Essay Sample On Imagination In To Kill A Mockingbird

Young children have a tendency to let their imaginations get the best of them. They eventually begin making up stories about things they may not be so knowledgeable about. As they grow older, these stories become more irrelevant and begin to fade as kids learn the truth about things. In To Kill A Mockingbird Scout and Jem heard and told tales about Boo Radley that made him seem even more scary than he already was to them. As Jem and Scout got older they realized that Boo isn’t they’re biggest worry anymore and they’re perspective began to shift. They noticed he was actually really kind-hearted, but shy. In Harper Lee’s work, To Kill A Mockingbird Scout and Jem’s new perspective of Boo Radley is shown through the actions and words of the kids in order to portray the maturity and growth of them throughout the course of the novel.

In the beginning of the novel Scout and Jem were making up frightening stories about the Radleys. These stories came about through their game: Boo Radley. In this game the kids would act out Boo Radley’s life. Since they didn’t know everything about his life, they did have to resort to making up stories. Even though the kids were scared of him, the game was still suggested. In the novel it states, “Jem gulped his second glassful and slapped his chest. ‘I know what we are going to play,’ he announced. ‘Something new, something different.’ ‘What?’ asked Dill. ‘Boo Radley’” (Lee 51). Jem was scared of Boo, but he knew he had Scout looking up to him and he wanted to let her know he was brave. Scout was too smart for Jem’s brave act and states, “Jem’s head at times was transparent: he had thought that up to make me understand he wasn’t afraid of the Radleys in any shape or form, in contrast to his own fearless heroism with my cowardice” (Lee 51). This shows that Jem and Scout were both scared. Jem was scared since he only suggested the game to look brave and Scout knew she was scared and was reflecting it, hence why she said “my cowardice”. So, because Scout and Jem were younger and didn’t really know any true facts about Boo Radley, it makes sense that they would make up stories about him and be frightened of him.  

Jem and Scout’s perspective of Boo Radley starts to shift more toward the end of the novel. Jem’s perspective changes when he sees Boo’s kind action of fixing his pants for him. Jem got his pants stuck and left them at the Radley’s. In the novel it states, “‘When I went back for my breeches-they were in a tangle when I was gettin’ out of ‘em, I couldn’t get ‘em loose. When I went back-’ Jem took a deep breath. ‘They were folded across the fence… like they were expectin’ me.’ ‘Across-’ ‘And something else-’ Jem’s voice was flat. ‘Show you when we get home. They’d been sewed up’” (Lee 78). Jem most likely was able to come to the conclusion that Boo Radley had fixed his pants for him. As the reader can tell from the quote, he was in absolute shock. Since then Jem hasn't really said anything discourteous about Boo, probably realizing he actually has good in him. Scout’s perspective of Boo changes when Boo saves their lives. She was extremely grateful and even got to sit with Boo for a little while. Scout got to the point where she was talking to Boo and even holding his hand. In the novel it states, “‘Mr. Arthur, bend your arm down here, like that.’ That’s right, sir.’ I slipped my hand into the crook of his arm” (Lee 372). The fact that Scout was able to talk to Boo and even go close to him was huge considering how scared she was of him to begin with. She also explains how grateful she is for him by saying, “Boo was our neighbor. He gave us two soap dolls, a broken watch and chain, a pair of good-luck pennies, and our lives” (Lee 373). From this quote the reader can see that she thought highly of him as a neighbor ever since that incident. So, the Scout and Jem were able to see the truth about Boo Radley as they went through more experiences growing up.

Scout and Jem grow to develop a new outlook on Boo Radley as they mature, which can be seen by their actions. Early on in the novel Scout and Jem could barely even talk about him. As the novel comes to an end the reader can see Scout is able to hold Boo Radley’s hand and Jem is no longer freaked out by the thought of Boo. They have both come a long way since the beginning of the novel when it comes to childish thoughts such as Boo Radley being a monster.