essay question: what idea does the author develop regarding the impact and cause of alienation that individuals may experience?

Certainly we can find alienation in the character of Boo Radley. Boo's name is actually Arthur but his name Boo separates him from society. Because of an unsatisfactory childhood, Arthur is left shut inside his house(first by his father and then by his brother). Arthur's alienation forms him into the person he had become. The children's stories reinforced by adult gossip force Arthur into the role of town spook. It isn't until the end of the novel until we see Boo attempt to become Arthur again, he comes out of the shadows and into the light by helping Scout and Jem.