To Kill A MockingbirdCharacters

Scout• Real name=

Jean Louise Finch

• Narrator and protagonist of the novel

• Lives with her father and brother and their cook

• Intelligent and a tomboy

Jem• Real name=

Jeremy Atticus Finch

• Scout’s brother and constant playmate at beginning of story

• “Typical American boy,” always takes a dare, fantasizes about football

• Four years older than Scout

Atticus• Scout and Jem’s father

• Lawyer in Maycomb

• Descended from old local family

• Widower

• Has instilled in his family a strong sense of morality and justice

• Committed to racial equality

Arthur “Boo” Radley• Recluse, never sets foot

outside his house

• Dominates imaginations of the children

• Symbol of goodness wrapped in an original façade of creepiness

• Leaves little presents for Scout and Jem

• Was an intelligent child, but damaged by his cruel father

Bob Ewell• A drunk

• Member of Maycomb’s poorest family

• Wrongfully accuses Tom Robinson

Dill• Real name=

Charles Baker Harris

• Jem and Scout’s summer neighbor and friend

• Confident boy with active imagination

Miss Maudie Atkinson• Finches’ neighbor

• Sharp-tongued widow

• Old friend of the family

• Children’s best friend among Maycomb adults

Calpurnia• The Finch’s black

cook

• Stern disciplinarian

• Children’s bridge between their own white world and Calpurnia’s black community

Aunt Alexandra• Atticus’ sister

• Strong-willed woman with fierce devotion to family

• Perfect southern lady

• Committed to traditions

Mayella Ewell

• Bob Ewell’s abused, lonely, unhappy daughter

• Falsely accuses Tom Robinson

Tom Robinson

• Black field hand accused of rape

Link Deas

• Tom Robinson’s employer

• Willing to look past race and praise the integrity of Tom’s character

Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose

• Elderly, ill-tempered racist woman who lives near the Finches

Nathan Radley

• Boo Radley’s older brother

• Plugs up the knothole in which Boo leaves the children gifts

Heck Tate

• Sheriff of Maycomb

• Major witness at Tom Robinson’s trial

• A decent man who tries to prevent innocent from evil

Mr. Underwood

• Publisher of Maycomb’s newspaper

• Respects Atticus and becomes his ally

Mr. Dolphus Raymond• Wealthy white man who

lives with his black mistress and children

• Pretends to be a drunk so the citizens of Maycomb have an explanation for his behavior

• Jaded by the hypocrisy of white society and prefers living among blacks

Mr. Walter Cunningham

• Poor farmer and part of mob that seeks to lynch Tom Robinson at the jail

• Displays his human goodness when Scout’s politeness compels him to disperse the men at the jail

Walter Cunningham

• Son of Mr. Cunningham and classmate of Scout

• Cannot afford lunch one day and accidentally gets Scout in trouble