Boo Radley is a complex character. His reclusive demeanor, combined with his tall, pale appearance, makes him a mysterious and somewhat scary figure for the children. However, Scout eventually learns that Boo is not a man to be scared of. Five words that capture Boo’s personality are solitary, kind, generous, protective, and strong.
Boo spends all of his time in his house and does not socialize with groups of people. This makes him a solitary person. But just because he is often alone does not mean he does not know how to be kind to others. Consider how Boo gives the kids little gifts, like soap dolls and sticks of gum. These are thoughtful gestures that show he is a kind and generous person.
Boo is also protective of the children. The way he saves them from Mr. Ewell and puts the blanket over Scout’s shoulders reveals this to the reader. The way he faces Mr. Ewell also highlights one of his other personality traits—his strength. People in Maycomb spread mean stories about Boo and think he is capable of awful things. But in reality, Boo was just a child who grew up with a strict family and demonstrated signs of mental illness. He has been stuck inside his house since childhood, without close friends, in a society that stigmatizes mental illness. The way that he keeps going and looks out for others despite the hardships he faces makes him a strong person.
The most immediate adjective that comes to mind regarding Boo Radley in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbirdis solitary. Boo hasn't been seen outside of his house in years, creating much fodder for the gossipy townspeople and turning him into somewhat of an urban legend in the community.
As we learn more about Boo's history, it becomes apparent that he is also quite sensitive. It is suggested that Boo's strict Baptist father deeply traumatized his son and that Boo has become emotionally damaged from this treatment. Lee also posits that one reason Boo stays inside is that he's hurt by the town gossip about him. Through this information, we learn that Boo is quite sensitive to the judgement of those around him.
Boo's unseen presence in Jem and Scout's lives shows him to be a very curious person. After years of near invisibility, Boo begins to venture out to spy on the children. He appears genuinely interested in their lives and curious about their youthful misadventures.
When Boo starts leaving gifts for Jem and Scout, we see his the generous side of his personality. He leaves them various presents, including two small dolls carved to look like the children. In spite of the rumors about him, Boo proves to be a caring and generous soul.
In the climax of the novel, we learn that Boo is also incredibly brave; he emerges from nowhere to save Jem and Scout's lives from the wrath of Bob Ewell.
Although Boo is a solitary character, he...
See This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial to unlock this answer and thousands more. Enjoy eNotes ad-free and cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
also reveals himself to be sensitive, curious, generous, and brave throughout the novel.
Further Reading
Boo is reclusive. Jem, Scout, and Dill are frightened of him because his reclusive quality has led to monstrous, folkloric stories about him, but that fear also piques their interest. At the end of the novel, when Scout meets him, she sees he is, indeed, fully a human being, but nevertheless "timid," dead white from always being indoors, and nervous about being at the Finch's home—a recluse through and through.
Reclusive as he is, Boo shows himself to be caring. He leaves gifts for the children in the knothole in the tree for as long as he can, he returns Jem's torn pants sewn up, he slips a blanket over Scout's shoulders at Miss Maudie's fire, and he saves the children from Mr. Ewell's attack.
As Miss Maudie explains, Boo was damaged by his upbringing. His father got what Miss Maudie calls the wrong kind of religion, which makes him an angry, tyrannical, oppressive man. Boo is not naturally a recluse, but has been turned into one by mistreatment.
Boo is observant. He knows what is going on with the children because he watches them. Scout imagines at the end of the novel Boo thinking of them as "his children." He is the only one who observes that they are being attacked by Bob Ewell, so the only one in a position to save them.
Boo is courageous in risking himself to save the children from the knife wielding Mr. Ewell. He also shows courage when he comes over to the Finch house at the end to meet Scout and see the injured Jem.
How about shy, enigmatic, misunderstood, thoughtful, and brave? Boo is shy because he hides in his home to escape what is sure to be curious (at best) and evil (at worst) torments about his condition. Ironically, curious children (such as Scout, Jem, and Dill) are the ones who coax Boo out into the real world. Boo is enigmatic because no one really knows why Boo acts the way he does. Every strange and horrible activity that Boo participates in is hearsay: eating domesticated animals, stabbing folks with scissors, and being a general "monster." It turns out, of course, that Boo is simply misunderstood, never having been given an outlet for his true personality of thoughtfulness and bravery. Boo begins to prove himself as thoughtful when he leaves gifts for the children. His thoughtfulness doesn't end there, however. Boo also fixes Jem's pants, helps keep Scout warm by the fire, and most importantly saves the children from being murdered by Bob Ewell. It is that last element of thoughtfulness that meanders into the characteristic of bravery. Anyone would have to be brave to stand up someone like Bob Ewell. Boo Radley became a brave man at that moment.
What are the characteristics of Boo Radley in To Kill A Mockingbird?
Boo Radley is a willing recluse, choosing to withdraw from society. Because of this, he is misunderstood and labeled as strange or different. He becomes the target of the children's imaginations and they often play "Boo Radley" games.
