To Kill a Mockingbird Major Characters

Jean Louise “Scout” Finch The narrator and protagonist of the story. Scout lives with her father, Atticus, her brother, Jem, and their black cook, Calpurnia, in Maycomb. She is intelligent and, by the standards of her time and place, a tomboy. Scout has a combative streak and a basic faith in the goodness of the people in her community. As the novel progresses, this faith is tested by the hatred and prejudice that emerge during Tom Robinson’s trial. Scout eventually develops a more grown-up perspective that enables her to appreciate human goodness without ignoring human evil.

Jeremy Atticus “Jem” Finch Scout’s brother and constant playmate at the beginning of the story. Jem is something of a typical American boy, refusing to back down from dares and fantasizing about playing football. Four years older than Scout, he gradually separates himself from her games, but he remains her close companion and protector throughout the novel. Jem moves into adolescence during the story, and his ideals are shaken badly by the evil and injustice that he perceives during the trial of Tom Robinson.

Atticus Finch Scout and Jem’s father, a lawyer in Maycomb descended from an old local family. A widower with a dry sense of humor, Atticus has instilled in his children his strong sense of morality and justice. He is one of the few residents of Maycomb committed to racial equality. When he agrees to defend Tom Robinson, a black man charged with raping a white woman, he exposes himself and his family to the anger of the white community. With his strongly held convictions, wisdom, and empathy, Atticus functions as the novel’s moral backbone.

Arthur “Boo” Radley A recluse who never sets foot outside his house, Boo dominates the imaginations of Jem, Scout, and Dill. He is a powerful symbol of goodness swathed in an initial shroud of creepiness, leaving little presents for Scout and Jem and emerging at an opportune moment to save the children. An intelligent child emotionally damaged by his cruel father, Boo provides an example of the threat that evil poses to innocence and goodness. He is one of the novel’s “mockingbirds,” a good person injured by the evil of mankind.

Charles Baker “Dill” Harris Jem and Scout’s summer neighbor and friend. Dill is a diminutive, confident boy with an active imagination. He becomes fascinated with Boo Radley and represents the perspective of childhood innocence throughout the novel.

Miss Maudie Atkinson The Finches’ neighbor, a sharp-tongued widow, and an old friend of the family. Miss Maudie is almost the same age as Atticus’s younger brother, Jack. She shares Atticus’s passion for justice and is the children’s best friend among Maycomb’s adults.

Calpurnia  The Finches’ cook. Calpurnia is a stern disciplinarian and the children’s bridge between the white world and her own black community. She also serves as a mother-figure for Scout.

Mrs. Dubose An elderly, ill-tempered, racist woman who lives near the Finches. Although Jem believes that Mrs. Dubose is a thoroughly bad woman, Atticus admires her for the courage with which she battles her morphine addiction.

Tom Robinson The man falsely accused of rape whom Atticus defends. Tom is one of the novel’s “mockingbirds,” an important symbol of innocence destroyed by evil.

Bob Ewell A drunken, mostly unemployed member of Maycomb’s poorest family. In his knowingly wrongful accusation that Tom Robinson raped his daughter, Ewell represents the dark side of the South: ignorance, poverty, squalor, and hate-filled racial prejudice.

Mayella Ewell Bob Ewell’s abused, lonely, unhappy daughter. Though one can pity Mayella because of her overbearing father, one cannot pardon her for her shameful indictment of Tom Robinson.

How are the characters presented? We see most characterization through the eyes of Scout (direct characterization). Scout describes what her neighbours, friends, and family members do, and what they are like. This is often told in a naïve and humourous way due to Scout’s youth and innocence. However, paired with the perspective of the adult Scout looking back, her characterization provides a lot of insight as well.

Protagonist – Atticus Finch Scout’s father Atticus, is arguably the protagonist of the novel. He is characterized by Scout’s descriptions of his actions and his outlook, but he is also characterized indirectly throughout the novel by the things he does and the lessons he teaches his children during the course of the story. The characterization of Atticus is closely tied in with the theme of moral education, as it is through his actions and instructions that Scout and Jem learn to view their world and form their opinions.

TKAM – Characterization of Atticus Chapter 3: page 39-43 Atticus and Scout discuss her first day of school. Think-Pair-Share What important life lesson does Atticus teach Scout in this passage? What kind of father do you think Atticus is, based on this passage?

Atticus, continued… Chapter 9: page 100-102 Atticus explains to Scout why he is defending Tom Robinson. Think-Pair-Share What additional things have you learned about Atticus in this passage? What does Scout learn from her father, and how does this impact her in this particular passage?

Atticus, continued… Chapter 10: page 118-131 Atticus and the mad (rabid) dog Class Discussion How does Scout set up Atticus at the beginning of this chapter? What is the irony revealed by the mad dog incident? Jem and Scout are amazed by Atticus in this passage, but Miss Maudie emphasizes what quality of his? Why don’t the kids understand this?

Atticus, continued… Chapter 11: page 139-140; 147-149 Atticus talks to Jem and Scout about their neighbor, Mrs. Dubose At your tables… What character trait of Atticus is reinforced in this passage? Find a quote from the passage that shows this. What can Jem and Scout learn from the Mrs. Dubose situation, that Atticus was trying to teach them?

Let’s pause for a moment Write a character sketch of Atticus, based on what you know about him so far. Consider his physical attributes, as well as his personality traits in reference to being a father, lawyer and a teacher of morals. Use at least one quote from the passages we have looked at to support any of your assertions about Atticus. This should be a well-developed paragraph of at least 10 sentences.

Atticus, continued… Chapter 15: page 194-195 Atticus speaks to a group of men on his lawn about Tom Robinson being in the county jail Think-Pair-Share When Atticus says, “Don’t be foolish, Heck. This is Maycomb” to the Sherriff on page 194, what does he mean? What does this tell us about Atticus’s character?

Atticus, continued… Chapter 20: page 271-275 Atticus’s closing argument in the Tom Robinson trial At your tables… Summarize the main points of Atticus’s argument Provide examples of Harper Lee’s word choice that reveal certain things we have learned about Atticus’s character Put this all on chart paper to present as a group to the class

Atticus, continued… Chapter 22-23: p. 290-293 Atticus reacts to Bob Ewell spitting in his face Think-Pair-Share What moral lesson of Atticus’s comes up again when he talks to Scout about this incident? What character trait of Atticus is reinforced in this passage?