Collapse of Enron - 4178 Words

THE COLLAPSE OF ENRON August 11 2008 [Type the abstract of the document here. The abstract is typically a short summary of the contents of the document. Type the abstract of the document here. The abstract is typically a short summary of the contents of the document.] FROM PERSPECTIVE OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTENTS PAGE NO. Introduction 3 Background of Enron 3 Enron Business Model 4 Summary of transactions Partnerships 5 Corporate Governance Issues 8 Post-Enron Governance Reforms 12 Conclusion 13 INTRODUCTION The secret of success is honesty and fair dealing, Mark Twain, once said. If you can fake these, you ve got it made.†¦show more content†¦Enron went a step further. It entered into separate contracts with both buyers and sellers in a contract, making a profit on the difference between the two quotes. The general lack of federal controls and monitoring of energy trading enabled Enron to keep its books shut. Of the three sides involved in energy-trading contracts, only Enron knew both sets of prices. Over time, Enron began to design more complex contracts - essentially derivatives purportedly aimed at hedging risks arising out of uncertainties in interest rates or currency fluctuations. Since Enron s collapse, it has been revealed that the company employed a battalion of doctorates in mathematics, physics and economics to manage these complex contracts. Between 1996 and 2000, Enron s sales increased from $13.3 billion to $100.8 billion. These were far above revenues generated by other large American companies such as Microsoft, General Electric or Exxon Mobil. Enron was described by an analyst as a giant hedge fund sitting on top of a pipeline. While its revenues were boosted through innovative accounting practices, its operating margins were rather thin - about 5 per cent in 2000 and 2 per cent in 2001. Its return on capital in 2001 was just 7 per cent - rather low in the highly risky business of hedging. Consequently, while revenues were successfully inflated by ingenious accounting devices, Enron s profitability was never as high. Wall Street analysts, tuned to theShow MoreRelatedEnron And The Collapse Of Enron1254 Words   |  6 Pagesbelow one dollar. This happened to shareholders of Enron. The total debt amounted to over $ 16 billion, which was the largest corporate bankruptcy in American history. Shareholders lost 60 billion dollars within a few days, 4500 employees lost their jobs, and the employees lost billions in pension benefits. I had never heard the name of Enron nor Enron’s scandal until I watched a film, â€Å"Enro n: The Smartest Guys in The Room,† but I realized the Enron scandal affected the whole of the business in theRead MoreEnron And The Collapse Of Enron1303 Words   |  6 PagesEnron, a company which originated in Huston, Texas, was one of the largest American energy trading corporations in the nation. Although it was one of the most well known companies, it was also one that crashed and burned the fastest, shocking many people when it did. Not only did it end fast, the company caused quite a scandal which is still being discussed and reviewed in today’s world. Enron’s bankruptcy scandal was so widely known because of the many people who associated themselves with the companyRead MoreThe Collapse Of Enron And Enron1736 Words   |  7 PagesAbstract Fortune used to rank Enron as the most successful business in the United States. The collapse of Enron was shocked the whole world energy trading market. It caused significant losses to investors. In this paper shows analysis reason of factors that lead to Enron demise and also lessons can be learnt from Enron case study. The approach which have used in this paper to respond, the case study question are the background of the case organization and how business structure had been use by theRead MoreEnron : The Collapse Of Enron1644 Words   |  7 PagesEnron was once one of the world s leading energy companies by reshaping the way natural gas and electricity were bought and sold. They filed the largest corporate bankruptcy in American history in 2001. Enron Corporation was an energy company running out of Texas that was started when two companies, Houston Natural Gas and InterNorth, merged together in 1985. By 1992, Enron became the largest seller of natural gas in North America and began to offer other services like wholesaler trading and riskRead MoreThe Collapse Of Enron And Enron1365 Words   |  6 PagesTwo organizations that will live on in infamy in the business world are World Com and Enron. These names are synonymous with the largest corporate scandals in US history. Their failure to live by ethical and moral codes resulted in bankruptcy, large financial losses to employees and shareholders as well criminal penalties. Additionally, these deviations from ethical behavior from several related parties shined a light on the accounting profession and resulted in several changes in the industryRead MoreEnron And The Collapse Of Enron1718 Words   |  7 PagesINTRODUCTION Enron, one of the most influential and profitable companies in utility, paper, and communications for numerous years, came crashing down and filed for bankruptcy in fall 2001 (Bottiglieri, Revile, and Grunewald 1). Houston National Gas and InterNorth fused together and created Enron in 1985. The company faced initial problems of debt and loss of exclusive rights to pipelines (Thomas 1). This accounting method allowed Enron to log entire profits from the life of a contract in the yearRead MoreEnron : The Collapse Of Enron2469 Words   |  10 Pagesscandal of Enron in 2001 lead the company to the bankruptcy. Enron is the largest bankruptcy reorganization in American history at that time. Undoubtedly, Enron is the biggest example of the audit failure. It is ever the most famous company in the world, but it also is one of companies which fell down too fast. In this paper, it describe the reason why Enron became an admired company in the world, the story of Enron s rise and fall, the iss ues of internal and external auditing in Enron, the breachesRead MoreFinancial Collapse : The And Enron1320 Words   |  6 PagesOneTel and Enron were huge technology companies, dominating the competition that they faced although - everything changed. Both of these companies operated in the same era, coincedently both suffering financial collapse. The reasons were mainly because of the failure to follow major accounting principles, lacking morals and lacking strong work ethics. If even a major corporation can fall into this â€Å"trap†, then avoiding doesn’t sound easy, although accountants can easily avoid scandals by followingRead MoreThe Collapse Of Enron Corporation1547 Words   |  7 Pagesdownfall of the Enron Corporation and how the collapse of Enron Corporation consequence affected the United states financial market. Enron Corporation was the seventh largest company in the United States, and had the biggest audit failure. In this Research paper, it describes the reason of Enron Corporation collapse, including details of the internal/ external management, accounting fraud, and conflict of interest. Enron is the largest bankruptcy in America history! The Collapse of Enron CorporationRead MoreThe Collapse Of Enron Corporation1787 Words   |  8 Pagesâ€Å"When a company ascends to the number seven spot on the Fortune 500 and then collapses in weeks into a smoking ruin, its stock worth pennies, its CEO, a confidante of presidents, more or less evaporated, there must be lessons in there somewhere.† -Daniel Henninger, The Wall Street Journal The collapse of Enron Corporation has created many discussions about the structure of corporate governance. The question of this essay first calls to examine some of the strengths and weaknesses of the

