deceptive accusations, and inequality did change. People always judge others without understanding their point of view. For instance, Nelson Mandela was sentenced for life because he fought for rights of the Blacks, but the government sided with Whites . After 27 years of isolation, an international movement helped in the release of Nelson Mandela. He later became President and ruled South Africa (Epatko). This relates to, To Kill a Mockingbird because it shows the difficulties faced by the Blacks. The isolation of Nelson Mandela was similar to that of Boo’s. The town had deformed Boo and Tom’s identities. However, the fascination Scout, Jem, and Dill had over the mockingbirds, led them to approach the world differently. Nelson Mandela’s fight also changed the world’s view. To Kill a Mockingbird is influential because it teaches us about integrity, diversity, and justice. Therefore, we should respect people no matter what their social state, religion, and most importantly what the individual’s race is.
To KIll A Mockingbird was written by Harper Lee in the 1950’s. She based this book of her own home town. Two characters in the book are Boo Radley and Mayella Ewell and they are very different people. Although the book does not tell us much about Boo, the end reveals a caring and thoughtful guy. Mayella on the other hand, is racist and “white trash”. Mayella and Boo are also similar because they are both not liked much in Maycomb.
A Major Role in The Novel "To Kill a Mockingbird": Boo Radley A person that was stuck behind bars for most of his life escapes and saves the lives of two innocent children. Boo Radley, whose real name is Mr. Arthur, is like a prisoner in his own home because he is afraid to face the real world. Boo Radley plays a major role in the novel "To Kill A Mockingbird" because he acts like a second father to the children. He does this by creating a strong bond with the children, he saves Jem and Scout's lives and he is like a mockingbird to the children. Boo Radley shows us how a complete stranger can become your best friend in a single moment.
The novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” takes place in the 1930s during the depression. It is narrated by a young girl named Scout. Some of the main characters are Jem, Scout's brother, and Atticus, Scout and Jem's father. Throughout the novel the theme of racism is displayed through the book. Jem ,Scout, and their friend Dill are fascinated about a character named Boo Radley or Arthur Radley.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, the main plot, the Tom Robinson case, parallels that of the Boo Radley subplot in many ways. In the Tom Robinson plot, Tom, a black man, gets falsely accused of savagely beating and raping Miss Mayella Ewell, a 19 year old girl who lives in poverty with her father, Bob Ewell, and her many younger siblings. Though the evidence points to Bob Ewell as the abuser, the townsfolk, including the jury, take the Ewell’s word over Tom’s purely because of his skin color. The subplot in this novel is focused on Arthur “Boo” Radley, the mysterious neighbor of the Finch family. They know very little about him, as he hasn’t left his house in many years. In the midst of the Tom Robinson case, the Boo Radley subplot trails off, almost
Sometimes, people discriminate one thing, but strongly oppose the discrimination of another thing. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, this issue is very much expressed throughout the story. This thought-provoking story takes place in Maycomb, Alabama during a time when there’s a rape trial against a falsely accused African American named Tom Robinson. There is also a discrimination, of sorts, towards a man named Boo Radley, by three young children named Jeremy “Jem” Finch, Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, and Charles “Dill” Baker Harris. Both Boo Radley and Tom Robinson are similar in their own ways through their inherent goodness.
