From the beginning pages of the novel Scout, the narrator describes Maycomb. "Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it." (Lee 9) She goes on to explain how Maycomb is quite boring …show more content…
The reader is introduced to a character that is characterized by Scout as a malevolent phantom. Arthur Radley, nicknamed Boo Radley, is a mysterious character to the children. Talking about Boo gives them the same thrill as telling scary stories around a campfire. Never having seen him, they don’t quite believe he is a real person. Rumors are spread, and the reader has no option but to imagine Boo as the kids do. "So Jem received most of his information from Miss Stephanie Crawford, … His father entered the room. As Mr.Radley passed by, Boo drove the scissors into his parent’s leg, pulled them out, wiped them on his pants, and resumed his activities." (Lee 15) Jem and Scout develop an understanding that Boo is a dangerous and scary man, who isn’t very nice. The racism towards the blacks of Maycomb is heavily described by Lee. Numerous situations occur in the book where African American people are verbally abused. An example of this is when Cecil Jacobs announced to the school yard, that Scout’s dad defends niggers. However a more prominent instance was when Mrs. Dubose was insulting Jem and Scout from across the side walk. “‘Yes indeed, what has this world come to when a Finch goes against his raising? I’ll tell you!’ She put her hand to her mouth. When she drew it away, it trailed a long silver thread of saliva. ‘Your father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for!’” This is one of the most powerful quotes of the novel, as the reader has a clear and convinced depiction of the racism which unveils one of the many dark secrets of the Maycombians. All the racial comments towards the children, where mainly caused by the disapproval of all the town members because Atticus Finch, the towns best lawyer has decided to defend a black man in court, Tom Robinson. The trial of Tom Robinson becomes the biggest event of the plot. The townspeople didn't like