Jean Louise Finch
Famous with the nickname “Scout,” Jean Finch is rightly regarded to be the protagonist, as well as the narrator of the novel under analysis. She appears to be a little girl of five years only at the beginning chapter of the novel and grows eight as the novel ends. She is living with her widowed father Atticus Finch and elder brother in Maycomb town. She appears to be a brilliant young girl with extraordinary observational skills.
Therefore, she has successfully observed the developments being made within her social and physical environment. Scout has been portrayed as a caring girl having sympathetic nature, and concern for her family, friends, and relations as well as other members of her town. Her tender heart and benevolent disposition as well as having a deep love for her father and brother reminds the readers of Maggie Tulliver --- the protagonist of the Mill on the Floss by nineteenth-century British novelist George Eliot (1860). Identical with Maggie Tulliver, Scout also presented the image of a tomboy and participates in the sports and activities attributed to the young boys. She looks excited to get admitted to the local town school. Scout has been portrayed as a compassionate and affectionate young girl, and looks deeply worried on the eve of find her father in a dangerous situation, and forgets all her disliking for her paternal aunt Alexandra for the latter’s demonstrating great concern for the well-being and life of Atticus Finch during Finch’s pleading from the side of the African American accused Tom.
She is also friendly and develops a friendship with Dill immediately after his arrival in the town. She has been gifted with a sharp memory, which turns out to be supportive in respect of remembering the chronicle of events leading to the arrest and killing of Tom, as well as the consequences of her father’s support to the African American accused as a lawyer. Identical with her father and elder brother, she also carries no ethnic-racial prejudice against the blacks; nor does she demonstrate any abhorrence or displeasure towards the members of lower social stratum altogether.
On the contrary, she views observing of bias on the part of the jury as strictly against the principles of social justice, morality, and human values. Therefore, the questions about the colored balcony in the court reserved for the black people during the trial. Scout also demonstrates great courage on the eve of being attacked by Ewell on her and Jem, where the children escape the assault due to Boo’s timely help. Hence, possessing the above-discussed wonderful qualities makes Scout as the protagonist character of the novel under investigation.