Arthur Radley (Boo) Character Analysis in To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Example

Trillions of individual choices, whether insignificant or impactful, are made every day. Without even knowing, the choices people make will affect the other people around them. The character of Arthur (Boo) Radley in To Kill A Mockingbird is a catalyst for change in the characters of Scout and Jem, affecting their individuality. Scout’s judgement and independence is reliant on her maturity and values she learns. This control is seen as Boo Radley helps Scout realize the truths of opinions and people around her. In turn, Boo affects the theme and development of the novel. 

Boo Radley influences Scout’s character growth exponentially. Boo is seen as an unknown and mysterious character. Scout and Jem use their imaginations to create rumors, stories, and tall tales about the monster that lies inside their neighbors home. Being raised on this gossip, Scout truly believes that “Inside [the] house [lives] a malevolent phantom.” (Lee 10).  This shows how the perception of a person can latch onto the mind.  The people of Maycomb have conditioned Scout to believe that a sinister being lives locked away next door. As time goes on, Scout becomes older and forgets about her curiosity. However, she remains confused why Arthur can stand to be locked away. His isolation makes her ponder what she would be like without the people around her. Eventually, Maudie, Atticus, and Jem begin to change Scout's view on Arthur. For years, Boo has been believed to be a victim of sorts, staying locked away against his own will. The realization that Boo Radley’s stayed shut up in the house all this time [because] he wants to stay inside,” (Lee 227)  is enlightening and shocking to Scout. Scout is a strong-willed, determined character. She is almost callous, but this new understanding seems to make Scout wiser, more mature, and smooth her edges. This is because she now acknowledges that not everyone is alike. Eventually the day comes that Scout and Boo meet. After years of thinking and judging a man she had never met, she is shocked by his appearance. She described  “delicate indentations at his temples… [and] almost feathery [hair] on top of his head (Lee 362).”The almost soft appearance of Boo Radley made Scout truly grasp the way prejudice has affected her own opinion. A realization of this magnitude can make anyone question and redefine their thought processes on several issues. Comprehending wrong prejudices is very influential for personal development. The brave man, who contradicts almost everything Scout believed him to be, then asks Scout “Will you take me home?” (Lee 372). Scout seeing Boo wishing to return home makes her recognize Boo’s unique personality. He wishes to stay inside, for whatever reason, and this resonates with Scout. It makes her wonder and question things about herself. Without Scout stopping to think about it, Boo Radley has made her change, mature, and develop as a person. This maturity beautifully leads into the lessons Scout learns.

Background characters progress the theme of stories to a great extent. Boo Radley represents one of the most important themes: empathy. Thinking of others is a hard lesson to learn. The Finch children struggle with understanding Boo. Empathy explains that “What Mr. Radley did might seem peculiar, but it did not seem peculiar to him” (Lee 65). Scout is learning about empathy through Arthur. Also, understanding that people have different reasons to act the way they do is hard for children. Realizing that  “[anyone would] stay in the house if [they] didn’t want to come out” (Lee 58) helps Scout grasp compassion. Acknowledging other people's struggles and reasoning is the first step to maturing and becoming a more empathetic person. Furthermore, the more complex side of empathy includes innocence. An empathetic person would never wrong an innocent being.  Boo Radley is often a metaphor for a mockingbird. Scout soon realizes that “it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (Lee 119). Boo Radley, who had never harmed anyone, didn’t deserve to be punished for killing Bob Ewell. The sheriff, Scout, and Atticus all empathized with Boo, an antisocial, anxious man who wasn't fit for prison or law enforcement of any type. It would be a sin to harm him or put him in an uncomfortable situation. Continuing, explaining circumstances that seem wrong to children is hard. Atitcus has “said [a person] never really know[s] a man until [they stood] in his shoes and walk[ed] around in them (Lee 321). Trying to maintain values while also conveying an open mindset is one of the hardest parts of teaching empathy. However, telling Scout that putting herself in others' shoes will explain their actions helps her grasp these concepts.  Lessons like this communicate empathy to Scout. 

Secondary characters, especially Boo, influence the growth and values of Scout. She learns about the importance of identity and independence and the pertinent parts of growing up from a young girl’s perspective. Boo helps Scout develop the maturity necessary to understand that everyone is different. She learns how to process the hardships she is observing and how they affect her and the people around her. Boo teaches her how empathy can help or change someone’s viewpoint or opinions.