Harper Lee makes use of the childrens changing perception of Boo Radley to bring the two parts of the novel together, establishing the overall theme of coming of age. In the first part of the novel, Jem and Scout gullibly trust wild neighborhood gossip about Boo, believing him to be a vicious lunatic, who stabbed his own father with scissors and dined on raw squirrels (14). Not only are the children terrified of Boo, but they are also fascinated with the thrill and suspense his mysterious lifestyle holds, driving them to enact plays that depict him as a dangerous monster. Their childhood innocence keeps them in their own world of fantasy, where they enjoy the thrill of games that revolve around Boo, for instance, being dared to go up and touch the house (15). However, as the plot unfolds, the childrens perspective of Boo gradually changes from one of fear to one of compassion and sympathy, as they are forced to face the reality of their harsh world. When the tree hole in which Boo would place small gifts for them is suddenly filled with cement, Jem and Scout immediately become suspicious, prompting them to discover more about
Boos past. Having gotten in trouble with the police in his adolescence, Boo Radley was locked up in his house by his cruel father, which inspired many false rumors about him in society. However, Boo makes his first attempt at communicating with the outside world after fifteen years through the tree hole, which the children discover is filled by Mr. Nathan Radley. When questioned about his motive behind filling the tree hole, Mr. Radley proclaims that the trees dying, despite the fact that it aint even sick (71). The discovery of Boos tragic imprisonment sets the childrens transition from innocence to maturity in motion as they become aware of a real danger in the world they live in and sympathize with Boo for having suffered so much in his life. Throughout Part One of the novel, Boo shows other acts of kindness that make him seem less of a monster and more like a friend to the children; whether it be draping a blanket on Scout to protect her from the cold when Mrs. Maudies house catches fire or mending Jems pants so he wouldnt get in trouble, Boo establishes himself as a shy, caring, and compassionate man in the childrens eyes.