Boo is most definitely one of the most interesting and controversial characters. He speaks no words throughout the book, and yet plays one of the biggest roles. He reveals the ills of society, the innocence of the children, and symbolizes a “mockingbird.” He is exactly what the book speaks of, a child of goodness harassed by the prejudice and cruelty of mankind. The stories that exaggerate the life of Boo and characteristics of him reveal the ills of society, and innocence of children, for the Finch the children believe every word they hear about poor Boo, and none of which speak the truth behind him. Boo represents the many innocent and misjudged people during that time, in this case, African Americans. Boo’s character teaches readers not to make assumptions without any substantial evidence or knowledge and this proves that actions speak louder than the words of rumors. Boo symbolizes prejudices towards those who are innocent and often misjudged.
Many people have made interesting points about Boo that I have never considered. I also beleive that Boo represents how people are quick to make judgments of others without really knowing them personally. At that time period,African Amercians were misjudged and viewed as having one type of characher; ignorant and violent. Boo shows how not only Blacks are misjudged, but Whites also and its usually in a negative light. Where in reality Boo is not as evil as people makes him to be. Harper Lee is using Boo to show that maybe Blacks are not as ignorant or violent as they are made to be;actions are a better way to judge than by rumors.
I see Boo as the representation of the hidden good beneath the evil of the white community. Boo is a speechless character therefore all that he does it completely overshadowed by the others who do speak and in this case many of the evil coming from the white community. Like you Floridon he represents the innocence and misjudged people of the age. I believe Harper Lee made this character to show that even in the white community people could be victim of prejudice. While the story shows the white community as incapable of judging their own kind.
I think it also represents a child's curiosity along with the fact that they just found him disgusting because other people had told them but not because they had seen him themselves.
Boo represents a mockingbird Because mockingbirds are harmless and don't do anything to anyone.Boo lives alone and doesnt do anything to anyone, and doesnt bother anybody. He minds his own business and it would be "a sin" to do anything to harm/disturb him.
The fact that he is silent and speaks through his actions shows that relation to a mockingbird.The way he acts with Jem and scout by Leaving them small gifts in the tree and protecting Jem, is the way a mockingbird sings their songs in a a form of goodness.
I agree with the fact that Boo Radley represents a mockingbird. Mockingbirds, as Atticus states " do no harm, except make music". Boo Radley is not a dangerous character as they suspect him to be. He helps the children in their time of need and protects them. Boo is a good person, he does no harm.
I love what Ana had to say about Boo, he really does represent a mockingbird being that he is a silent character. Whenever he does speak, its through his actions, never literal. He is still a good person even though he killed Bob because he was just trying to protect Jem.
He's a remarkable character. Quiet, but still an important character in the story. He really does represent as a mockingbird because Boo never harms the people in any way. He may have stab Bob, but that was to protect the children, Scout and Jem. It shows the readers how Boo is not a dangerous person, but on how he's symbolized as a mockingbird. As he is a guardian of the innocence. Only the truth can reveal a character's identity. And the truth of Boo is the symbolism of the mockingbird.
I find it interesting how you made the connection of Boo Representing African Americans when he himself is white. It's almost as if Boo has become a Universal figure of being misunderstood and yet being good. But how do you justify Boo killing Bob Ewell? I know that he was protecting Jem, but is that goodness now tainted in a way?
Boo killing Bob Ewell is just symbolic to the fact that "you should never kill a mockingbird" because Ewell was the reason why a mockingbird like Tom Robinson was killed. Boo's goodness was not tainted in anyway because he provides an example of the threat that evil imposes on innocence and goodness.
I feel like this has to do with MLK's points about the means that people take to reach their goal/ Is killing not killing? Was Boo justified in murdering Ewell or is he the same as Tom's murderers?
I agree completely Boo has great signifigance and deffinitely represents "child of goodness harassed by the prejudice and cruelty of mankind" even though in literal terms Boo is a grown man , his actions when he brought Jem home and was petting him while he was in bed shows his child-like innocence. I also like how you made a conncetion between African Americans and Boo when he is white, because blacks are misjudged by their skin color and Boo was misjudged by what was rumored he did instead of actual evidence
To add on to what Daniel said: When we were inquisitive and naive children, I'm sure we all thought we were detectives and always tried to "solve a mystery". For this novel, Harper Lee creates Boo as the "mystery" that symptoms the loss of youthfulness in children as the years pass. Before they met Boo, Scout and Jem adventured throughout his house to find out more information about him, and to either confirm or deny all the rumors. But when they "uncovered" the mystery that is Boo, their innocence started to slip away and they eventually grow from this experience. It's like that devastating moment when you randomly wake up at midnight and instead of seeing a big, fat, white man wearing red, you see your dad or your mom putting the Christmas presents under the tree. You lose that naivety and as the years pass, your life becomes much more based on facts than stories.
I do agree, Boo radley is a very interesting character. For someone who does not say anything at all, his characteristics and his actions say a million words. Harper Lee is depicting many controversial ills of society during this time period such as the burden Tom Robinson is taking on. As a black man during this time period who is placed on trial, the odds are absolutely not in his favor. He is forced to face racial injustice.
