Main Characters
Atticus Finch
Atticus Finch is a lawyer in the fictional town of Maycomb County in Alabama. He is the father of Jem and Scout, however they never call him 'dad' or 'father', but rather Atticus. Atticus is respected by everyone, even the very poor which is displayed when he is in court with Mayella Ewell. He practices the ethic of sympathy and understanding and teaches his morals to Scout and Jem. Atticus never holds a grudge against the people of Maycomb, and helps out when he can. He recognizes that everyone has good and bad qualities, and attempts to focus on the good, while forgiving and understanding the bad. At the beginning of the novel, neither Jem nor Scout idolizes Atticus because they are embarrassed that he is older than other people's fathers, and that he does not hunt nor fish. However, he ultimately wins their respect and teaches them his morals. Atticus is the novel's moral guide and its voice of conscience.
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Jean Louise Finch (Scout)
Jean Louise Finch is the main character as well as the narrator in 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. Her nickname is Scout and she is a very intelligent young girl. Her real name is Jean Louise Finch and she is a rebellious tomboy who is not interested in things such as dolls or dresses, but rather playing games with her brother Jem and friend Dill. She is 5 and a half years old at the beginning of the novel, however she is narrating the story as an adult, so some of the ideas and themes expressed are really those of the adult Scout. Throughout the novel she comes to terms with the harsh world she lives in. She recognizes racism, and the stereotypes put on her, particularly by her Aunt Alexandra. She gains in maturity throughout the novel and has a fierce disposition to anyone who challenges her. Her father (Atticus) and her neighbours teach her that doing what is right is not always rewarded, however if it's the right thing to do still do it. Protecting her innocence is a large part of this lesson. She shows consideration on numerous occasions throughout the novel, e.g. when she does not believe that black and white people are any different.
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Jem Finch
Jem Finch is Scout's older brother. He is 10 at the beginning of the novel, but by the end he is 13 years old. He represents the idea of bravery, as he attempts to protect his younger sister from harm, shown at the end of the novel when Bob Ewell attempts to kill them. He learns about bravery in many situations throughout the novel, but some of the more significant are when Atticus faces a mad dog, Mrs Duboses fight with addiction and Scout's confrontation with the mob at the jail. He idolizes his father and when Tom Robinson is falsely accused of being guilty, he becomes angered and discusses the events with Atticus. He even plans to follow Atticus into law, especially after this case. As he gets older, Jem begins to do what is right, even if it means he will be unpopular, probably a result of Atticus' teachings. In the first section of the novel, readers see him as scout's fellow playmate, however once they start school, he becomes a somewhat wiser, older brother. Jem attempts to explain meanings of unfamiliar words and phrases to Scout, even if they are wrong and somewhat humorous on a number of occasions.
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Tom Robinson
Tom Robinson, in some ways, is the most important character in the novel 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. Before he actually appears in person, he is mentioned many times for reportedly raping a white woman. The first time he appears, he is in the court on trial for this crime. Atticus is his lawyer and through asking Tom questions, he discovered that Tom Robinson is not guilty. Tom is a kind person, who shows his compassion when he offers to help Mayella complete jobs when her family does not help her. Because he is innocent of the crime he has been committed for, he becomes an important symbol of the mockingbird. He is considered a mockingbird because he is innocent and has not done anything to cause conflict, reflecting the actual mockingbird. It was revealed in the trial that Tom had an industrial accident as a child, leaving him with a limp left arm, proving his case against Mayella Ewell is false.
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Calpurnia
Calpurnia is the African-American cook and maid for the Finch family. She acts almost like a stand-in-mother for Jem and Scout as their real mother died many years ago. Atticus respects her and so do Jem and Scout, however Calpurnia's friends at her church and Aunt Alexandra disapprove of her being on friendly terms with her boss. At first, Scout sees her as a force of nature that she runs up against on too many occasions. She can't see that the true reason why Calpurnia is hard on her is because she cares for her to the same extent as Atticus, however she shows it in her own way. Calpurnia takes Jem and Scout to her church, and they learn many things about her that they didn't realise before. Calpurnia talks differently at church, opting for 'black language' instead of the proper English she speaks at the Finch House. Scout realises that Calpurnia actually has a life beyond that of the Finch household. She also learns some basic facts about Calpurnia's life, however as readers we never know how Calpurnia feels about them. For example, does Calpurnia miss her childhood home, and was she happy there?
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Boo Radley
Arthur Radley is better known as the mysterious recluse 'Boo Radley' in 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. Jem portrays him to be a 'monster' and a 'recluse', and believes he is creepy. In fact, talking about him almost gives the same feeling the kids would get if they told scary stories around the campfire. Because Jem and Scout have never seen Boo before, they almost don't believe he exists. They create games which involve playing out his life, which could be considered "stepping into Boo's skin" as Atticus mentioned many times throughout the novel. When Bob Ewell is attempting to kill Jem and Scout, Boo Radley comes to their rescue. Heck Tate insists that Bob Ewell died by falling into his own knife, although he implies indirectly that Boo actually stabbed Bob on purpose to defend the children. However, because no one witnessed the attack, there is no way to be certain on the cause of Bob Ewell's death. Scout walks Boo home after he rescued her from the attack, and as she is walking back to her own house, she finally sees the world from his eyes. In some ways, this shift in perspective portrays Boo to be a guardian angel.
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More minor characters
Dolphus Raymond
Dolphus Raymond is one of the most interesting character's in the novel. The County of Maycomb does not really understand him, especially because he is married to a black woman and has several children with her. Dolphus is always drinking from a paper bag, which people believe to be whisky, however when Jem and Scout meet him, he reveals the liquid is actually coke. He also admits to 'putting on' his drunk behaviour, in fact in the novel, he said "When I come to town, [...] if I weave a little and drink out of this sack, folks can say Dolphus Raymond's in the clutches of whisky- that's why he won't change his ways. He can't help himself, that's why he lives the way he does." Through Dolphus' double life, Scout is shown the compromise people are forced to make in order to fit into societies where they don't belong.
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Dill (Charles Baker Harris)
Dill is Jem and Scout's friend. He is from Mississippi, and visits Maycomb County during the summer, which for Jem and Scout is a chance to express their feelings, especially towards Boo Radley. Dill is an observer, similar to Scout in a way, although he does not seem to be interested in understanding the many Maycomb citizens he encounters. Scout and him are similar in the way that they both do not know one of their biological parents. Scout does not know her biological mother and Dill does not know his biological father. Many times throughout the story, Dill mentions he is getting married to Scout, which aggravates Jem.
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