To Kill A Mockingbird is a novel about six year old Scout, her older brother Jem, and their widowed father Atticus. Set in the South during the Great Depression in the fictitious town of Maycomb, To Kill A Mockingbird explores the themes of innocence and prejudice through the eyes of young Scout. One of the utmost important quotes of the whole novel would be “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird," (Lee 93) As Miss Maudie said, "Mockingbirds don't do one thing except make music for us to enjoy,” (Lee 93). However, this quote has a much bigger impact on the book than expected. Mockingbirds represent innocence, purity, and innocuousness. Although many say that Tom Robinson represents
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It is clear from the very beginning of the book, the town has made Boo quite a reputation despite not actually knowing him. Whereas Maycomb is a town where everyone knows each other and and the events that goes on in each person's life, the Radley family has managed to remain a mystery in the towns eyes, thus allowing them to make lunatic stories and rumor about them, especially Boo. Rumors included that “he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch,” (Lee 13). This itself was made up by Jem, an imaginative and zany child. Nonetheless, the rumors made up by adults proved not to be much better as “Miss Stephanie Crawford said she woke up in the middle of the night one time and saw [Boo] looking straight through the window at her… said his head was like a skull looking at her,” (Lee 13). The catalyst rumor that made Booout to be a monster was speculation that he stabbed his father in the leg when he was at home. Not even confirmed to be true, his community shunned him and began talking about him as if he were another species. In addition, African Americans actively strayed away from the path …show more content…
Thus they all lead similar lives. However, Boo Radley’s life is a huge contrast to that of a typical citizen. He has not been seen outside his house for fifteen years, consequently not living up to societal norms during the time. As mentioned after Boo saves Jem and Scout from Bob Ewell's drunken effort at murdering them, Boo’s movements were erratic and were “uncertain, as if he were not sure his hands and feet could make proper contact with the things he touched,” (Lee 281). Scout has to urge him in his movements and study his body language in order to make him comfortable. It is seen that from being forced by his father to stay inside his house for such a long time has resulted him in acquiring a form of social anxiety. Nevertheless, there is much more to Boo Radley’s protracted stay in his house. As Jem explains, “I think I’m beginning to understand why Boo Radley’s stayed shut up in his house all this time… it’s because he wants to stay outside,” (Lee 117). This revelation makes complete sense in the grand scheme of the town. Although, it may seem that Boo doesn’t observe or understand the world he lives in, he has come to terms with the way of life in Maycomb. Boo may have been forced into staying in his house, but after the death of his father, he chose to stay inside. He witnesses the prejudice Tom faces and decides staying inside was a more sensible option than going out and
It is clear from the very beginning of the book, the town has made Boo quite a reputation despite not actually knowing him. Whereas Maycomb is a town where everyone knows each other and and the events that goes on in each person's life, the Radley family has managed to remain a mystery in the towns eyes, thus allowing them to make lunatic stories and rumor about them, especially Boo. Rumors included that “he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch,” (Lee 13). This itself was made up by Jem, an imaginative and zany child. Nonetheless, the rumors made up by adults proved not to be much better as “Miss Stephanie Crawford said she woke up in the middle of the night one time and saw [Boo] looking straight through the window at her… said his head was like a skull looking at her,” (Lee 13). The catalyst rumor that made Booout to be a monster was speculation that he stabbed his father in the leg when he was at home. Not even confirmed to be true, his community shunned him and began talking about him as if he were another species. In addition, African Americans actively strayed away from the path …show more content…
Thus they all lead similar lives. However, Boo Radley’s life is a huge contrast to that of a typical citizen. He has not been seen outside his house for fifteen years, consequently not living up to societal norms during the time. As mentioned after Boo saves Jem and Scout from Bob Ewell's drunken effort at murdering them, Boo’s movements were erratic and were “uncertain, as if he were not sure his hands and feet could make proper contact with the things he touched,” (Lee 281). Scout has to urge him in his movements and study his body language in order to make him comfortable. It is seen that from being forced by his father to stay inside his house for such a long time has resulted him in acquiring a form of social anxiety. Nevertheless, there is much more to Boo Radley’s protracted stay in his house. As Jem explains, “I think I’m beginning to understand why Boo Radley’s stayed shut up in his house all this time… it’s because he wants to stay outside,” (Lee 117). This revelation makes complete sense in the grand scheme of the town. Although, it may seem that Boo doesn’t observe or understand the world he lives in, he has come to terms with the way of life in Maycomb. Boo may have been forced into staying in his house, but after the death of his father, he chose to stay inside. He witnesses the prejudice Tom faces and decides staying inside was a more sensible option than going out and