Boundaries, or more specifically social boundaries, can be defined as the rules established by society that dictate the correct way for a person to live. Such boundaries prescribe a person's behaviors, such as what religion to practice, how to dress, and how to speak. Since Tom Robinson is an African American living in the small, Southern, segregated town of Maycomb, we see his life being guided by several boundaries.
First, most African Americans in Maycomb live in the segregated area called the Quarters, which refers to what used to be the slave quarters in the days of slavery. The African Americans have adapted the tiny cabins of the slave quarters for their homes, which, according to Scout, are very clean, well-kept, and snug-looking (Chapter 18).
Second, being uneducated, Tom Robinson, like most of Maycomb's African American residents, is confined to working a blue collar job as a field hand in cotton fields.
Third, the African-American community of Maycomb has been significantly influenced by the Protestant Christian religion. As a result, Tom Robinson and his family are active members of the African-American church, as we learn when Atticus first explains to Scout who Robinson is:
He's a member of Calpurnia's church, and Cal knows his family well. She says they're clean-living folks (Chapter 9).
Finally, the racism Tom is always subjected to also establishes Robinson's boundaries, significantly influencing his behavior. More specifically, he has grown terrified of white people and what they can accomplish, which is why he runs, according to his testimony, when Mayella kisses him and her father appears, yelling, "[Y]ou goddamn whore, I'll kill ya" (Chapter 18). Sadly, Tom's running makes him look guilty and helps seal his fate.
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