Why Is Boo Radley Banned

1090 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: To kill a mockingbird short summary chapter 1-3

Hsia, Alex Mrs. Rodems English 3 March 29, 2016
Banned book synopsis The events of the book To Kill a Mockingbird take place from 1933-1935 and happen in Maycomb County, Alabama. Scout Finch is the main character of this book, at the start of the book she is 6 years old, and has a brother Jem, who is almost 13. They have a father, Atticus, who is a lawyer, and an African-American caretaker named Calpurnia. Over the summer a boy named Dill comes over and has an idea, he wants to make Boo Radley come out of his house. Boo Radley is the son of Arthur Radley, who when he was younger, joined a gang and was later arrested for resisting arrest after they stole a car. Boo was let out because his father vouched that he would never do anything illegal …show more content…

Mrs. Caroline doesn’t understand, instead getting mad at Scout and hitting him on the hand with a ruler. After school one day, Scout sees some tin foil in the tree outside of the Radley home. After examining it, she realizes that there are pieces of gum inside. On the last day of school, Scout sees another object in the tree, this time the object being two Indian head pennies. After the school year ends, Dill returns to Maycomb County for the summer. One day while playing a game while you roll in a tire down the sidewalk, Scout accidentally rolls into the Radley yard, crashing into the steps of the Radley household. Dill then thinks of a game called “Boo Radley” where everyone acts out what they know of Boo Radley’s life. One day while playing this game Atticus catches them and asks them whether this is about Boo, Jem lies and says it isn’t. Jem and Dill grow closer and Scout begins to feel left out, so she starts to talk to Miss Maudie, a neighbor who has a passion for gardening. She tells Scout that from what she remembers of Boo as a child, he was always polite and friendly. Meanwhile, Jem and Dill plan to give Boo a note, but Atticus catches …show more content…

A lynch mob appears and tells Atticus to leave, buy he refuses. The group is led by Mr. Cunningham, who Scout tells

to say hey for her to his son, Walter. After hearing this Mr. Cunningham and the lynch mob get embarrassed and back off. The trial happens the next day, with many people from Maycomb attending. Heck Tate, a witness for the accuser, Bob Ewell, says that Matella, Bob’s daughter, says she was raped by Tom Robinson and was bruised and beaten on the right side of her face. During Atticus’s cross examination it is also revealed that no doctor was called.
Bob Ewell is called to the stand and people see that Bob is left handed, meaning he is more likely to leave bruises on the right side of someone’s face. When Mayella comes to the stand she says that her father is often drunk. Atticus then reveals to everyone that Tom Robinson’s left hand was torn up in a cotton gin accident, making it hard for him to hit the right side of someone’s face. While Tom is appealing his lost decision in court, Atticus reveals that rape is a capital offense in Alabama. One day in August, Atticus calls everyone down, telling them that Tom tried to escape from prison, resulting in him being shot 17

Show More
Related

  • To Kill a Mocking Bird Newspaper Project

    502 Words  | 2 Pages

    Atticus calls up his first witness, “Bob Ewell.” He asked questions like “Would you ever beat your daughter?” and “Where you on the night of the crime?” Bob Ewell answered that he never has beaten his daughter and was somewhere else at the time of the crime. After that, he asked Bob to write his name, and Atticus not...

    Read More

  • Bob Ewell Quotes

    621 Words  | 2 Pages

    The town gossip, Miss Stephanie Crawford, tells Atticus’ children what she overheard in downtown Maycomb: “Atticus was leaving the post office when Mr. Ewell approached him, cursed him, spat at him, and threatened to kill him.” This shows that he is furious with Atticus that he would go so far as to curse and spit and threaten him in broad daylight where anyone could watch and hear. Atticus then explains why Bob Ewell did these horrible things: “Jem, see if you can stand in Bob Ewell’s shoes for a minute. I destroyed his last shed of credibility at the trial, if he had any begin with. The man had to have some kind of comeback, his kind always does. So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take. He had to take it out on somebody and I rather it be me than that household of child.” This explains why Atticus did nothing at the post office and will do nothing against Bob Ewell. Later, Bob realizes that Atticus is not about to do anything back at him, so he kicks it up a notch and goes after his children instead. He almost got his revenge, but Arthur Radley came and saved the children from

    Read More

  • What Does Tom Symbolize In To Kill A Mockingbird

    734 Words  | 2 Pages

    First, Tom, formally known as Thomas Robinson was a black man who worked for a man named Link Deas. Tom was 25 years old, had three children and a wife named Helen. When he was 11 years old Tom’s left arm was caught in a cotton gin and he lost feeling in his left arm. Tom was accused of rape by a white woman named Mayella. Everyone hated him because it didn’t look good for a black man to be accused of raping a white woman. During his trial he had a white lawyer named Atticus, who did his best to prove that Tom was innocent and Mayella and her dad Bob Ewell were lying. Atticus says,”Did you resist her advances?, Mr.Finch, I tried to ‘thout bein ugly to her. I didn’t wanta push her or nothin.” stated Tom(Lee 195). Tom did not want to kiss her but he didn’t

    Read More

  • How Does Atticus Show Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

    1095 Words  | 3 Pages

    When Jem and Scout found out that their father would be defending a black person, they knew immediately that there would be much controversy, humiliation from the people of Maycomb and great difficulty keeping Tom alive for the trial. It was not long when Atticus had to leave the house very late to go to jail, where Tom was kept because many white people wanted to kill him. Worrying about their father, Jem and Scout sneak out of the house to find him. A self-appointed lynch mob has gathered on the jail to take justice into their own hands. Scout decides to talk to Walter Cunningham, one of the members of the mob.

