4.

WHO ARE MAJOR AND MINOR CHARACTERS, WHAT DO THEY REPRESENT, AND
HOW DO THEY RELATE TO ONE ANOTHER?

Major Characters
Jean Louise (Scout) Finch
Scout is the protagonist and narrator of the novel. She's a tomboy who gets in trouble for fist-
fighting at school, and she would rather wear overalls and play with the boys outside than with
the girls her age. She is strong-willed and defiant at times, but she has a great deal of respect for
her father, Atticus, and she tries her best to please him. As the novel progresses, Scout begins to
mature and understand the consequences of her actions and behavior.

Jeremy (Jem) Finch

Jem is Scout's older brother. We learn at the opening of the novel that Jem likes to play football
and be outside. As the novel progresses, we can see Jem develop into a compassionate,
intelligent, and respectful young man. He does have his pride and insists that he isn't scared when
he is dared to do something scary, like touch the Radley house down the street where the
''phantom'' lives. He's also fiercely protective of his father and his own beliefs, growing angry
when a neighbor makes comments about Atticus and when he learns the verdict of the Tom
Robinson case.

Atticus Finch
Atticus is the father of Scout and Jem, and because his wife died when Scout was young, he is
raising the children on his own. Atticus is patient and gives the children their independence to
discover the ways of the world on their own, but he has high expectations of them and
communicates his disappointment when the children don't make good decisions. Atticus is a
lawyer and is the moral compass of this novel. He defends Tom Robinson when most people in
Maycomb assume that Tom is guilty because of the color of his skin, and he guides his children
through the conflicts that they face as a result of the trial, highlighting the quality of leadership.

Charles (Dill) Baker Harris

Dill is seven years old and staying with his Aunt Rachel, who lives next door to the Finches,
when Scout and Jem discover him in the collard patch in Aunt Rachel's yard. Dill is small for his
age, but he has a kind heart and a huge imagination. When he first learns about Boo Radley, the
phantom who hasn't been seen in years, he becomes preoccupied with making Boo come out. To
the children, Dill embodies the summer and the fun that they have together, and although Dill
has a tendency to tell white lies, Scout and Jem accept him and look forward to when he comes
to stay for the summer.
The Ewells
The Ewells act as the antagonist in the novel, creating conflict that influences the main
characters. Bob Ewell is a poor man who is raising his seven children on his own. Unlike
Atticus, Mr. Ewell is not respected by the citizens of Maycomb because he has a reputation for
drinking and not earning his money honestly. Mayella Ewell is his eldest daughter, and when
Bob comes home and finds Tom Robinson with his daughter in the house one day, he accuses
Tom of raping Mayella. When Mayella takes the stand during the trial, she verifies her father's
claims, even though Tom's testimony reveals a very different story from what the Ewells are
claiming.

Tom Robinson
Tom is an African-American man who is married to Helen Robinson. He is known for being
kind and generous, working honestly, and helping others when he can. He lives down the road
from the Ewells, and according to his testimony, he frequently helps Mayella with small chores
that she usually has to do by herself while her father is away. Tom claims that Mayella invited
him into the Ewell's house and then advanced upon him, kissing him and trying to get him to
return her affection. Knowing the consequences of a Black man kissing a white woman, Tom
flees from the scene when Bob shows up, scared for his life. While it appears to the unbiased
reader that Tom is innocent, in the end, he loses the trial accusing him of rape.

Minor Characters
Boo Radley:
Describe: Rumoured to be a crazy.
Supportive quote: As Mr. Radley passed by, Boo drove the scissors into his parent’s leg, pulled
them out, wiped them on his pants, and resumed his activities. (gossip)
Throughout most of the novel Boo Radley's minimal mention and odd portrayal didn't seem to
make him a major character. But once the conclusion is reached, you know that Boo is very
important to the novel's theme, and that without him the kids would have been without protection
and an important lesson.