Boo hasn't been seen by anyone in public for a very long time, and rumors abound of his violent tendencies, including, but not limited to, the time he attacked his father with scissors. These are the stories the children act out in their games, and they dare one another to "touch" the house and to spy on the Radley home.
Boo, in reality, is a kind-hearted, quiet person who chooses to do good deeds without recognition or reward. He leaves gum and other small gifts for the children in the tree, wraps Scout in a blanket, and rescues the children from the attack from Bob Ewell.
Despite the rumors and stories of violence, Boo Radley is a lot like Batman...he moves silently in the dark doing the work of the protector, not waiting around long enough for the pat on the back he deserves. In living this way, he helps show Jem and Scout another side of human nature which in turn, along with the trial and other characters in their town, play a huge part in their moral and character education.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, what are Boo Radley's physical and personality traits?
It depends on where in the book you want to reference. If you want to reference the kids' stories and the town gossip, Boo is a mean man, over 6 feet tall. His hands are blood-stained from eating raw squirrels and cats. His eyes bug out and he drools all the time. Anything on the Radley lot is poisonous and Boo's breath causes the unexpected frost that may come upon plants at night. Boo is a thing of legend, gossip and town lore.
By the end of the novel, the true personality of Boo is revealed. He is a kind man--he leaves gifts for Jem and Scout in the tree, puts a blanket on Scout the night MIss Maudie's house burns down, and save their lives from Bob Ewell. Boo may also be seen as a bit lonely. He looks just like a regular man, though a bit more pale and skinny. He is shy and quiet and doesn't like to be the center of attention.
What are some of the main characteristics of Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird?
Because he has spent most of his life as a recluse, Boo is a mystery to others. Thus, he acts as something as a foil in the novel--each character reveals something of him or herself in what they see in him. Atticus, true to character, reserves judgement and refuses to comment about or condemn Boo.The gossips in the town, on the other hand, see him as dangerous, for he is unknown to them and unpredictable. But Boo is far from a danger. He is childlike--he laughs at the children. He is caring--he fixes Jem's pants and puts a blanket around Scout's shoulders during the fire. And he is protective over those he loves: he risks everything--life and freedom--to save Jem.
In the opening chapters of To Kill a Mockingbird, what are some character traits of Boo Radley?
At the beginning of To Kill a Mockingbird, the most predominant character trait of Boo Radley is that he is mysterious. Much of what the audience learns about him (directly) is from gossip, here-say, and the opinions of the main characters, who are children and who have almost glorified Boo into a monster of sorts out of boredom.
However, there are several personality traits that can be inferred by using indirect characterization. It is true that Boo Radley is a character who keeps to himself. This is evidenced by the fact that the children have never seen him. "Nobody knew what form of intimidation Mr. Radley employed to keep Boo out of sight" (11) but this fact keeps the children guessing at his physical appearance.
It can also be inferred that Boo Radley has an innocent interest in the children. This is evidenced by the gifts he leaves in the knot hole in the tree in chapter 7. The soap carvings of the boy and girl who resemble Scout and Jem are almost like a peace offering showing that he is not a monster. The children's opinion of him begin to change.
Finally, it can be inferred that Boo Radley is not only interested in the children, but watching out for them as well. On the night when Jem, Scout, and Dill sneak into the Radley's back yard and Jem loses his pants, he goes back for them only to find them neatly folded and sewn up "not like a lady sewed 'em" (58). Jem knows before anyone else that Boo Radley is seeking a method to communicate with them, and though he remains a character surrounded by mystery, it seems clear that he is not harmful.
What are some traits of Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird?
Arthur "Boo" Radley is depicted as a reclusive, compassionate man who remains inside his dilapidated home against his will and eventually rescues Jem and Scout from Bob Ewell toward the end of the novel. At the beginning of the story, Scout recalls the rumors surrounding Boo Radley's adolescence and mentions that he got into trouble while hanging out with the Cunningham boys. Unfortunately, Boo Radley and the Cunningham boys were arrested for harassing a town constable, and Boo's severe father proceeded to lock him inside the house as punishment. Given Boo's willingness to participate in risky pranks with the Cunningham boys, one could argue that he was an impressionable, immature adolescent.
As the story progresses, Boo Radley attempts to communicate with the Finch children by leaving them small gifts in the knothole of the oak tree. Boo's gifts and attempt to form a friendship with the Finch children portray him as a kind, benevolent neighbor. Unfortunately, Nathan Radley pours cement in the knothole to prevent him from communicating with Jem and Scout. The fact that Boo cannot express himself or challenge his brother depicts him as a timid, powerless individual. Despite Boo's lack of independence and unfortunate home life, he demonstrates selflessness and courage by defending the children against Bob Ewell. Boo Radley protects the Finch children and ends up killing Bob Ewell using a kitchen knife. However, Boo Radley relies on Sheriff Tate to protect him from the community's limelight, which portrays him as a defenseless, vulnerable character. Overall, Boo Radley is a symbolic mockingbird who is innocent, benevolent, and defenseless.