Boo namely affects Scout and Jem. Initially in the novel they (along with Dill) become obsessed with Boo and all of the sensational rumors that swirl through the neighborhood about him and his family. But as the two grow up, Boo tries to interact with them, such as leaving the gifts in the old knot in the neighborhood tree. One of the saddest moments comes when Jem sees that the knot has been filled in and that Boo's family is trying to keep him secluded from the outside world. Another key moment occurs when Jem is trying to sneak a note into Boo and is scared away by a shotgun blast. In his escape, Jem tears his jeans to shreds and leaves them tangled in the Radley fence. Later when he returns to get them, he sees that they have been mended, likely by Boo. This has a profound affect on him for it shows a very human side to this mythical figure.
Boo also has quite an impact on Scout, not only through the gifts in the tree but also by placing a blanket around her the night Miss Maudie's house burns. Of course, his greatest act is saving Jem and Scout from Bob Ewell's attack.
Finally, Boo is a 'mockingbird' (along with Tom Robinson). He does nothing but help others and it would be a 'sin' to drag this shy, quiet man out into the public's attention with a murder trail, so Heck Tate quietly covers up the fact that Boo stabbed Bob Ewell and says that Bob simply fell on his knife.
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