<P> Atticus Finch is the middle - aged father of Jem and Scout Finch . He is a lawyer and was once known as "the deadliest shot in Maycomb County". Although he was a good shot, he does not like to mention the fact as he does not like the thought of having an advantage over people . He appears to support racial equality and was appointed to represent Tom Robinson, a black man who has been accused of raping a young white woman, Mayella Ewell . The town disapproves of him defending Tom especially when he makes clear his intent to defend Tom Robinson to the best of his abilities . He is portrayed by Gregory Peck in the film adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird . </P> <P> Jean Louise "Scout" Finch is the narrator and To Kill a Mockingbird is told by an adult Scout who often comments on how she could not understand something at the time but now can appreciate it . She gets in trouble with her teacher Miss Caroline because Miss Caroline expects Scout to learn reading and writing her way . She is a tomboy and spends the most of her time with her brother Jem and best friend Dill . To Jem's advice to pretend to be a lady and start sewing or something, she answers' Hell no .' The rare hints the narrator gives us about her grown - up life reveal that she ultimately hasn't changed herself for others . </P> <P> She matures from age 6 to age 9 as the novel progresses but remains naive and idealistic, despite an increased understanding of human nature and racism in her town . At the beginning of the book, Scout is confused by some of the words and names she hears people directing towards her father, such as "nigger - lover". Being only six, Scout does not know how to handle such situations so she tries to resolve her problems by fighting, or by talking to Atticus about what she has heard . By the end of the book, Scout realizes that racism does exist and comes to terms with its presence in her town . Scout also learns how to deal with others, including the Finch family housekeeper, Calpurnia, and her aunt, Alexandra . Scout is the only one of the novel's primary three children (Dill, Jem, and herself) to see and speak to Boo Radley during the course of the novel and realize that he is harmless, despite her initial fear of him . She also stops a mob that is trying to lynch Tom Robinson by talking to the mob leader, Mr. Cunningham, about inviting his son, Walter, over for dinner . Mr. Cunningham then tells the other mob members to get back in their cars and leave them alone . The members listen, and Scout unintentionally saves Tom Robinson's life . She is portrayed by Mary Badham in the film adaption of To Kill a Mockingbird . </P> <P> Notable quote: "Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read . One does not love breathing ." </P>

When is scout introduced in to kill a mockingbird