The Ideological Content And Violent Practices Of Stalinism...

To what extent were the ideological content and violent practices of Stalinism consisted with Leninist principles? This essay will examine the extent to which the political phenomena know as Stalinism was a derivative of Leninist principle. Stalinism being defined as the governing polices implemented under the leadership of Joseph Stalin, particularly during the period between the end of the New Economic Policy in 1929 and the death of Stalin 1953. These policies were characterised by the use of extreme violence in the form of persistent State terror in order to achieve social and political ends. Specific examples such as the collectivisation of agriculture and the Great purge of the communist party have all been attributed to the Stalinist system. Stalinism also places greater priority on the creation of ‘socialism in one country’ rather than the spreading of revolution abroad through communist internationalism. The extent to which the Stalinist system was a product of or a degeneration of Leninism has been intensely debated by historians. Leninism being defined as a form of Marxis m where the Bolshevik party would seize power and maintain a dictatorship through the use of violence, in order for socialism and eventually communism to be created. This essay will seek to explore whether the violent policies associated with Stalinism where the result of the continuation by Stalin of the processes initiation by Vladimir Lenin under his direction and whether the intentions of

Get the Scoop on Essay on Controversial Topics in America Before Youre Too Late

Get the Scoop on Essay on Controversial Topics in America Before You're Too Late The objective is to satisfy your intended audience, regardless of whether it's your teacher or classmates. Education scholars are continuously evolving the way that they think about how we learn and what's taught. Sex education is the action of informing younger and adult generations about everything they will need to understand about sex. Frequently, sexual education in schools is regarded as a recreational course in place of a critical matter. How to Choose Essay on Controversial Topics in America Controversial essay is just one of the most anticipated types of a term paper for each college student. If you would like to compose a controversial essay, you definitely must look for the most effective social issues topics or satire topics. Controversial topics work nicely for speeches and essays, since they typically evoke strong opinions on either side. Choosing topics for argumentative essays i s crucial for your general success. Argumentative essays are a few of the best that you can write as a student. An argumentative essay requires you to choose a topic and have a position on it. Argumentative essay topics are so important since they are debatableand it's vital to at all times be critically contemplating the world around us. Moral argumentative essay topics are a few of the simplest to get carried away with. Essay on Controversial Topics in America and Essay on Controversial Topics in America - The Perfect Combination Other companies, on the flip side, simply wish to safeguard their image (just like Costco). Among the most controversial issues in health today is the problem of weight. The 50 titles we've listed are only the tip of the iceberg all you need to do is be creative and think beyond the box. What Everybody Dislikes About Essay on Controversial Topics in America and Why There's, naturally, a limit on the variety of pages even our very best writers can produce with a pressing deadline, bu t usually, we can satisfy all the clients seeking urgent assistance. It is possible to also acquire different discounts on our site which will help you to save some more money for future orders or anything you want to spend them on. There are many steps that you should take to be able to write a superb essay. A policy isn't going to be very effective if a person gets away with it. On the flip side, bear in mind your essay can be offensive to someone. It's essential that the story be kept simple, though the theme might be quite intense. Attempting to pick a topic please be gentle and consider your audience. If you're struggling, you always have the option to obtain help by employing an essay writing service such as ours. The Lost Secret of Essay on Controversial Topics in America Perhaps you still must understand more about the way to compose a history paper. Look at the world today, search on the internet and appear at news articles too there's inspiration everywhere. Si nce you may see, there's a multitude of different argumentative paper titles it's possible to utilize. No matter the temperature, individuals are still making the endeavor to acquire in the usa, but more than ever, individuals are risking their lives to return home, no matter the heat. Ok, I Think I Understand Essay on Controversial Topics in America, Now Tell Me About Essay on Controversial Topics in America! 