    Read More

  • Respect in To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

    485 Words  | 1 Pages

    Atticus demonstrates his character by defending Tom Robinson. Atticus leads by example, showing the highest respect for everyone in Maycomb, not discriminating by color or class. His serious defense for Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman, proves his high ideals. Atticus fights a hopeless battle against the racism in the town. Atticus not only shows his non prejudice through the trial of Tom Robinson, but also through his everyday dealings with Calpurnia. Atticus refutes Aunt Alexandra persistent attempts to fire Cal and claims that she is one of the family.

    Read More

  • to kill a mockingbird

    655 Words  | 2 Pages

    Scout Finch and her brother Jem live with their widowed father Atticus in the town of Maycomb, Alabama. The book takes place in a society withstanding effects of the Great Depression. The two main characters, Scout and Jem, approach life with a childlike view engulfed in innocence. They befriend a young boy named Dill, and they all become intrigued with the spooky house they refer to as “The Radley Place”. The owner, Nathan Radley (referred to as Boo), has lived there for years without ever venturing outside its walls. The children laugh and imagine the reclusive life of Boo Radley, yet their father quickly puts a halt to their shenanigans, as they should not judge the man before they truly know him. Atticus unforgettably tells the children, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”

    Read More

  • Examples Of Conscience In To Kill A Mockingbird

    607 Words  | 2 Pages

    The narrator of the story, Scout Finch, is a curious young girl who is surprisingly mature for her age. When her older brother Jem, and shared friend Dill go to the intriguing Radley house to deliver a note to Boo Radley, whom Macomb County hasn’t seen in 15 years, Scout is

    Read More

  • Atticus as a Hero, in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird

    978 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout the novel, Atticus reveals his bravery. He demonstrates this quality by killing Tim Johnson, the rabid dog. Jem and Scout are looking for squirrels to shoot when Jem spots a suspicious-looking dog down the road. Immediately, he tells Calpurnia who confirms the dog is rabid and calls Atticus at his office. After she proceeds to tell the neighbors, Atticus arrives, along with Mr. Tate, the sheriff of Maycomb County. As the dog comes near the Radley house, Atticus and Mr. Tate argue over who is going to kill Tim. Atticus then steps out in the middle of the road and pushes up his glasses, and in unison, he pulls the trigger and Tim Johnson crumbles the ground—dead. Atticus again demonstrates his valor when he guards Tom Robinson’s cell. The Maycomb jailhouse is near his office; therefore Atticus passes it every day. With red bricks and steel bars along the windows, the jailhouse adds a solid look to the town. The jailhouse is the main conversation topic in Maycomb. Scout, Jem, and Dill are out for a walk when they spot Atticus. As Atticus sits outside Tom’s cell, a group of men walks towards him. The group of men want to get to Tom, but Atticus would not let them. Scout, Jem, and Dill walk up to the group, but that did not distract the men from their goal. One of the men grabs Jem, the man falls to the ground; Scout kicks...

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mockingbird-: Summary Of To Kill A Mockingbird

    586 Words  | 2 Pages

    It all took place in the quiet Alabama town of Maycomb, which was also during the Great Depression. Scout Finch lives with her brother, Jem, and their widowed father, Atticus. Atticus is an honest lawyer, so they are doing quite well compared to everyone else during those tough times. Jem and Scout befriended a boy named Dill one summer who came to live in the neighborhood close to them. Later on, Dill become curious about a weird yet spooky house in their street called the Radley place. Mr. Nathan Radley is the owner of the house, whose brother, Arthur (nicknamed Boo), has lived there for years without adventuring outside. That fall, Scout goes to school for the first time and ended up loathing it. In the knothole of a tree on the Radley property, Scout and her brother find gifts. That summer, Dill is back and the three of them try to figure out Boo Radleys story. But their father puts a stop to it, trying to explain to them to try to see life from another person’s perspective before judging or thinking anything bad about them. The three sneak onto t...

    Read More

  • Growing Up in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird

    950 Words  | 2 Pages

    Growing up is hard, but when you add in nosey neighbors, scary houses, a stuck up aunt, and taunting children, it becomes more difficult. To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel written by Harper Lee that was published in 1960. The story takes place in Maycomb, Alabama during the 1930s. Scout Finch is a six year old narrator. She lives with her father, her brother, and Calpurnia, their black cook. Scout spends her summers playing with her brother, Jem, and her friend, Dill Harrison. Atticus Finch, Scout’s father, is a lawyer and he is defending Tom Robinson, a black man who is accused of raping Mayella Ewell. The story is an account of the next three years of Scout’s life in Maycomb. Throughout the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, it takes a couple years for Scout Finch to grow and mature into an understanding, empathetic, polite, young lady.

