He was not crazy as a boy, but he probably is now. .
Jem and Dill decide to sneak over to the Radley place and peek in through a loose shutter. Scout joins them and they creep around the house peering in through various windows. Suddenly a shadow of a man with a hat on appears and they run for their lives, hearing a shotgun go off behind them, but Jem loses his pants in the process as he climbs over the fence. .
.
Interpretation.
We get further information concerning the childhood adventures of the three with the shadow of Boo Radley hanging over their activities. This threat is purely self-generated by the children, in particular, Dill's vivid imagination.
Scout discovers gifts in the Radley tree, and of course, the reader immediately realizes where these are coming from, but Scout does not see the connection.
Lee cleverly retains Scout's naivety for a six-year old whilst giving the reader sufficient information to draw an adult conclusion.
Miss Maudie is one of the book's strongest female characters and one of the few residents of Maycomb who shares Atticus' sense of justice. She also becomes a close friend of Scout's and is the principal maternal figure along with Aunt Alexandra. Whereas Aunt Alexandra will provide guidance regarding the correct behavior for ladies, Miss Maudie will provide a stronger role model, as she understands the tomboy aspect of Scout's character. .
There are several central themes throughout the novel's plot.
It is clear that Scout's real education comes from outside school, from Atticus and from the books, which she reads. She would read anything, which was available in the house, especially Time Magazine, but she is bound by the law to endure the drudgery of the Maycomb County School system.
There are differing types of prejudice prevalent in the Alabama culture, not only by whites to blacks, but vice versa. Calpurnia's attitude about the way the Finch children should speak is typical.