4 After introducing either side of the problem and allowing students to go over their opinions, you can express your own opinion about it. By doing so, you can get familiarized with the counter-arguments of the opposing parties. Still, it's much better to get a freedom of choice as far as it is possible to select the issue which interests you. As students discuss the problem, they'll be able to assist each other further understand the arguments posed by every side. Odds are, all you have to do is relax and locate a topic you're passionate about and, obviously, one tha t's debatable. Some people may think that the excellent content could be written on any topic and the paper success is dependent just on the mastery of the writer. If you can't locate a controversial topic on the list that is suitable for your passion, there are a great deal of different resources out there. With the assistance of our tips for writing and our interesting collection of topics, you're guaranteed to have a high grade! The goal in teaching a controversial subject isn't to sway students to an opinion or the other, but they could change the way that they feel after further discussion. Bear in mind your controversial research paper won't fix the matter, it's necessary to teach you to take a look at the matter from all the sides possible and hold the discussion. You will be assigned a topic, or your professor will enable you to select your own. On the flip side, if you choose a controversial topic you have very little interest in, you'll find it quite tricky to finish the assignment.

Little Boy Crying and Rising Five free essay sample

Rising Five written by Norman Nicholson are both about young boys growing up and describing their world to us. They both do this through the use of metaphors, similes, repetition and allusion. They both portray the idea differently but the meanings are the same, the fact that we must learn life lessons. The theme of growing up is also portrayed throughout the poems. In the poem Rising Five written by Norman Nicholson, Nicholson portrays the idea of growing up through verbal language features such as repetition and similes. An example of this would be the repetition of the words not and rising. This gives us the impression that the young boy is looking at the present negatively and looking towards the future too much. Another example of this would be the quote we drop our youth behind us like a boy throwing away his toffee wrappers. This gives us the impression of how carelessly the boy is throwing away his youth and so are we. We will write a custom essay sample on Little Boy Crying and Rising Five or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Nicholson teaches us here that we should live life to the fullest as you never know when your life could end. In the poem Little Boy Crying written by Mervyn Morris, Morris portrays the theme of growing up and learning life lessons. Melvyn Morris does this throughout the poem using verbal language features such as allusion the ogre towers above you, that grim giant this gives us the impression of how the boy feels about his father. The little boy describes his father in the only way he can, through fairytales. It also shows the harshness of the boys feelings for his father. Another example would be you must not make a plaything of the rain this example means that the little boy must learn his life lessons and not make use of his tears to get what he desires and to get out of situations. Morris teaches us in the poem that we cant always get what we want through tears and we must learn life lessons if we want to succeed in the future as we learn from our mistakes. Both poems Little Boy Crying and Rising Five are about growing up and learning life lessons. Both Nicholson and Morris explore the ideas in different ways. An example of this would be we look for the marriage bed in the babys cradle, we look for the grave in the bed, not living but rising dead by Norman Nicholson in Rising Five. This gives us the impression that we should live life to the fullest and live life in the present rather than think more about the future. It also shows that we should learn to appreciate the present as we dont know when our life could come to an end. Morris also explores the idea of learning life lessons. An example of this would be this man longs to lift you, curb your sadness with piggy-backs or bullfights, anything, but dare not ruin the life lesson you should learn this means that the father wants to comfort his boy but cant as he doesnt want to ruin the lesson he should learn. Both poems are very similar and have apparent links between them. They both express the idea of growing up and learning life lessons. In conclusion, both poems have used language techniques to portray the link between them. Morris has used allusion and similes to show how the boys express his feelings. Nicholson on the other had has used repetition and similes to portray his ideas. Time will be forever moving forward and if we do not take this fact in our hands, we will be left behind.

