Boo's name mentioned right away at the
start of the story in an intriguing way.
"It began the summer when Dill came to us, when Dill
first gave us the idea of making Boo Radley come out".
Scout describes him as a malevolent phantom. Many rumours
circulated about him and children were afraid to go near his house.
In reality, he is a recluse who was emotionally
damaged by his cruel father. Mr Radley preffered to
shut up his son than send him to an industrial school
as a punishment for schoolboy pranks
His older brother, Nathan, took over when his father died.
He is intelligent.
One of the items he leaves in the knothole
for the children is a school spelling medal
and he skilfully carves soap figures.
From his house, he can see the whole of life in Maycomb.
He grows to love the children next door
whom he watches- Jem and Scout
He leaves them
presents in the
knothole.
He fixes Jem's trousers.
He covers Scout with a
blanket during the fire.
At the end, he saves their lives
Scout only realises what life is like for him
when she guides him home late on the night.