Boo+Radley+-+the+final+chapters

In the final chapters a reference is made to the title and earlier in the book where Atticus Finch explains to scout and jem about what his father told him about killing mockingbirds. Boo Radley is referred to a mockingbird in this case as he would end up worse off if he was idolised or punished by the county of maycomb when all he did was save the children and kill an evil drunken man. At the very end of the book after the events with the 'mockingbird' Boo Radley, Atticus reads a book at the end called 'the grey ghost' this refers back to the earlier description of Boo Radley as he was as white as a ghost and he had very thin light white hair. Not only had his features depicted him as a ghost but also his way of life. At the very beginning of the book Boo was described as a malevolent phantom. He never came out and was never seen, he was mysterious, almost ghostlike/phantomlike, he had rumours spread about him not dissimilar to ghost stories. like how he would go out at night and crimes would be blamed on him or any mishappenings. So the link between the first description of him and the last description is clearly evident.

James Graves

The final chapters of the novel give us a 'real life' description of Boo Radley. Whereas the rest of the novel shows him in the perspective of others. After the incident, (Scout and Jem getting attacked, and saved by Boo), he is described differently. With 'feather-like' hair, and pale skin. Rather than being a tormentor, he concludes the story as a hero, thus reversing the initial impression.

What is interesting, is how the fatherly side of Boo is fully recognized. Throughout the story, the symbolism of Boo putting the items in the tree lead us to believe that he had father-like tenancies, reinforced by him saving them, and further proved by the last couple of pages. The way that Boo is presented towards the end as he watched 'his children', is very touching and almost explains a lot of the story.

Another interesting aspect of the story is how he is let off for his crime. Scout's understanding of 'killing a mocking-bird' ties the beginning and the end of the story, as well as the title, in a similar way a moral would end a story. The way the book begins at the end means the start is a little un-clear, but all is realized at the end. This is similar to how Boo's character is put across.

Shannon Rooke