What is the importance of Boo Radley in the story "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee?

Boo Radley is a subtle, yet very important character to the structure of the story of "To Kill A Mockingbird". We can learn a lot about him by regarding him from the viewpoint of several other characters in the book. His own family, the Radley family, are ashamed of him and disgraced by him. When Boo was involved in some 'antics' as a fifteen year old, Mr. Radley refused to send him to the state …

…is an important character in the book, as he reveals other people's characters in the way that they perceive him; the children believed rumours that they heard and loved to dramatise it, but then matured enough to tell the difference between rumours and the truth, Stephanie Crawford loves to spread gossip, Maudie Atkinson and Atticus rely on evidence and their own shrewd natures. However, Boo becomes more important in Part 2 of 'To Kill A Mockingbird'.