Character Analysis: Not Afraid Of Boo
Not Afraid of Boo A large part of a book is defined by the characters within it. A book is often only as good as its characters. Many books feature bland characters with no personality whatsoever. The best of characters are complex, with depth and a personality all their own. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird features many different characters. One of the most interesting characters is Arthur “Boo” Radley. Boo is introduced to the reader as a mystic monster, but as the story continues he is shown to perform mysterious kind acts, and he finishes the book with one last unexpected act of kindness.
Very early on in To Kill a Mockingbird, the reader is introduced the neighborhood, and one of the houses is a dark and strange house belonging …show more content…
One of the most interesting appearances of Boo Radley comes during the burning of Miss Maudie’s house. An unsuspecting Scout finds herself coming home with a blanket that wasn’t her own. “‘Thank who?’ I asked. ‘Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at that fire you didn’t know it when he put that blanket around you.’ [said Atticus]” (Lee, 96) This leaves Scout questioning everything she has been told about Boo up to that point, wondering if he is as dark as the tales say.
In the final act of the book, Scout and Jem make their way home, but quickly realize that they are being followed. The mystery stalker is defeated and the children are saved by none other than Boo Radley, revealing him to be a caring person, even though he does not know the children he saved very well. “[Scout says] ‘...when they finally saw him, why he hadn’t done any of those things… Atticus, he was real nice.’” (Lee, 376) Boo, despite being criticized and lied about is willing to risk his life for two random children. Boo behaves as a true hero, putting others before himself.
Boo is looked down upon by society as a vicious beast, a savage monster who only cares about himself. Yet he proves himself to be the opposite, a kind man who cares nothing of himself. Boo Radley shows himself as a complex character by being portrayed mythically, does mysterious deeds, and in the end shows his true self: a caring
Very early on in To Kill a Mockingbird, the reader is introduced the neighborhood, and one of the houses is a dark and strange house belonging …show more content…
One of the most interesting appearances of Boo Radley comes during the burning of Miss Maudie’s house. An unsuspecting Scout finds herself coming home with a blanket that wasn’t her own. “‘Thank who?’ I asked. ‘Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at that fire you didn’t know it when he put that blanket around you.’ [said Atticus]” (Lee, 96) This leaves Scout questioning everything she has been told about Boo up to that point, wondering if he is as dark as the tales say.
In the final act of the book, Scout and Jem make their way home, but quickly realize that they are being followed. The mystery stalker is defeated and the children are saved by none other than Boo Radley, revealing him to be a caring person, even though he does not know the children he saved very well. “[Scout says] ‘...when they finally saw him, why he hadn’t done any of those things… Atticus, he was real nice.’” (Lee, 376) Boo, despite being criticized and lied about is willing to risk his life for two random children. Boo behaves as a true hero, putting others before himself.
Boo is looked down upon by society as a vicious beast, a savage monster who only cares about himself. Yet he proves himself to be the opposite, a kind man who cares nothing of himself. Boo Radley shows himself as a complex character by being portrayed mythically, does mysterious deeds, and in the end shows his true self: a caring