How Rumours Effect Characters in to Kill a Mockingbird

A main part in the novel To Kill A Mockingbird is rumours. The hole town of Maycomb is buzzing with different kinds of rumours. Some true and some false, their origins not many know. But they do know every inch of the made up tale. As the story progress the rumours get more and more violent. Causing characters in the novel emotional and some times physical pain. In this essay the difference between the way Atticus and Dill perceive rumours will be discussed.

A rumour that seems to repeat itself throughout the novel is the rumour about Author Radley or more commonly known as Boo. In the rumours he is usually portrayed as some kind of lunatic child. “any stealthy small crimes committed in Maycomb were his work” (Jem,9). Boo is blamed for any small crime done in the town, even though every time the crime was proved to be someone else, most of the town clings to this idea. Dill is intrigued by the Boo Radley rumors they drew him to go closer to the Radley house “but drew him no nearer than the light-pole on the corner” (Scout,9). Oppositely Atticus took no interest in the Boo Radley rumors brushing them off “Atticus's only answer was for him to mind his own business” (Scout,11). This rumor points out the difference in Dill and Atticus of age and maturity. Dill letting his imagination run wild, while Atticus had his own work to care about.

Another rumor that shaped the lives of the two protagonists Jem and Scout is the rumor that Atticus Finch was a nigger lover. Although this rumor is in fact true; Atticus is a lover of all human beings. This rumor is spread and said as a horrible and disgusting act done by Atticus. “no sir, Mrs. Dubose calls you that” (nigger lover) (Scout, 124). In another part of the novel Scout asks Atticus “ you aren’t really a nigger lover are you” (Scout, 124) This is when