Jean Louise "Scout" Finch

Jean Louise "Scout" Finch

Scout Finch is a girl who lives with her father, Atticus, her brother, Jem, and their black cook, Calpurnia, in Maycomb, Alabama. Throughout the book To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout sees her town through her little innocent eyes. She is very unique, usually confident in herself, and always curious about what's going on around her.

Scout, a very unique girl, was taught many of the things she knew by her father, Atticus. Atticus in many cases nurtured her mind, conscience, and individuality. While most girls wore dresses and had proper manners, Scout wears overalls and climbs trees with Jem and Dill. Scout, meanwhile, prepares to go to school for the first time, an event that she has been eagerly anticipating. Once she is finally at school, she finds that her teacher, Miss Caroline Fisher, deals poorly with children. When Miss Caroline discovers that Atticus, taught Scout to read, she becomes very displeased, "Now you tell your father not to teach you any more. It's best to begin reading with a fresh mind. You tell him I'll take over from here and try to undo the damage-" (Lee 17). This makes Scout feel guilty for being educated. During the Tom Robinson case, Scout learns to see through much more than what appears. Though she feels pity for Mayella, Bob Ewell's lonely, unhappy daughter, she cannot pardon her for her shameful indictment of Tom Robinson.

Scout was a very confident girl being a tomboy; all summer long she played with her brother, Jem, and their close friend Dill. She even had the confidence to beat up a boy at school. She recalls, "Catching Walter Cunningham in the schoolyard gave me some pleasure, but when I was rubbing his nose in the dirt Jem came by and told me to stop" (Lee 22). During the Tom Robinson case, Scout's family was spoken of in a very cruel way. This never kept Scout from keeping her fists and head held