How Does Boo Radley Change In To Kill A Mockingbird

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To Kill A Mockingbird takes place in the 1930s, when segregation was an acceptable practice that all white people took part in. The story is told through the perspective of one little girl, Scout. Throughout the story, Scout faces many challenges and sees a part of humanity that she was sheltered from before. Scout, along with her brother, had a childish obsession with the mysterious Boo Radley, who hasn’t left his house in 25 years. She began wanting to just see him but got more than what she bargained for when he ended up saving her and her brother’s life. Throughout the book, other people's perception of Boo Radley changed. At first, He was viewed as a malevolent, mythical figure and people wanted nothing to do with him, except for the …show more content…

Scout is the narrator and main focus of the book To Kill a Mockingbird, as such Boo Radley's character devolvement is shown primarily from her point of view. He goes from being a monster to someone she understands. Boo becomes the center of the children's games and imaginations. Eventually just playing isn't enough, the boys want to see Boo. Reluctantly Scout comes along. They get close to the house in an attempt to see him but get caught and run for their lives. After their attempt to see Boo Radley by breaking on to the Radley's property Scout says “...every scratch of feet on gravel was Boo Radley seeking revenge...” she talks about Boo as if he is some beast who is out to get her. Scared that by attempting to see he will try and hurt or kill him. However, as the book progresses Boo becomes more and more of a positive figure in the children's lives. He leaves small gifts for Scout and Jem in a tree knot, but most obviously he saves their lives. This is the first and only time we see Boo. Scout fully begins to understand Boo. She begins to see Boo more as a person rather than a ghost or a …show more content…

At the end of the book, after Boo saves Scout and Jem, Atticus wants to tell people what happened but Heck Tate says that he shouldn’t. Mr. Tate is talking to Atticus about Boo Radley when he says this,

“All the ladies in Maycomb includin' my wife'd be knocking on his door bringing angel food cakes. To my way of thinkin', Mr. Finch, taking the one man who's done you and this town a great service an' draggin' him with his shy ways into the limelight—to me, that's a sin. It's a sin and I'm not about to have it on my head. If it was any other man, it'd be different. But not this man, Mr. Finch."

Mr. Tate is telling Atticus that Boo Radley doesn’t want any attention, good or bad, from what he did to save Scout and Jem. Atticus’ perception of Boo in this shows that he views Boo as someone who does not matter in this situation even though he is very important and Mr. Tate tells him this. Mr. Tate also says that it would be a sin to tell others what happened and put Boo in the spotlight. Mr. Tate changes Atticus’ perspective on Boo Radley because he tells him that Boo really does matter and he is an innocent person who does not want to and does not deserve to be in the

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