Boo Radley Isolation

Firstly, I predict that the kids will not meet Boo Radley. I have come to this conclusion based on evidence supporting the idea that Boo Radley is locked up. One reason is because I believe Boo Radley is socially isolated from Maycomb. Jem and Scout have never actually seen Boo; therefore we can infer that Boo does not come out of his house often, if at all. The house itself has all the shutters and doors closed, even on Sundays and Boo never attends church, like everyone else. This could mean that Boo does not socialize with the rest of Maycomb and he might not even know how to act around other people, much less around Jem and Scout, which is why he never leaves his house. Another reason for this is because the Radleys themselves are closed off and are keeping Boo away. In court Mr. …show more content…
This could potentially mean that the Radleys are keeping Boo inside the house, so that he does not attempt any more illegal activities, socially isolating him. My last reason for Boo being locked up is that he stabbed Mr. Radley with scissors. After that, there was talk of sending Boo off to an asylum, until Mr. Radley convinced them of sending him home, after locking him in the courthouse basement. This shows signs of mental instability in Boo, and almost sending Boo to an asylum shows that people in Maycomb also believe that he is ill. Nathan Radley ended up watching him, after Mr. Radley’s death and this could mean that Boo needs someone to watch over him, due to his ill state. Jem and Scout also might not meet Boo, because they are petrified of him. In the story the mere mention of Boo could keep the kids disciplined, because they believed in the rumors. Many kids even refused to pick the Radleys’ pecans, or fetch baseballs that fell into the Radleys’ yard. Jem and Scout went as far as to believe that Boo dined on cats and squirrels, had yellow teeth and supported a jagged facial scar, implying that they believe he is a