Is Global Warming a Threat to Polar and Glacier Ice Essay Example

Is Global Warming a Threat to Polar and Glacier Ice? Paper Is global warming a threat to polar and glacier ice? Global warming is a phenomenon whereby the earths average temperature increases. Global warming has a devastating effect on the Earths climate. Scientists are still studying global warming effects, and have not reached a consensus about what will happen in the future. The melting of the polar ice caps and global warming are getting more and more attention lately. If melting glaciers caused by global warming, or it is a natural process at this moment opinion of scientists and experts is diverge. There are many causes of the melting of the polar ice caps and global warming, some of which are natural. However, the activities of man are responsible for much of the rapid change that scientists are seeing. Andrew S. Revving in his article Global Warming is Eroding Glacial Ice raises the Issue of global warming its causes and effects. According to Revving the most serious consequence of global warming is melting glaciers. He argues that global warming is largely a result of human activity. He states that the melting of glaciers up North could cause n increase in flash floods, endangering the lives of many people and damaging the homes. He writes that according to studies an icecap atop Mount Kilimanjaro, which is more than a thousand years old, will be gone in 15 years or less due to the side effects of global warming. Revving reports that Kilimanjaro is one of the clearest signs that global warming trend in the last 50 year may have exceeded typical climate shifts (414). Other icecaps such as Mount Everest and Swiss Alps are slowly melting as well. He quotes research done by Dry. We will write a custom essay sample on Is Global Warming a Threat to Polar and Glacier Ice? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Is Global Warming a Threat to Polar and Glacier Ice? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Is Global Warming a Threat to Polar and Glacier Ice? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Lonnie G. Thompson who proved glacier erosion and showed some of the effects it was causing to the North Pole. Dry. Thomson said that other changes could also be contributing to the glacial shrinkage, but the rising warm zone is probably the biggest influence (415). Revving in his article provides statistics, which show that in recent decades global warming has increased and to continuing in the years to come. Kilimanjaro has pulled back five-hundred feet a year from 1998 to 2000, which is 33 times faster than the rate from 1963 to 1 978 (416). Philipp Sotto in his article Gold Comfort for Global warming considers that the temperature change as a perfectly natural event. He argues that climate change is part of Earths cycle, and that it right on schedule. He believes that people do not have much control over nature. He talks about the collapse of Larsen B ice shelf in Antarctica, the largest single event in a series of retreats by ice shelves in the Antarctica over the last 30 years. He considers this crash perfect natural disaster for journalists who are of the view that global warming is a result of greenhouse gas emissions and human activity in the modern world. According to P. Sotto, the collapse Of ice is a natural process Of nature, and icebreakers are falling after a hot summer and high winds. He finds it impossible the North Pole is disappearing and neither is the South Pole. He writes about studies, which have shown that West Antarctic Ice Sheet may be getting thicker, not thinner. He describes the Antarctica as unusual continent with many climates, and many geomorphology and glaciological regimes. Researchers of University of Illinois have reported that the temperature in Antarctica have been falling in the last decade. And it is not surprising, according to him, when parts of the continent are cooling to see some of the ice melts such as Larsen 8. And at the time as people concerned about global warming, he said, the planet may be moving in the opposite direction. Moron Monte in her article Science file argues that climate change, such as global warming leads to natural disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, and volcanic eruptions. Due to increased temperature on the earth, ice begins to melt. She describes that Arctic ice are crucial to Earths climate system. Ice cap reflects the suns rays, and thus does not heat up the planet. Global warming reduces the amount of ice in the Arctic, which is dangerous for humanity. The melting of glaciers, can lead to global disasters on the planet, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis and floods, adds Moron. Global warming is indeed a serious issue in the world and is not just a myth. The planet is warming and this has a catastrophic effect on the ice caps of the Earth; with an increase in temperature glaciers worldwide, are melting faster than the time taken for new ice layers to form. The clearest example of the effect of global warming on glaciers is rapid erosion of the ice cover on the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. Melting glaciers are so fast that they cant be explained only typical climatic shifts. The Mount Kilimanjaro, which has existed for thousands years, is now at risk of disappearing by 2020 if present rates of melting occur (416). It is critical that people take action to stem the tide of the melting of the polar ice caps and global warming. According to some scientists, the human race has a limited time to turn the tide and avoid engine the most catastrophic effects of polar ice caps melting.