Scout:
Describe: Straightforward. She’s not afraid to say what’s on her mind, and may come off rude
sometimes.
Supportive quote: “Is he dead?” “No…” “Then if he’s not dead, you’ve got one, haven’t you?”
Atticus:
Describe: A little shy with showing affection.
Supportive quote: Jem and I found our father satisfactory; he played with us, read to us, and
treated us with courteous detachment.
Jem:
Describe: Daredevil who tries to seem like a brave, tough guy.
Supportive quote: Jem wanted Dill to know once and for all that he wasn’t scared of anything.
Dill:
Describe: Curious and random.
Supportive quote: Thus we came to know Dill as a pocket Merlin, whose head teemed with
eccentric plans, strange longings, and quaint fancies.
Calpurnia:
Describe: Cares a lot for the Finches.
Supportive quote: “I missed you today,” she said. “The house got so lonesome ‘long about two
o’clock I had to turn on the radio.”
Mr Heck Tate 
– a key witness in the trial and the town sheriff, who later takes justice into his own hands.
Judge John Taylor 
– the elderly judge in the Tom Robinson trial, of high moral calibre and displaying
unconventional behaviour.
Mr Gilmer
 – the solicitor representing Mayella Ewell.
Mr Link Deas 
– an owner of a cotton-picking farm who offers Tom and Helen Robinson work. He speaks up
for Tom out of turn in court and defends Helen Robinson against Bob Ewell.
Mr Underwood 
– the owner, editor and printer of The Maycomb Tribune who 'despises' black people (Chapter
16, p. 162), but the lynch mob incident and his article after Tom's death suggest he despises
injustice even more.
Doctor Reynolds 
– Maycomb's doctor and Finch family friend.
Miss Caroline Fisher and Miss Gates 
– Scout's schoolteachers.
Little Chuck Little 
– a member of Scout's class, from a poor background but a 'born gentleman' (Chapter 3, p. 31).
Cecil Jacobs 
– Scout's classmate and neighbour, who taunts Scout with prejudice against her father. He also
jumps out on Jem and Scout on their way to the pageant.
Mr Dolphus Raymond
 – a white man from a rich family who lives with a black woman and their children. The white
community look down on him as he seems permanently drunk, but Scout and Dill learn that by
pretending to drink he is giving the white community a `reason' for his chosen way of life.
Zeebo
 – Calpurnia's son. He reads hymns at the black community church and is the local rubbish
collector.
Lula May 
– a black woman who objects to Scout and Jem being at the black community church.
Reverend Sykes 
– the leader of the black community church. He finds seats for Jem, Scout and Dill at the trial
and offers his view of events.
Miss Stephanie Crawford
 – a Finch neighbour, concerned with triviality and local gossip.
Mrs Grace Merriweather 
– a prominent, devout figure of the Maycomb Missionary Circle and organiser of the pageant.
Misses Tutti and Frutti Barber 
– Maycomb sisters who are old and deaf.

Miss Caroline Fisher

Miss Caroline is Scout Finch's first grade teacher. She is from North Alabama, and she
represents what life for a person who has lived outside of Maycomb is like. The author uses Miss
Caroline to show that the citizens of Maycomb have a certain way of living which would not be
very apparent to outsiders, such as herself.

Miss Maudie Atkinson

Miss Maudie is a middle-aged neighbour of the Finches. She speaks with sophisticated language
and provides strong reasoning behind opinions; both of these attributes demonstrating her
intelligence. Therefore, Miss Maudie represents wisdom. Scout especially learns a lot from her,
along with Jem and Dill, as well. She also represents the change of the female role in society that
had started to take place at that time. Author Harper Lee uses Maudie to demonstrate the
evolution of the woman; a gender previously expected to be made of quiet, introverted
househands dependent on men, Maudie represents everything women had been thought not to be:
intelligent, self-sufficient, able- etc.

