"To Kill A Mockingbird" Character Relationships 12-4-14

Character pairs:

1- Dill and Francis


Format:

c. Relationship to Scout

d. Effect on Scout.


Dill and Francis are both characters that have had an effect on Scout. They are both the same age and they are both male, however they interact very differently with our little spitfire.


Dill is sort of Scouts alter ego. They have similare interests, like reading and acting, but they go about things differently. Dill seems a lot calmer than Scout. He doesn't argue as much as she does, and though it is not from his point of view, we haven't see him fight anyone like the several accounts we have of Scout. However when it comes to ambitions and risky ideas Dill is the one to get into the fryingpan. She's more cautious when it comes to things that will get them into trouble, like in thier second summer with Dill when she spent a good deal of her time with Miss. Maudie. Dill also preferrs to make up his own stories, while Scout enjoys reading them more. Dill sort of sparks her imagination and soothes her bordom. They're naturally happy to be around one another.


Francis however seems to be more Scouts foil than anything else. The first thing about scout aside from her fire-like nature, is how loyal and protective she is of her family, Atticus, Calpurnia, and Jem. (Miss Maudie and Dill can be in this list as well however she has not quite outawardly defended either of them to my recollection.) Francis didn't seems like that to me. He insulted Atticus, who is his family, which is something scout would never do to the degree he did. He also runs away from fights. Scout is a rather headstrong person, so no matter who starts the fight, she's likely to be the one who finishes it if it doesn't get broken up by an adult. From the get go Scout told us she never liked Francis, and the happenings at The Landing gives the reader a reason to do the same, other than her mere word for it.