,CHARACTER LIST
,To Kill a Mockingbird Character List
Characters T o Kil l a Mockingbird Character List
Scout Finch
The narrator and protagonist of the story. Jean Louise “Scout” Finch 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.
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.
Jem Finch
Scout’s brother and constant playmate at the beginning of the story. Jeremy Atticus “Jem” Finch 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.
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.
Calpurnia
The Finches’ Black cook. Calpurnia is a stern disciplinarian and the children’s bridge between the white
world and her own Black community.
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.
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.
Aunt Alexandra
Atticus’s sister, a strong-willed woman with a fierce devotion to her family. Alexandra is the perfect
Southern lady, and her commitment to propriety and tradition often leads her to clash with Scout.
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.
Tom Robinson
The Black field hand accused of rape. Tom is one of the novel’s “mockingbirds,” an important symbol of
innocence destroyed by evil.
Link Deas
Tom Robinson’s employer. In his willingness to look past race and praise the integrity of Tom’s
character, Deas epitomizes the opposite of prejudice.
Mrs. Henry Lafayette 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.
Nathan Radley
Boo Radley’s older brother. Scout thinks that Nathan is similar to the deceased Mr. Radley, Boo and
Nathan’s father. Nathan cruelly cuts off an important element of Boo’s relationship with Jem and Scout
when he plugs up the knothole in which Boo leaves presents for the children.
Heck Tate
The sheriff of Maycomb and a major witness at Tom Robinson’s trial. Heck is a decent man who tries to
protect the innocent from danger.
Mr. Underwood
The publisher of Maycomb’s newspaper. Mr. Underwood respects Atticus and proves to be his ally.
Mr. Dolphus Raymond
A wealthy white man who lives with his Black mistress and multiracial children. Raymond pretends to be
a drunk so that the citizens of Maycomb will have an explanation for his behavior. In reality, he is simply
jaded by the hypocrisy of white society and prefers living among Black people.
Mr. Walter Cunningham
A poor farmer and part of the mob that seeks to lynch Tom Robinson at the jail. Mr. Cunningham displays
his human goodness when Scout’s politeness compels him to disperse the men at the jail.
,To Kill a Mockingbird Character List
Characters T o Kil l a Mockingbird Character List
Scout Finch
The narrator and protagonist of the story. Jean Louise “Scout” Finch 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.
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.
Jem Finch
Scout’s brother and constant playmate at the beginning of the story. Jeremy Atticus “Jem” Finch 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.
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.
Calpurnia
The Finches’ Black cook. Calpurnia is a stern disciplinarian and the children’s bridge between the white
world and her own Black community.
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.
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.
Aunt Alexandra
Atticus’s sister, a strong-willed woman with a fierce devotion to her family. Alexandra is the perfect
Southern lady, and her commitment to propriety and tradition often leads her to clash with Scout.
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.
Tom Robinson
The Black field hand accused of rape. Tom is one of the novel’s “mockingbirds,” an important symbol of
innocence destroyed by evil.
Link Deas
Tom Robinson’s employer. In his willingness to look past race and praise the integrity of Tom’s
character, Deas epitomizes the opposite of prejudice.
Mrs. Henry Lafayette 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.
Nathan Radley
Boo Radley’s older brother. Scout thinks that Nathan is similar to the deceased Mr. Radley, Boo and
Nathan’s father. Nathan cruelly cuts off an important element of Boo’s relationship with Jem and Scout
when he plugs up the knothole in which Boo leaves presents for the children.
Heck Tate
The sheriff of Maycomb and a major witness at Tom Robinson’s trial. Heck is a decent man who tries to
protect the innocent from danger.
Mr. Underwood
The publisher of Maycomb’s newspaper. Mr. Underwood respects Atticus and proves to be his ally.
Mr. Dolphus Raymond
A wealthy white man who lives with his Black mistress and multiracial children. Raymond pretends to be
a drunk so that the citizens of Maycomb will have an explanation for his behavior. In reality, he is simply
jaded by the hypocrisy of white society and prefers living among Black people.
Mr. Walter Cunningham
A poor farmer and part of the mob that seeks to lynch Tom Robinson at the jail. Mr. Cunningham displays
his human goodness when Scout’s politeness compels him to disperse the men at the jail.
