Fear: an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. This concept occurs throughout the 1960 novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. The notion often shapes the actions of protagonists Jean Louise (Scout) Finch, Jeremy (Jem) Finch, and Charles (Dill) Baker Harris. Both in the beginning of the novel, the idea of shut-away Arthur (Boo) Radley is described as a malevolent phantom that harms children and animals, and when antagonist Bob Ewell attacks the children as a result of their father, Atticus Finch, defending an accused rapist (Tom Robinson) against Ewell's daughter.
Through the children's eyes, Boo Radley appeared to be an urban legend. They were scared at the idea of him because they knew nothing of him except for rumours. In contrast to Bob Ewell, the town knew of his open and his considerably repulsive lifestyle, however, the townspeople did not fear him. Within the final chapters of the novel, Bob Ewell attacks the children when a mysterious individual intervenes and essentially saves Jem and Scout, which ultimately turns out to be Boo Radley, and the roles of the 'phantom' are reversed.
I find that Scout's statement about fear only being real in books to be accurate. The children's fear of Boo was derived from the stories and rumours, similar to the fears and assumptions made be Maycomb citizens about the black community. In reality, the real fear was the result of an everyday citizen (Ewell).
Through the children's eyes, Boo Radley appeared to be an urban legend. They were scared at the idea of him because they knew nothing of him except for rumours. In contrast to Bob Ewell, the town knew of his open and his considerably repulsive lifestyle, however, the townspeople did not fear him. Within the final chapters of the novel, Bob Ewell attacks the children when a mysterious individual intervenes and essentially saves Jem and Scout, which ultimately turns out to be Boo Radley, and the roles of the 'phantom' are reversed.
I find that Scout's statement about fear only being real in books to be accurate. The children's fear of Boo was derived from the stories and rumours, similar to the fears and assumptions made be Maycomb citizens about the black community. In reality, the real fear was the result of an everyday citizen (Ewell).