Boo is most definitely one of the most interesting and controversial characters. He speaks no words throughout the book, and yet plays one of the biggest roles. He reveals the ills of society, the innocence of the children, and symbolizes a “mockingbird.” He is exactly what the book speaks of, a child of goodness harassed by the prejudice and cruelty of mankind. The stories that exaggerate the life of Boo and characteristics of him reveal the ills of society, and innocence of children, for the Finch the children believe every word they hear about poor Boo, and none of which speak the truth behind him. Boo represents the many innocent and misjudged people during that time, in this case, African Americans. Boo’s character teaches readers not to make assumptions without any substantial evidence or knowledge and this proves that actions speak louder than the words of rumors. Boo symbolizes prejudices towards those who are innocent and often misjudged.
ReplyDeleteMany people have made interesting points about Boo that I have never considered. I also beleive that Boo represents how people are quick to make judgments of others without really knowing them personally. At that time period,African Amercians were misjudged and viewed as having one type of characher; ignorant and violent. Boo shows how not only Blacks are misjudged, but Whites also and its usually in a negative light. Where in reality Boo is not as evil as people makes him to be. Harper Lee is using Boo to show that maybe Blacks are not as ignorant or violent as they are made to be;actions are a better way to judge than by rumors.
DeleteI see Boo as the representation of the hidden good beneath the evil of the white community. Boo is a speechless character therefore all that he does it completely overshadowed by the others who do speak and in this case many of the evil coming from the white community. Like you Floridon he represents the innocence and misjudged people of the age. I believe Harper Lee made this character to show that even in the white community people could be victim of prejudice. While the story shows the white community as incapable of judging their own kind.
DeleteI think it also represents a child's curiosity along with the fact that they just found him disgusting because other people had told them but not because they had seen him themselves.
ReplyDeleteBoo represents a mockingbird Because mockingbirds are harmless and don't do anything to anyone.Boo lives alone and doesnt do anything to anyone, and doesnt bother anybody. He minds his own business and it would be "a sin" to do anything to harm/disturb him.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that he is silent and speaks through his actions shows that relation to a mockingbird.The way he acts with Jem and scout by Leaving them small gifts in the tree and protecting Jem, is the way a mockingbird sings their songs in a a form of goodness.
DeleteI agree with the fact that Boo Radley represents a mockingbird. Mockingbirds, as Atticus states " do no harm, except make music". Boo Radley is not a dangerous character as they suspect him to be. He helps the children in their time of need and protects them. Boo is a good person, he does no harm.
DeleteI love what Ana had to say about Boo, he really does represent a mockingbird being that he is a silent character. Whenever he does speak, its through his actions, never literal. He is still a good person even though he killed Bob because he was just trying to protect Jem.
DeleteHe's a remarkable character. Quiet, but still an important character in the story. He really does represent as a mockingbird because Boo never harms the people in any way. He may have stab Bob, but that was to protect the children, Scout and Jem. It shows the readers how Boo is not a dangerous person, but on how he's symbolized as a mockingbird. As he is a guardian of the innocence. Only the truth can reveal a character's identity. And the truth of Boo is the symbolism of the mockingbird.
DeleteI find it interesting how you made the connection of Boo Representing African Americans when he himself is white. It's almost as if Boo has become a Universal figure of being misunderstood and yet being good. But how do you justify Boo killing Bob Ewell? I know that he was protecting Jem, but is that goodness now tainted in a way?
ReplyDeleteBoo killing Bob Ewell is just symbolic to the fact that "you should never kill a mockingbird" because Ewell was the reason why a mockingbird like Tom Robinson was killed. Boo's goodness was not tainted in anyway because he provides an example of the threat that evil imposes on innocence and goodness.
DeleteI feel like this has to do with MLK's points about the means that people take to reach their goal/ Is killing not killing? Was Boo justified in murdering Ewell or is he the same as Tom's murderers?
DeleteI agree completely Boo has great signifigance and deffinitely represents "child of goodness harassed by the prejudice and cruelty of mankind" even though in literal terms Boo is a grown man , his actions when he brought Jem home and was petting him while he was in bed shows his child-like innocence. I also like how you made a conncetion between African Americans and Boo when he is white, because blacks are misjudged by their skin color and Boo was misjudged by what was rumored he did instead of actual evidence
ReplyDeleteTo add on to what Daniel said: When we were inquisitive and naive children, I'm sure we all thought we were detectives and always tried to "solve a mystery". For this novel, Harper Lee creates Boo as the "mystery" that symptoms the loss of youthfulness in children as the years pass. Before they met Boo, Scout and Jem adventured throughout his house to find out more information about him, and to either confirm or deny all the rumors. But when they "uncovered" the mystery that is Boo, their innocence started to slip away and they eventually grow from this experience. It's like that devastating moment when you randomly wake up at midnight and instead of seeing a big, fat, white man wearing red, you see your dad or your mom putting the Christmas presents under the tree. You lose that naivety and as the years pass, your life becomes much more based on facts than stories.
ReplyDeleteI do agree, Boo radley is a very interesting character. For someone who does not say anything at all, his characteristics and his actions say a million words. Harper Lee is depicting many controversial ills of society during this time period such as the burden Tom Robinson is taking on. As a black man during this time period who is placed on trial, the odds are absolutely not in his favor. He is forced to face racial injustice.
ReplyDelete