Who Is Isolation In To Kill A Mockingbird

Author, American businessman, and philanthropist, Tony Robbins once stated, People will do more to avoid pain, than they will to gain pleasure.” Despite the fact that pain is an unavoidable fact of life, many people make an attempt to elude physical and emotional suffering, as opposed to enjoying the happiness in life. Although found in today's world, this set of values also appear in the classic book To Kill A Mockingbird written by Harper Lee. Taking place in the 1930’s, this novel follows the life of Scout and Jem Finch, two children growing up in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama. Throughout their lives, their father, Atticus shelters them from the hate filled world in which they live, but after Atticus takes on a life-changing court case, the reality of the town begins to reveal itself. Boo Radley, Scout and Jem’s neighbor, has hidden in isolation because he is not yet ready to face the terrible world he lives in. Talk amongst the town has created a skewed view of him and led many to believe untrue and horrid things about him. Dolphus Raymond, the supposed town drunk lives life as a
The author makes a point by using rhetorical questions to empathize Jem’s passion on the subject. After maturing and experiencing more of what life is like, he begins to question what he originally thought about the world. The questions also show his exasperation with the subject and his confusion on how cruel people can be. Lee also uses italics on the word “wants” to highlight the realization that maybe Boo Radley wasn’t such a monster. In using the italics the author connects Jem’s thoughts and ideas to those of Boo Radley. Harper Lee’s use of devices shows how Jem felt happier when shielded from the truth, much like how Boo is happier when shielding himself from the