Character Profiles (To Kill A Mockingbird)

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To Kill A Mockingbird **note, this is not my work, but a compilation of works found on this site.

Atticus Finch

Name: Atticus Finch

Age: Early 50s (born in 1883)

General physical description: Wears glasses, in good shape (walks to work), well presented, tall, grey and black hair

Hometown: Maycomb, Alabama

Type of home/ neighborhood: Lower- middle class

Relationship status: Widow

Current family: Two children, Louise Finch and Jeremy Finch

Family background: Jack Finch (Brother), Alexandra Hancock (Sister), who criticism him for his parenting

Other close relationships: Heck Tate, Maycomb Sherrif

Job: Lawyer

Religion: Methodist

Hobbies: Reading, checkers, playing Jew's harp (although his children are disappointed he doesn't play football, poker, drink or smoke) "I think maybe he put his gun down when he realised God had given him an unfair advantage over most living things"

Strongest positive personality trait: Staying true to morals

Strongest negative personality trait: Ignorance to danger

Consideration for others: Extremely high

How other people see him/her: With high regard in Maycomb County , ie. Jem looks up to him “Before Jem looks at anyone else he looks at me, and I’ve tried to live so I can look squarely back at him."

Other traits, especially t hose to be brought out in story: Consistent, empathetic, sharp, brave (It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been to any wars was the bravest man who ever lived") great dad, pacifist, ultimate benevolence, respects everyone, sees people at the heart, old "Instead of getting the idea courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what"

Philosophy of life: Everyone is equal, see things from their perspective, "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...until you climb in his skin and walk around in it" stand up for what is right. "It's a sin to kill a mockingbird"

Most important thing to know about this character: He defends a black man in court, Tom Robinson, and gets abused for it. "There are some men in this world who were born to do our unpleasant jobs for us. Your father's one of them" Has a strong moral conscience "I couldn't go to church and worship God is I didn't help that man" Fights even though he knows he will lose "Atticus Finch won't win, he can't win but he's the only man in these parts who can keep a jury out so long in a case like that"

Other key actions: Makes his children ethically better people

Will readers like or dislike this character, and why? Yes, Atticus Finch is a very morally bound man, who often sets an example for others. He's a fantastic father, giving his children freedom but educating them ("Don't say nigger scout. That's common") and sets an example as a hard worker. By the end of the novel, Jem, in particular, is fiercely devoted to Atticus (Scout, still a little girl, loves him uncritically).

Jean-Louise "Scout" Finch

Name: Jean Lousie Finch

Age: 6 - 9

Birthday: 1927

General physical description: Slouchy, jeans, overalls, short hair "I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches; when I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn’t supposed to be doing things that required pants."

Hometown: Maycomb, Alabama

Type of home/ neighborhood: Lower- middle class

Father’s name, and occupation: Atticus Finch, Lawyer

Mother’s name, and occupation: N/A

Brothers and sisters: Jeremy "Jem" Finch (older brother)

Position in family: Youngest

Other close relatives: Calpurnia (house maid), Aunt Alexandra, Uncle Jimmy

Special friends: Dill (visits every summer)

Enemies: Bob Ewell

Influential person or event: Boo Radley and Atticus Finch

Grade in school: 1 - 3

Attitude toward school: Eager, until struck by reality. Then she wishes to never go back. "I told Atticus I didn’t feel very well and didn’t think I’d go to school any more if it was all right with him."

Favorite pastimes: Playing the game Boo Radley with Dill and Jem during the summer

Hobbies (music/art/reading material): Reading, playing games outside

Dress style: Tom boy.

Religion: Methodist

Strongest positive personality trait: Courage

Strongest negative personality trait: Lack of understanding

Other traits, especially those to be brought out in story: Intelligent, tomboy, devoted to justice, confident (fights a boy in the playground)

Ambitions: "Do you want to grow up to be a lawyer?" "Nome, just a lady"

Philosophy of life: "I think there’s just one kind of folks. Folks."

Most important thing to know about character: She is the narrator of the novel.

Scout has a perspective change In the Beginning Scout is proud of her tomboy ways

"Catching Walter Cunningham in the school yard..."(page 30)

As she grows older, she realizes there are times when she has to act like a lady, and she realizes that Aunt Alexandra and Miss Maudie are true ladies

"After all, if Auntie could be a lady at a time like this, so could I."(page 318)

When Scout finally sees Boo, she's a lady to him

Scout is a lady when she sees Boo Radley for the first time, inviting him to the porch, leading him to say goodnight to Jem, and leading him home

Scout's views on people change

Aunt Alexander

At first Scout hates Aunt

"I could never think of anything...that I was sluggish"(page 170)

By the end of the book Scout thinks she's a lady and admires her

"Aunt Alexandra looked across...So could I." (page 318)

"After all, if Aunty could be a lady at a time like this, so could I"

Boo Radley

At first Scout is afraid of Boo

Scout accepts him as a person when he puts the blanket on her (page 96)

Scout becomes friends with Boo (page 363)

"I sometimes felt a twinge of remorse...at ever having taken part in what must have been sheer torment to Arthur Radley"

Jeremy "Jem" Finch

Name: Jeremy Finch

Age: 10-13

Birthday: 1923

General physical description: Active, athletic, light skin, brown hair and is not very tall, but has a thin build. The boy had on shorts, and a shock of soapy hair fell to his eyebrows. I looked up at Jem. A point of straight brown hair kicked downwards from his part. I had never noticed it before. (ch 7)

