The Cunninghams
Mr Cunningham is a well known, yet very poor farmer that lives near the Finch house.
He is first heard of near the start of the novel, after the classroom incident where Walter could not afford lunch when Scout stands up for him. Scout has a friendly yet aggressive attitude towards him (i.e.beating him up but also inviting him to dinner).
Scout's friendship with Walter plays an important role during the lynch mob scene, when Walter's father (Mr. Cunningham) features in the lynch mob that attempts to kill Tom Robinson. Scout's innocence, friendly attitude, and warm sincerity brings Mr. Cunningham out of his mob-like behaviour and way of thinking, once again realising that his family's friendship with the Finchs should come before a political issue with Tom Robinson.
Scout's influence at this part of the novel affects the outcome of the voting, as it is noticed that Mr. Cunningham's cousin (a member of the jury) is the only person to vote "not guilty" against the convicted Tom Robinson. This is another example of the loyalty that Mr. Cunningham shows towards the Finch's at that time, but it is really left up to the reader to decide whether he was a man that could be trusted.
He is first heard of near the start of the novel, after the classroom incident where Walter could not afford lunch when Scout stands up for him. Scout has a friendly yet aggressive attitude towards him (i.e.beating him up but also inviting him to dinner).
Scout's friendship with Walter plays an important role during the lynch mob scene, when Walter's father (Mr. Cunningham) features in the lynch mob that attempts to kill Tom Robinson. Scout's innocence, friendly attitude, and warm sincerity brings Mr. Cunningham out of his mob-like behaviour and way of thinking, once again realising that his family's friendship with the Finchs should come before a political issue with Tom Robinson.
Scout's influence at this part of the novel affects the outcome of the voting, as it is noticed that Mr. Cunningham's cousin (a member of the jury) is the only person to vote "not guilty" against the convicted Tom Robinson. This is another example of the loyalty that Mr. Cunningham shows towards the Finch's at that time, but it is really left up to the reader to decide whether he was a man that could be trusted.