The children's relationship with Boo in Part One is
important in that this subplot sets the stage for the greater trial coming up in the
adult world around them. Jem, Scout and Dill first have their own notions about Boo and
none of them are very complimentary. They are drawn to him by a sort of morbid
fascination which has been encouraged by all the hearsay going on about Boo's domestic
violence and night rambling. They are prejudiced against Boo in the same way that the
white community is prejudiced against Tom Robinson. Their attitude changes, however,
when Boo patches up Jem's pants, then leaves little presents in the hole in the tree.
Boo takes the first step to be the children's friend, even if it is only a "virtual"
kind of way. The children's attitude towards Boo Radley begins to change even if they
still have a gut fear of him actually coming around. When he puts a blanket around Scout
as she watches Miss Maudie's house burn down, Jem and Scout are later in awe that they
actually got that close. They harbour some fear of him even if they are aware that he
means them no harm. At the end of Part One, the reader can't help but wonder if the
children aren't doing a better job at overcoming their unjustified fears and prejudice
than the grownups in Maycomb. Also, a correlation arises between Boo and Tom, two
innocent people ostracised and "found guilty" in the Deep South mind frame of the
1930s.
can you help me with this
question?
some readers think that jem's broken arm
symbolizes the wound that the system of segregation inflicted on white southerners. what
do you think of this idea? what evidence can you find in the story that the author might
have intended to make the broken arm a symbol?
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