The darkness
In the beginning of the chapter, everybody decides to the front porch to have their discussion. Scout realizes that this is because Boo likes to the dark. Also, many other times in the chapter, and throughout the novel, it is mentioned that Boo prefers to be in the dark. In this chapter it is sometimes emphasised, as even when everybody is sitting at the porch, it is said that light from the living room was strong on Atticus and Heck; however Boo was sitting in a dark shadow. I interoperate this as a symbol. In the beginning of the novel, Boo hiding in the darkness of his own house led to many rumours, making him out to be mentally unstable and a monster. In this chapter we finally see the darkness from a different perspective, Boo’s perspective. The darkness is a symbol for Boo hiding and escaping from the public, just like how you can’t see someone or something in the dark. Boo Radley stays inside his house because he doesn’t want to deal with the evil of the outside world, he’s innocent. He is in the dark so that nobody can see him. Inside his home he is in peace, and tranquil, where he is distant from the evil of the outside world. Announcing him as a hero for saving the lives of Scout and Jem, is forcing him into the light where he everybody can see him, and where he gets attention, which is exactly what he does not want. The darkness can also symbolise mystery. Boo Radley is always in the dark, where we can’t really see him. We never truly understand or see the character of Boo Radley, his background throughout the novel is rumoured, unclear, and mysterious. Boo’s character surprisingly changed in the end of the book when he came out to save the children, showing an act of kindness and good. But still, he doesn’t say a word; he just goes back into his home, into the dark to hide, which leaves his character mysterious.
The boot
While Heck and Atticus are arguing, the book kept on mentioning Heck’s boot and the floorboard.
– “Mr. Tates...