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Scout Finch Characteristics

Decent Essays

In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Jean Louise Finch, best known as Scout, has many admirable traits that add to the realistic feeling of her character. Scout presents herself as a strong-willed girl that already understands a lot about how the world, or at least her small town of Macomb works. However, just as any other child, she has yet to discover all the facts about life. While her father agreed to defend an African American in court, she and her brother both received taunting comments from kids, adults, and even family. Scout displays true courage when defending her father’s name. Though most of the time Scout acts tough, she holds compassion in her heart for those who appear troubled. As Scout explores the true nature of human society, she proves herself to be naive, brave, and compassionate.

Although Scout proves herself as being brilliant minded throughout To Kill a Mockingbird, at times she can act very naive. For example, Scout loves her father, Atticus, unconditionally and recognizes his cunning personality. However, she acknowledges that her father behaves differently than the other men in Maycomb, Alabama. She stated, “Our father didn’t do anything…or do anything that could possibly arouse the admission of anyone” (118). Scout …show more content…

To illustrate, while creeping behind the bushes, Scout, Jem, and Dill notice a mob of men confronting Atticus in front of the jail. These men were originally there to harm, and potentially kill Atticus and Tom Robinson. Regardless, Scout broke out from behind the bushes and went to stand with her father. “I broke away form Jem and ran as fast as I could to Atticus…I pushed my way through dark smelly bodies and burst into the circle of light” (202-203). At one point, she even attempts to begin a conversation with Mr. Cunningham. Scout’s act of bravery not only brought those men to their senses, but also prevented them from doing any

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