Character Traits of Scout from Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’

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To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic American novel by Harper Lee. The famous story focuses on the Finch family during the Great Depression, and it takes place in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama. The protagonist is a young girl named Jean Louise Finch. Most people call her Scout. She is a very developed character and the narrator of the story. Some of her qualities are she is a fighter, she is curious, and she is a tomboy.

From the start of the novel, it is obvious that Scout is a fighter, both physically and emotionally. She has overcome the death of her mother and always adapts to her circumstances. Since she is a child, she can get violent or temperamental. For example, 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). She grows and matures throughout the story. In the beginning, she solves problems through physical violence and later learns to show her fighting spirit by being resilient through her struggles. Sometimes it is a strength, and sometimes a weakness, but Scout Finch is a fighter throughout the book.

In To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout is very inquisitive. She is constantly asking questions about the world around her. This helps her learn more about her environment. For example, ’Excuse me, Mrs. Merriweather’, I interrupted, are you all talking about Mayella Ewell? (Lee, 231). This quote, in chapter 24, Scout says when she wants to find out what the women around her are talking about. Scout is always questioning her surroundings, whether she wants to learn more about adult conversations, or she is just casually pondering about the people in Maycomb.

Another significant trait of Scouts is that she is a total tomboy. Although it can occasionally get her in hot water, it is a large part of her development. She is proud of not being so feminine. She would much rather wear overalls and befriend boys than surround herself with other girls and wear frilly dresses. A great example of Scouts thoughts on the subject is in chapter four: Jem told me I was being a girl, that girls always imagined things, thats why other people hated them so, and if I started behaving like one I could just go off and find some to play with (Lee, 41). Scout gets insulted and takes it to heart when people call her a girl. She does not like fitting into societys expectations, and that is part of what makes her who she is.

Scout Finch is the young protagonist of To Kill a Mockingbird. She is truly a round character with many traits. Some of her great qualities are her fighting spirit, her curious nature, and her tomboy attitude. These traits are all make up the novels little leading lady, Jean Louise Scout Finch.

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