To Kill A Mockingbird, Chapter 1-5

As this book takes off, the reader notices an unusual bond between Atticus and our narrator, Scout. It's unusual because of a first-name basis between the two, or rather a first-name-nickname basis. In our modern world, a child calls his/her parent "Mom" or "Dad." The parent addresses the child by his/her first name. Instead, Atticus calls Jean Louise by her nickname "Scout," and Scout addresses her father by his first name, Atticus. I think this is unusual for those and our times. My grandmother would never have excused "Mom" or "Mama." It had to be "Mother."

From the very beginning, we notice Scout's rather troublesome nature. She has arguments with other characters often, and is constantly being "disciplined" by her schoolteacher. Her partners in mischief are her brother, Jeremy (Jem), and one Charles Baker Harris, or Dill. I interpret the actual trouble comes from Dill, when he's around. He is bored easily and is fascinated by the old Radley place.

The Radley Place has its own reputation in the town of Maycomb. There are no ghosts, but a ghoulish character known as "Boo" Radley supposedly resides there. He is the town's living haunt, and he is the scapegoat for ill-occurrences. The strong possibility of his insanity is forgotten, and most that know he exist take him to be just mean-tempered. I agree with Atticus as one of the few who take him for a tortured soul, locked away in his house. He can't come out for the fear of the townspeople going wild.

"Son," he said to Jem. "I'm going to tell you something and tell you one time: stop tormenting that poor man." ~ Atticus Finch