<P> Boo Radley's heroics in protecting the children from Bob Ewell are covered up by Atticus, Sheriff Tate, and Scout . This can be read as a wise refusal of fame . As Tate notes, if word got out that Boo killed Ewell, Boo would be inundated with gifts and visits, calamitous for him due to his reclusive personality . The precocious Scout recognizes the danger: renown would "kill the mockingbird". Boo Radley is a ghost who haunts the book yet manifests himself at just the right moments in just the right way . He is, arguably, the most potent character in the whole book and as such, inspires the other key characters to save him when he needs saving . </P> <P> After the Tom Robinson trial, Jem and Scout have a different understanding of Boo Radley . "Scout, I think I'm beginning to understand something . I think I'm beginning to understand why Boo Radley's stayed shut up in the house all this time...it's because he wants to stay inside ." (23.117) Having seen a sample of the horrible things their fellow townspeople can do, choosing to stay out of the mess of humanity doesn't seem like such a strange choice . </P> <P> When Boo finally does come out, he has a good reason: Bob Ewell is trying to murder the Finch children . No one sees what happens in the scuffle, but at the end of it, Ewell is dead and Boo carries an unconscious Jem to the Finch house . Finally faced with Boo, Scout doesn't recognize him at first, but suddenly realizes who he is . Boo Radley is played by Robert Duvall in the film . </P> <P> Judge John Taylor is a white - haired old man with a reputation for running his court in an informal fashion and an enjoyment of singing and dipping tobacco . He is unimportant to the children until he presides over the Tom Robinson trial, in which he shows great distaste for the Ewells and great respect for Atticus . Because of the judge's sympathies for Tom, Bob Ewell breaks into the judge's house while the judge's wife is at church . After the trial, Miss Maudie points out to the children that the judge had tried to help Tom by appointing Atticus to the case instead of Maxwell Green, the new, untried lawyer who usually received court - appointed cases . Judge Taylor knew that Atticus was the only man who would stand a chance at acquitting Tom, or at least would be able to keep the jury thinking for more than just a few minutes . By doing this, Judge Taylor was not giving in or supporting racism . He is portrayed in the film by Paul Fix . </P>

Who played boo in to kill a mockingbird