The people who lack empathy for the Radley’s are the kids such as Scout, Jem, and Dill. On page 16, Jem describes Boo Radley as a monster with yellow and rotten teeth, eyes that popped, drooling, blood stained hands, and having a long jagged scar across his face. They also dare each other to get as close as possible and make mean plays about the Radley family. When Miss Muadie’s house burns down Boo gives Scout a blanket and she sees that he is not a monster. Later when Atticus is defending Tom Robbinson the town seems to turn their backs on Atticus and his family, becuase he is defending a black man which is looked down upon in the town. Tom Robbinson is innocent, but because he is a black man the town views him as guilty anyway. When the town comes to a conclusion that he is guilty, Jem comes to the conclusion that the outside world is unfair, because he knows Tom Robinson is innocent. This is a good coming of age moment for Jem, because he develops empathy for Tom Robbinson and changes his mindset. Scout throughout the story is forced to develop empathy towards other people by her farther, Calpurnia, and Jem. In chapter 3, when she is beating up Walter Cunningham, she is forced to stop by her older brother Jem, who later invites him to dinner. Then later in the house, Scout was being rude to Walter for the way he ate. Calpurnia scolds Scout by
'To Kill a Mockingbird' is a novel that was written in the 1960s, but Harper Lee decided to set the novel in the Depression era of the 1930s in a small town in Alabama. Lee provided her readers with a historical background for the affairs of that time and in doing so she exposed the deeply entrenched history of the civil rights in South America. Like the main characters in this novel, Lee grew up in Alabama; this made it easier for her to relate to the characters in the novel as she would have understood what they would have experienced during the period when racism, discrimination and inequality was on the increase within the American society.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee tells the story of the struggle of a white family facing discrimination for defending a black man. Scout and Jem are two young children living in Maycomb, believing that everyone is like their father, Atticus, who embodies justice and equality. Atticus takes on the case of defending Tom Robinson, a man who is being charged with raping a white woman. Before the trial, the Finches are forced to withstand torment from the townspeople. Their beliefs are shaken when a black man is given a rigged trial and he is innocent.
To Kill a Mockingbird demonstrates modern society. In the book, Boo Radley is represented as a criminal. Who has spent all of his life on his dad’s house. Thus no one really knows he is only hiding away from people, in which create the discriminating society of today. To kill a mockingbird was viewed as one on of the most controversial novels of its time and is still considered that today, decades after it was published. It was controversial by demonstrating discrimination based on old stories,looks and social status. The people that were known as the mockingbirds were Boo Radley, Tom Robinson and one may also say Mayella Ewell.
Even though To Kill a Mockingbird was written in 1960’s the powerful symbolism this book contributes to our society is tremendous. This attribute is racism (Smykowski). To Kill a Mockingbird reveals a story about Scout’s childhood growing up with her father and brother, in an accustomed southern town that believed heavily in ethnological morals (Shackelford).
The story To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee portrays many different scenarios of racial discrimination. Discrimination occurs in the book and many people are affected by the racial slurs and other occurrences. In the story, Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, Atticus Finch, and Tom Robinson are all people that are discriminated against or are affected by discrimination. Racial discrimination is a major part of Kill a Mockingbird. Scout is a young, elementary school girl and she is the main character and narrator of the story.
The novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee is a simplistic view of life in the Deep South of America in the 1930s. An innocent but humorous stance in the story is through the eyes of Scout and Jem Finch. Scout is a young adolescent who is growing up with the controversy that surrounds her fathers lawsuit. Her father, Atticus Finch is a lawyer who is defending a black man, Tom Robinson, with the charge of raping a white girl. The lives of the characters are changed by racism and this is the force that develops during the course of the narrative.
First, the trial of Tom Robinson is an eye-opening experience for Jem and Scout; there they discover hatred, child abuse, and lying. Seeing pure hate is new and strange for Jem and Scout. They know that prejudice does exist, but listening to and watching Bob Ewell during the trial is astounding to them because Bob Ewell abhors all blacks, especially Tom Robinson. Bob’s daughter, Mayella, makes an advance on Tom, which is absolutely unspeakable and shameful at that time. In addition, Bob Ewell’s hate grows (especially for Atticus) because after the trial his reputation and respect is ruined, even though he does not have a high degree of integrity to begin with. Also, through the
The book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a Pulitzer Prize winning novel. It is set in the 1930s, a time when racism was very prominent. Harper Lee emphasizes the themes of prejudice and tolerance in her novel through the use of her characters and their interactions within the Maycomb community. The narrator of the story, Scout, comes across many people and situations with prejudice and tolerance, as her father defends a black man.
The 1930’s were a time in which blacks faced many hardships. It was a time in which the Ku Klux Klan had its peak. However, most importantly, it was the time when Nelle Harper Lee, the writer of To Kill A Mockingbird, was being raised. She was raised in a world where “niggers'; were the bottom class in one of the most powerful countries in the world. She was also being raised during the Great Depression, a time when the attacks on blacks were intensified, as they were the scapegoats of the immense downfall of the US economy. However, she was only a small, innocent child who believed in equality for all. Thus, Harper Lee expressed her disapproval over the treatment of blacks in her Award-Winning novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, through the eyes of a fictional character called Jean Louise Finch, better known as “Scout';.