The Cunninghams
The Cunninghams were a family of farmers who never took anything that they would not be able
to pay back. Instead of relying on others, they chose to live with what they had so that they were
not indebted to anybody. The Cunninghams represent the many families that struggled severely
during the Depression, but more importantly the small percent of humble citizens. Lee uses the
Cunninghams to show how much people suffered in the time period, and how they would find
ways to make ends meet.

Miss Stephanie Crawford

Miss Stephanie Crawford is a middle aged, single woman who knows everything about everyone
who lives in the Maycomb County. Whether her knowledge is true or not, she is not afraid to
voice her opinion about anyone's lives. In the novel, Miss Stephanie Crawford represents gossip
and how quickly news and rumour spread around in the small town. Her character proves to the
reader how much people gossiped back in the time era. Harper Lee uses Miss Stephanie in the
novel to explain background information about other characters and how they live and contribute
to Maycomb.

Walter Cunningham, Sr. One of the men who comes to lynch Tom Robinson, he's also one of
Atticus' clients. After speaking with Scout, he calls off the mob.

Walter Cunningham, Jr. One of Scout's classmates. Jem invites him to have lunch with them
after Scout accosts Walter on the playground.

Aunt Alexandra
Aunt Alexandra is Atticus Finch's younger sister. She was the child that stayed on Finch's
Landing, and she married a man that is said to do very little. Aunt Alexandra represents the
majority of women at the time in which the novel takes place; the Great Depression. Lee uses her
to show the way that women were pressured to act in society at the time.

Dill Harris

is a young boy around the age of two major characters; Jem and Scout Finch, who he befriends
during his first summer visit to Maycomb County. Every Summer after this, Dill stays with his
Aunt Rachel, who lives near the Finches. In the novel, Dill represents innocence. Lee uses Dill to
show the more simplified and accurate view of events in the novel. For example, when the
children are watching the trial, Dill says it makes him sick to see how poorly black people were
being treated; this shows how Dill and children in general are able to see through the veil of
prejudice for how things truly are and through this, fighting social norm.

Aunt Alexandra Atticus' sister. Aunt Alexandra lives at Finch's Landing, the Finch family
homestead, but she moves in with Atticus and the children during Tom Robinson's trial. She is
very concerned that Scout have a feminine influence to emulate.

Francis Hancock Aunt Alexandra's grandson. He taunts Scout about Atticus, getting her in
trouble.

Uncle Jack Finch Atticus and Aunt Alexandra's bachelor brother who comes to visit every
Christmas. He is a doctor who, like Atticus, was schooled at home.

Calpurnia The Finchs' African American housekeeper. She grew up at Finch's Landing and
moved with Atticus to Maycomb. She is the closest thing to a mother that Scout and Jem have.
One of the few Negroes in town who can read and write, she teaches Scout to write.

Zeebo The town garbage collector who is also Calpurnia's son. He's one of four people who can
read at the First Purchase African M.E. Church.

Boo Radley (Mr. Arthur Radley) 

The mysterious neighbor who piques the children's interest. They've never seen him and make a
game of trying to get him to come outside.

Nathan Radley 
Boo Radley's brother who comes back to live with the family when Mr. Radley dies.

Mr. and Mrs. Radley Boo and Nathan Radley's parents.

Dill (Charles Baker Harris) 

Jem and Scout's neighborhood friend. Living in Meridian, Mississippi, Dill spends every summer
with his aunt, Miss Rachel Haverford.

Miss Rachel Haverford 

Dill's aunt who lives next door to the Finches.

Miss Maudie Atkinson 

One of Maycomb's most open-minded citizens, Miss Maudie lives across the street from Jem and
Scout. An avid gardener, she often spends time talking with the children — especially Scout —
helping them to better understand Atticus and their community.

Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose A cantankerous, vile, elderly woman who teaches Jem and Scout
a great lesson in bravery.

Mrs. Grace Merriweather A devout Methodist, Mrs. Merriweather writes the Halloween
pageant.

