Bob and Mayella Ewell
The Ewell Family live in a shack at the town dump. They are what was
known as ‘white trash’ – Mr. Ewell doesn’t work but instead gets drunk with
his benefit money. The family is ignorant, unclean and disgraceful. Mayella
Ewell accuses Tom Robinson of rape, when she in fact made advances upon
him. For a white woman to seduce a black man was disgraceful, even to the
trashy Ewells. Bob Ewell made up the story of the rape to hide Mayella’s
‘shame’.
Judge Taylor
Judge Taylor is overseeing Tom Robinson’s rape case. He is a man of good sense
and despite having a seemingly relaxed approach to the court proceedings (he
chews cigars and appears to fall asleep) he is very good at his job. He chose
Atticus to defend Tom- we get the impression he shares some of Atticus’ ideals.
Mr. Underwood
Mr. Underwood is the sole journalist, editor and publisher of the town newspaper
“The Maycomb Tribune”. His office is next to the jail, and he watches over Atticus’
late night guarding with a gun, ready to protect him. Mr. Underwood ‘hates niggers’
and it is no secret.
Mr. Walter Cunningham Sr.
Walter Cunningham is essentially a decent man, but he has the ignorance of an
uneducated country farmer, and takes a lynch mob to find Tom Robinson in his
cell. He does, however, have the sensitivity and self-awarenss to think twice about
what he planned to do, when disarmed by Scout’s friendly chat. He gets to mob to
leave.
Helen Robinson
Mr. Link Deas
Reverend Sykes
Helen Robinson is Tom Robinson’s wife. She works for Mr. Link Deas. After Tom’s
death, Bob Ewell stalks and harasses her, but Mr. Link Deas stands up for her and sees
him off.
Mr. Link Deas is a kind hearted local landowner/prosperous farmer. Both Tom and
Helen Robinson have worked for him, and he holds them in high regard. He stands up
in Tom’s trial and calls out what a good worker and honest man he (Tom) is, causing
him to be kicked out of the court. He also stands up for Helen’s rights against Bob
Ewell’s harassment.
Reverend Sykes is the pastor at Capurnia’s Church (‘First Purchase Church’). He
is very kind to the children and respects their father for what he is doing defending
Tom. He encourages other black members of the town to respect the Finchs in the
same way.
Miss Maudie Atkinson
Miss Rachel
Miss Maudie Atkinson is the Finch family’s stern but kindly neighbour. She
is very insightful and always seems to know what people are going to do.
She disapproves of the way some of the Maycomb inhabitants behave,
towards Boo Radley and Tom Robinson in particular. She shares many of the
same values and attitudes of Atticus. She is at polar opposites with Aunt
Alexandra.
Miss Rachel is Dill’s Aunt. He stays with her when he comes to visit Maycomb.
She is a bit of a scold, always over-reacting. She often cried “Doooooo Jee-sus
Dill Harris!” in response to his gambling/running away/ getting into trouble. Miss
Rachel is a fairly unimportant character in so far as what’s likely to come up in an
exam.
Miss Caroline
Miss Caroline is the young school teacher who takes Scout for her first year at
school. She is young, inexperienced and comes from out of town- all of which are
factors that contribute to her struggle and torment at the hands of the Maycomb
children! She does not understand ‘Maycomb ways’, or the social hierarchy that
exists (think of Walter’s lunch money and Burris Ewells head lice)
iss Stephanie Crawford
Aunt Alexandra
Sherriff Heck Tate
Miss Stephanie Crawford is a neighbour of the Finch family, who likes to
spread (and make up!) gossip. She never misses a scandal, and is often
reprimanded/mocked by Miss Maudie for being so nosey. (Again, she is a
really minor character, not one to crop up in exams)
Aunt Alexandra is Atticus’ sister, and self-elected ‘upholder’ of the family’s position
in society. She is a huge snob, and is concerned only with public perception of the
behaviour of her family- She tires to impose her own standards on Atticus and his
children. Atticus suffers her presence because he does want Scout to have a feminine
influence in her life, but just isn’t sure that wearing a skirt is more important that
being a moral and respectable person.
Mr. Heck Tate is the Maycomb Sherriff, essentially a nice man, who likes to have a
quiet life. He seems to support Tom Robinson’s cause, but not actively, he doesn’t put
himself on the line like Atticus. He does, however, insist to Atticus that they disguise
the truth about Boo Radley killing Bob Ewell, so another innocent man should not
wind up in jail. Here, he steps up to do his moral duty.
Mr. Avery
Mr. Avery is a local man who is a figure of fun to the children, firstly because he
urinates in the bushes of the front porch when he’s had a drink and also because he’s
quite fat, and got stuck in a window when trying to help rescue the furniture form Miss
Maudie’s house when it was on fire. He blames the children for the snow, saying that
freak weather occurs when children like them have not been good.
Zeebo
Zeebo is Calpurnia’s son. He is the garbage truck driver, and also leads the congregation
of First Purchase Church in their singing (he sings a line and they repeat it (“linin’”)