Hometown: Maycomb, Alabama

Type of home/ neighborhood: Low-middle class

Father’s name, and occupation: Atticus Finch, lawyer

Mother’s name, and occupation: N/A

Brothers and sisters: Jean Louise "Scout" Finch (Sister)

Position in family: Eldest child

Other close relatives: Calpurnia (house maid), Aunt Alexandra, Uncle Jimmy

Special friends: Dill (visits every summer)

Influential person or event: Atticus

Grade in school: 4 - 6

Favorite pastimes: Football, "football crazy"

Hobbies (music/art/reading material): Reading

Religion: Methodist

Leader or follower: Leader

Strongest positive personality trait: Bravery

Strongest negative personality trait: Suppresses emotions

Other traits, especially those to be brought out in story: He is a protector, a leader, sometimes moody and sensitive, rational, intelligent (mostly), creative and resourceful

Ambitions: To become a lawyer (or like Atticus).

Calpurnia "Cal"

Name: Calpurnia

Age: Few years older than Atticus; 50s

General physical description: Slim woman with big hands: "She was all angles and bones;...she squinted; her hand was wide as a bed slat and twice as hard."

Type of home/ neighborhood: Lower class

Relationship status: Married

Current family: One older son, Zeebo,

Other close relationships: Jem and Scout

Job: Long-time house keeper for the Finches

Attitude to religion: Attends church

Strongest positive personality trait: Wise and loyal

Strongest negative personality trait: Strict

Temper: Short

Consideration for others: High

How other people see him/her: Well spoken, old and wise

Other traits, especially those to be brought out in story: Mother like figure, head strong, smart, respected,

Most important thing to know about this character: She has been working working for Atticus so long she is hardly a slave, but part of the family. "She's a faithful member of this family and you'll just have to accept that" She teaches Scout to read and write, as well as other life lessons. "That boy's yo' company and if he wants to eat up the table cloth you let him""I don't want anybody saying i don't look after my children"

Miss Maudie Atkinson

Name: Miss Maduie Atkinson

Age: Same as Aunt Alexandra

Hometown: Maycomb, Alabama

Type of home/ neighborhood: Lower- middle class

Relationship status: Widow

Other close relationships: Scout

Attitude to religion: Quietly spiritual (but Christian)

Favorite pastimes: Gardening

Hobbies: Cooking

Strongest positive personality trait: Optimistic "[after her house burns down] Always wanted a smaller house, Jem Finch. Gives me more yard"

Strongest negative personality trait: Use of time

Sense of humor: Delightful

Other traits, especially those to be brought out in story: Minds her own business, simple, outdoor crazy, Atticus-like"People in their right minds never take pride in their talents", courageous, respectful, strong, supportive, strong morals, unprejudiced

Most important thing to know about this character: She is a neighbour and female role model to Scout. She often explains things to the children. "There are just some kind of men who-who're so busy worrying about the next world they've never learned to live this one"

Arthur "Boo" Radley

Name: Arthur "Boo" Radley

Age: 30s - early 40s

General physical description: "thin frame," his "cheeks were thin to hollowness," and his hair "was dead and thin, almost feathery on the top of his head." In one way, Boo lived up to his name: He was white as a ghost. He had ... sickly white hands that had never seen the sun... His face was as white as his hands... Boo's "mouth was wide," and his eyes were gray, "so colorless I thought he was blind."

Hometown: Maycomb, Alabama

Type of home/ neighborhood: Middle class

Family background (parents, previous marriages, etc.): Was locked in the house by his father for stealing a vehicle and then resisting arrest 15 years before, father died a few years ago and his brother Nathan now lives with him.

Friends: Scout

Strongest positive personality trait: Kind

Strongest negative personality trait: Aloof

How other people see him/her: At first, he's a scary figure until the children meet him and realise he's exceptionlly kind.

Other traits, especially those to be brought out in story: Brave, shy

Most important thing to know about this character: The children spend most of their childhood obsessing over this figure who never comes out of his house.

Tom Robinson

Name: Tom Robinson

Age: 25

General physical description: Flared nostrils, a useless left arm (shrivelled and hung at the side), and was muscled.

Hometown: Maycomb, Alabama

Type of home/ neighborhood: Lower class/negroes

Relationship status: Married

Current family: Has three children

Job: Yard work

Attitude to religion: Attends church

Strongest positive personality trait: Respectful

Strongest negative personality trait: Impatient

How other people see him/her: He is highly regarded by his employer.

Other traits, especially those to be brought out in story: Sympathetic, kind, polite, generous, hard working

Most important thing to know about this character: He is accused of rape by Mayella Ewells, and faces court with Atticus. He loses the trial and is shot dead when trying to escape. 'I guess Tom was tired of white men's chances and preferred to take his own.'

Lula 1. Role: A controversy black woman Lee includes a more hostile figure in the black community as it shows how similar the black community is to any other white one. All races include varied characters. Perhaps Lee is trying to emphasise the normality of the black community by showing the variety of personalities

2. Action: She is the only one to question Scout and Jem coming to the black church.

3. Appearance: "Bullet headed... indian bow mouth... she seemed seven feet high" - images suggest hostility