Mrs. Gertrude Farrow The "second most devout lady in Maycomb" belongs to the local
Missionary Society.

Link Deas Tom and Helen Robinson's employer. He makes sure that Helen can pass safely by
the Ewells' after Tom is arrested.

Bob Ewell The Ewell patriarch, Bob Ewell spends his welfare checks on alcohol. He claims to
have witnessed Tom attacking Mayella.

Mayella Violet Ewell Tom's 19-year-old accuser.

Burris Ewell One of Bob Ewell's children. He attends school only one day a year.

Reverend Skyes The pastor at First Purchase African M.E. Church. He helps Jem and Scout
understand Tom's trial and finds seats for them in the "colored balcony."

Judge John Taylor The judge at Tom's trial. He appoints Atticus to represent Tom.

Mr. Horace Gilmer The state attorney representing the Ewells.

Sheriff Heck Tate Maycomb's sheriff who accompanies Atticus to kill the mad dog and who
delivers the news about Bob Ewell.

Mr. Braxton Bragg Underwood The owner, editor, and printer of The Maycomb Tribune.
Although he openly dislikes blacks, he defends Tom's right to a fair trial.

Dolphus Raymond Father to several biracial children, Mr. Raymond lives on the outskirts of
town. When he comes into Maycomb, he pretends to be drunk.

Cecil Jacobs A schoolmate of the Finch children, he scares Jem and Scout on the way to the
Halloween pageant.

Little Chuck Little One of Scout's classmates who stands up to Burris Ewell in defense of Miss
Caroline.

Miss Gates Scout's second grade teacher.

Lula A parishioner at First Purchase African M.E. Church who is upset when Scout and Jem
attend services there.

Eula May The local telephone operator.

Mr. Avery A boarder at the house across from Mrs. Dubose's.

To Kill a Mockingbird: Overview

Harper Lee’s (April 28, 1926 – February 19, 2016) only novel, To Kill a Mockingbird (1960),
has gained stature over the years, becoming thought of as more than merely a skillful depiction
of small-town southern life during the 1930’s with a coming-of-age theme. Claudia Durst
Johnson, who has published two books of analysis on To Kill a Mockingbird, suggests that the
novel is universally compelling because Lee’s overall theme of “threatening boundaries” covers
a wide spectrum, from law to social standing, from childhood innocence to racism.
To Kill a Mockingbird is told through the voice of a young girl named Scout Finch, who is six
years old at the beginning of the novel. Her father, Atticus Finch, is a well-respected lawyer who
has been chosen to defend Tom Robinson, an African-American man accused of rape by a poor,
dishonest family in their town. Scout encounters various conflicts as a result of the trial, and as
she navigates going to school, encountering a ''malevolent spirit'' down the street, and dealing
with children and adults who make derogatory comments about her father's defense of Tom
Robinson, she begins to grow up and gain an understanding of the world and human motivation.
To Kill a Mockingbird tells the story of the young narrator’s passage from innocence to
experience when her father confronts the racist justice system of the rural, Depression-era South.
In witnessing the trial of Tom Robinson, a black man unfairly accused of rape, Scout, the
narrator, gains insight into her town, her family, and herself. Several incidents in the novel force
Scout to confront her beliefs, most significantly when Tom is convicted despite his clear
innocence. Scout faces her own prejudices through her encounters with Boo Radley, a
mysterious shut-in whom Scout initially considers a frightening ghost-like creature. The novel’s
resolution comes when Boo rescues Scout and her brother and Scout realizes Boo is a fully
human, noble being. At the same time, Scout undergoes an inevitable disillusionment as she is
exposed to the reality of human nature. The entrenched racism of her town, the unfair conviction
and murder of Tom Robinson, and the malice of Bob Ewell all force Scout to acknowledge
social inequality and the darker aspects of humanity. Throughout the book, her father, Atticus,
represents morality and justice, but as Scout becomes more sensitive to those around her, she
sees the effect of his struggle to stay purely good in a compromised world.