The History of the Odometer

The History of the Odometer An odometer is an instrument that records the distance that a vehicle travels. It is different from a speedometer that measures the vehicles speed or the tachometer that indicates the speed of rotation of the engine, although you may see all three on the dashboard of an automobile. Timeline Encyclopedia Britannia credits Roman architect and engineer Vitruvius with inventing the odometer in 15 BCE. It used a chariot wheel, which is of standard size, turned 400 times in a Roman mile and was mounted in a frame with a 400-tooth cogwheel. For each mile, the cogwheel engaged a gear that dropped a pebble into the box. You knew how many miles you went by counting the pebbles. It was pushed by hand, though it may never have been actually built and used.   Blaise Pascal (1623 - 1662) invented a prototype of an odometer, the calculating machine called a Pascaline. The Pasacaline was constructed of gears and wheels. Each gear contained 10 teeth that when moved one complete revolution, advanced a second gear one place. This is the same principle employed in the mechanical odometer. Thomas Savery (1650 - 1715) was an English military engineer and inventor who  patented the first crude steam engine in 1698.  Among Saverys other inventions was an odometer for ships, a device that measured distance traveled. Ben Franklin (1706 - 1790) is best known as a statesman and writer. However, he was also an inventor who invented swim fins, bifocals, a glass harmonica, watertight bulkheads for ships, the lightning rod, a wood stove, and an odometer. While serving as Postmaster General in 1775, Franklin decided to analyze the best routes for delivering the mail. He created a simple odometer to help measure the mileage of the routes that he attached to his carriage. An odometer called the roadometer was invented in 1847 by the Morman pioneers crossing the plains from Missouri to Utah. The roadometer attached to a wagon wheel and counted the revolutions of the wheel as the wagon traveled. It was designed by William Clayton and Orson Pratt and built by carpenter Appleton Milo Harmon. Clayton was inspired to invent the roadometer after developing his first method of recording the distance the pioneers traveled each day. Clayton had determined that 360 revolutions of a wagon wheel made a mile, he then tied a red rag to the wheel and counted the revolutions to keep an accurate record of the mileage traveled. After seven days, this method became tiresome, and Clayton went on to invent the roadometer that was first used on the morning of May 12, 1847. William Clayton is also known for his writing of the pioneer hymn Come, Come, Ye Saints. In 1854, Samuel McKeen of Nova Scotia designed another early version of the odometer, a device that measures mileage driven. His version was attached to the side of a carriage and measured the miles with the turning of the wheels.

