How did the Radley House get its reputation? Do you think it was deserved?

In To Kill a Mockingbird, the Radley house gets its reputation because it is different. In chapter 1, Scout describes how the Radleys are different from the other citizens of Maycomb County. For example, the Radleys "kept to themselves," which Scout says is a "predilection unforgivable in Maycomb." The Radleys don't socialize with neighbors or attend church on Sundays. The house that was once white with green shutters is now a faded grey color, and the yard is unkempt.
The reputation of the Radley home is a negative one because people often fear what is different. Public opinion of the Radley home is similar to (albeit less violent than) how the residents of Maycomb County view black people. Prejudice is often a result of being uninformed. At the beginning of the story, the children seem to be fascinated by the Radley place. Boo Radley is often blamed for any negative occurrences that happen in town. However, it turns out that Boo Radley is actually a considerate and caring person. He gives small gifts to Scout and Jem and eventually saves their lives.


The Radley Place has a negative reputation throughout the community of Maycomb and is regarded as a depressed, lonely place, where a "malevolent phantom" resides. The Radley Place is a dilapidated home with rotten shingles and distressed siding. There are weeds throughout the yard, and a raggedy fence surrounds the neglected building. The Radley family is also a reclusive bunch, who do not socialize with the other families in the community, which also adds to the negative reputation of the household. Boo Radley's enigmatic nature and situation also influence the home's negative reputation. While the appearance of the Radley Place is the reason behind the negative rumors and reputation of the family, it is unfair to generalize that the Radleys are malevolent people simply because they live in a dilapidated, unwelcoming home. Drawing conclusions about a family's lifestyle and nature by the appearance of their home would not be fair and is not an accurate assessment of their personal worth. 

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