The Line Between Fun and Disrespect:

An Essay Examining the Treatment of Boo Radly 

By Jennifer Carroll

8th Grade English

Pine Point School

October 5, 2010

         (TS) Boo Radly is a creature steeped in mystery and horror to the small town of Maycomb County. Raised off of legends and stories, children can be expected to be curious and frightened of the Radly house and of Boo himself. Listening eagerly to gossip, making up games to play about the family, saying that their pecans were poisoned and that Boo ate raw animals, some might go a little beyond curious and fancy themselves daring adventurers. They invade his privacy but always stay at a safe distance, where Scout, Jem and Dill go beyond privacy invasion and straight on to disrespect.

        (TS) Maycomb is a small town, where everybody knows the secrets and misdoings of neighbors. (CM) Boo Radly is a topic of heated discussion among gossips and an object of horror and terror for the children. (CM) The tales they tell, from poisoned pecans to eating raw animals has put him in a dark light for some. (SD) Dill has a borderline obsession with poor Boo and is relentless in his plans for seeing him. (CM) Jem and Scout are party to this but Dill is obviously the main source behind the ideas and staring.(CM) At first it was a game, something to boast about and laugh at in later times, but now has become more of a hunt to Dill, with Boo the prize and the prey. (SD) The insolence that Dill, Jem and Scout are showing this poor man is staggering. (CM) They are acting like tiny stalkers, frenzied in their search for a glimpse of the mysterious Boo Radly. (CM)Peeking into his windows, sneaking into his property, daring each other to touch his house...they show no deference or anything but contempt for his privacy. (CS) Treating a persons life as a toy to whittle away long hours and boredom is disgusting and I am ashamed of them for acting this way.
        (TS) Boo is a human being. He is strange, bizarre and possibly mentally challenged but he is not a monster or a devil of any kind. He deserves to be treated with respect and people should oblige his obvious wishes to be left alone. Scout, Jem and Dill are being cruel and mean to this poor man, no matter how mysterious he is.


Self Assessment: I like this essay because I think I was descriptive and followed the instructions well. I don't really like my chunk on Dill and I think that my concluding paragraph could be better, but I am working on that. I would give myself a B- for this essay.