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Who is Walter Cunningham in To Kill a Mockingbird?

There are two Walter Cunninghams in To Kill a Mockingbird. Walter Cunningham, Sr. is a member of the Cunningham Clan. They are from Old Sarum. The Cunninghams are "an enormous and confusing tribe domiciled in the northern part of the county" (Chapter 1). Mr. Cunningham is a farmer. He has trouble with his entailment, and he goes to Atticus for help. He does not have the money to pay Atticus for his legal services, so he pays Atticus back in various goods:



One morning Jem and I found a load of stovewood in the back yard. Later, a sack of hickory nuts appeared on the back steps. With Christmas came a crate of smilax and holly. That spring when we found a crokersack full of turnip greens, Atticus said Mr. Cunningham had more than paid him (Chapter 2).



Walter Cunningham, Jr. is a boy in Scout's class. He is Walter Cunningham, Sr.'s son. He is intelligent, but he has to miss school to help out with farm work. This causes him to repeat the same grade over and over. He does not have money for lunch, but refuses Miss Caroline's loan of a quarter. This is because the Cunninghams do not like to borrow money. At first, Scout is mad at Walter. Eventually, she comes to consider him a friend. Aunt Alexandra calls Walter trash, but Scout knows he is not.

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