    Read More

  • The Trial in To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

    1127 Words  | 3 Pages

    Bob Ewell is the villain of the novel and, as a result of the trial, he tries to get revenge on Atticus and his family. In the trial itself he is revealed as a very unpleasant character. We learn that he drinks and sometimes leaves his family for days, he is violent and he may even be committing incest with Mayella. Atticus establishes that he is left-handed and that Mayella was probably beaten up by a left-handed man - it seems that he, and not Tom Robinson, beat up Mayella after he saw Mayella trying to kiss Tom. Bob therefore lies during the trial and is prepared to sacrifice the life of an innocent man for the sake of his daughter's reputation. His unpleasant behaviour during the trial and his assumption that everybody will be on his side against a black man convince the reader that he is a thoroughly unpleasant character.

    Read More

  • Values In To Kill A Mockingbird

    2319 Words  | 5 Pages

    At the trial, Atticus exposes that Bob Ewell was the one who beat Mayella. Even though Tom gets convicted, Bob is still mad because Atticus took away his credibility. Atticus runs into Bob Ewell at the post office. Bob Ewell spits in Atticus’ face and says that he is going to get him. Atticus does not fight back and Ewell just shouts obscene slurs. Bob is angry when he does not get a reaction from Atticus and asks if he is too proud to fight, and Atticus says he is too old. When the kids find out, they are frightened that Bob Ewell is going to hurt Atticus. They ask Atticus to do something about it, and Atticus says, “If spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella one extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take.”(p.292-293) Atticus empathizes with Mayella. Atticus uncovered the truth at the trial. Bob got Tom convicted, but Atticus showed that Bob was the one who is beating Mayella. Bob is angry about that, and he is going to take it out on somebody. Bob spitting in Atticus’ face is something Atticus feels needs to have happened. Atticus knows that if Bob does not spit in his face he is going to beat Mayella. Bob Ewell is a drunk man who spends his welfare checks on whiskey. This has proven to bring Mayella harm suffering such as being poor but having so many siblings that there is not enough money to go around, she does all the chores and laboring without any help,

    Read More

  • Bob Ewell Antagonist

    505 Words  | 2 Pages

    It seems clear to me that Bob Ewell is the antagonist. In To Kill A Mockingbird, it is obvious that Bob Ewell is making up the story about Tom Robinson raping his daughter Mayella. . In a town like Maycomb, if a black man is accused of doing anything to a white woman, then that means he’s guilty, no matter what. During the trial, Bob Ewell reveals more about himself than he does about Tom when he testifies under oath in the Maycomb County courtroom. Bob claims that Mayella was raped, yet he does not call a doctor or take her to the hospital. When Atticus questions him if he was not worried about his daughter’s condition, he replies that he has never called a doctor to any of his family in his life. It is common sense to take a family member to the

    Read More

  • Examples Of Provincialism In To Kill A Mockingbird

    950 Words  | 2 Pages

    One night, Jem, Scout, and Dill follow Atticus to Maycomb’s jail. When they arrive, they notice that there is a mob-like group of men surrounding Atticus. As Scout observes, she notices one of the men she recognizes, and greets him casually, simply stating li+ nice work setting up the context for this specific quote “‘Hey, Mr. Cunningham.’” Mr. Cunningham ignores the greeting, so Scout continues the seemingly one-sided conversation by asking about “‘[how his] entailment [is] gettin’ along’” (Lee 204). Many residents of Maycomb have well entrenched views of the Cunningham family, and would never attempt such a casual conversation, because the family name alone connotes that they are outcasts. Scout, however, simply says “hey” and attempts to spark a conversation with a member of this family, defying the town conventions. Her exposure to Walter Cunningham at school, and the advice of Atticus about the Cunningham family, enables her to think in this manner. Scout’s view of the Radley family also begins narrow, but expands as she is exposed to more of their experiences. At the end of the novel, Boo Radley saves Scout and Jem from an attack by Bob Ewell. While Scout used to be afraid of Boo, when she sees him near Jem’s room after the rescue, she notices and points out that he would “‘like to say goodnight to Jem.’” She then

    Read More

  • Short Summary and Quote Analysis in To Kill a Mockingbird

    566 Words  | 2 Pages

    Summer rolls around again and Dill comes back to visit. A sense of discrimination develops towards the Radley’s because of their race. Scout forms a friendship with her neighbor, Miss Maudie, whose house is later burnt down. She tells Scout to respect Boo Radley and treat him like a person. Treasures keep appearing in the knothole until it is filled with cement to prevent decay.

    Read More

More about Why Is Boo Radley Banned

Open Document