Remember that atmosphere is a
combination of setting and tone. Look at the descriptions of the house and Boo Radley
himself and consider the fact that everything comes from the perspective of children (or
their versions of Miss Stephanie Crawford).
The darkness of
the house (physically created by shadows and lack of street lights and socially created
by the neighborhood's lack of knowledge and relationship with the Radley's), the
prejudice of the town, and the interest of the children, suggest a negative atmosphere
surrounding Boo Radley. Some descriptive words for this atmosphere might be
mysterious, intriguing, and possibly
evil. The incidents with the tree, Jem's pants, and the blanket on
Scout (at the fire) however, suggest a positive atmosphere surrounding Boo. This seems
to be an atmosphere of innocent secrecy that comes with good
intentions. It is almost a childish secrecy, the kind that every child enjoys, almost
as if there is a prize for solving the mystery.
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