The Radleys
The Radleys live on the same block as the
Finchs. They are a very mysterious family who stay in the house most always. Mr. and Mrs. Radley had two sons, Arthur and Nathan. As a boy, Arthur was in a small gang, and got in trouble with the law after locking a deputy in a jail cell. Instead of sending him to a boys reformatory home however, Mr. Radly decided to keep Arthur confined to their house where he remained for fifteen years. After the father died Nathan moved in to look over Arthur. Boo, as Arthur is known, is very lonely but remains in the house all day. They are a family of foot-washing Baptists which is why they are so strict about Boo. |
"Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." (Lee 119). One of the characters Harper Lee was referring to as a mockingbird is Boo Radley. He stays in his house all day and doesn't bother anyone, in fact, he's been helpful at times. It would be a sin to disturb or harm him because he doesn't do anything to deserve it. However, because of his "odd" way of living, he is subjected to social prejudices. Many people think he is insane and judge him just on the way he lives. They even go so far as to start awful, untrue rumors about him.
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