To Kill a Mockingbird Characters

To Kill a Mockingbird Characters Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a tremendous literary achievement, combining a subtlety of voice with a setting and characters rendered with consummate skill. From a young girl imbued with her older self’s perspectives to the inner life of a servant, Lee makes choices with her characters that add impact to the plot’s events and realism to the setting. It’s that realism- the ability for the reader to imagine actually meeting the characters in the book- that makes Lee’s themes of racism, equality, and the trap of poverty so powerful, and why the novel remains relevant and readable today. Scout Finch Jean Louise Scout Finch is the narrator and main character of the novel. The fact that Jean Louise is actually telling the story as an adult decades later is sometimes forgotten, because Lee so perfectly ties the perspective to the younger Scout, who is 6 years old when the story begins. As a result of this technique, Scout is often remembered as a precociously intelligent child who understands the subtleties of events around her more than most children her age. The fact is, it is the elder Scout injecting those insights into the story with the aid of hindsight and mature experience. Scout is a tomboy who rejects traditional feminine roles and trappings. She is adventurous and idealistic, taking her moral cues from her father, Atticus. Even when she does not fully understand scenarios she instinctively defends Atticus, usually by getting into physical altercations. In fact, physical action is Scout’s preferred way of overcoming any obstacle, which is a curious opposition to Atticus’ more cerebral and peaceful approach. Scout’s physical approach to problems reflects her initially simplistic moral outlook: she initially believes that there is always a clear right and wrong in every situation, and triumph in physical combat always results in a winner and a loser. As the story goes on and Scout grows older, she begins to understand more about the world around her, which by necessity makes her less certain about the morality of any particular action. As a result, Scout begins to value reading and education more as she grows older, and begins to see the way physical force can be abused and lead to less certain moral outcomes. Atticus Finch Scout’s widower father is an attorney. Although he is a well-respected member of the community and can seem like a very traditional man of his time, Atticus in fact has many subtle attributes that mark him as a bit of an iconoclast. He shows little intention of remarrying and seems comfortable being a single father. He values education and is intent that his daughter receive a first-class education, and is not concerned with her lack of what many at the time would consider feminine qualities. He indulges his children, allowing them to call him by name instead of insisting on a honorific like father, and lets them more or less roam unsupervised, trusting their judgment despite their young age. Thus it should not be a surprise when Atticus takes his role as lawyer to Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman in the American South in the 1930s, very seriously. It is strongly implied that the town expects Atticus to do very little to defend Tom, and his insistence on taking his role seriously and doing his best for his client enrages much of the community. Atticus is presented as an intelligent, moral man who believes strongly in the rule of law and the necessity of blind justice. He has very progressive views on race and is very perceptive about class distinctions, and teaches his children to always be fair and empathetic to others, but to fight for what they believe in. Jem Finch Jeremy Atticus Jem Finch is Scout’s older brother. Ten years old at the beginning of the story, Jem is in many ways a typical older sibling. He is protective of his status and often uses his superior age to force Scout to do things his way. Jem is depicted by the elder Jean-Louise as sensitive, intelligent, and fundamentally fair. Jem also demonstrates a rich imagination and an energetic approach to life; for example, it is Jem who drives the investigation into the mystery surrounding Boo Radley, the play-acting the children engage in, and the steadily escalating risks involved with making contact. Jem is in many ways presented as the end result of Atticus’ parental example. Not only is Jem older, and thus able to demonstrate how his father has influenced his worldview and behavior, but he shares many of the implied characteristics of Atticus, including a deep reverence for fairness and a decency and respect offered to all other people regardless of race or class. Jem displays difficulty dealing with other people who do not rise to his standard, showing just how hard Atticus has to work every day to keep his aura of calm and maturity. In other words, Jem shows how difficult doing the right thing can be- something that his father makes look easy. Boo Radley If there is one character who encapsulates the broader themes of To Kill a Mockingbird, it’s Boo Radley. A troubled recluse who lives next door to the Finches (but never leaves the house), Boo Radley is the subject of many rumors. Boo naturally fascinates the Finch children, and his affectionate, childlike gestures towards them- the gifts left in the tree knot, Jem’s mended pants- point towards the ultimate lesson that Scout learns from him: That appearances and rumor don’t mean much. Just as Tom Robinson is assumed to be a criminal and a degenerate simply because of his race, Boo Radley is assumed to be terrifying and animalistic simply because he is different. Scout’s recognition of the fundamental humanity of Boo Radley is a crucial part of the story. Dill Harris Charles Baker Dill Harris is a young boy who visits his Aunt Rachel in Maycomb every summer. He becomes best friends with Scout and Jem, who find his sense of adventure and fanciful imagination to be a delightful source of entertainment. Dill is the main driver behind the quest to make Boo Radley come out of his house, and at one point agrees to marry Scout when they are older, something she takes very seriously. Dill serves as an outside point-of-view for Jem and Scout, who have grown up in Maycomb and thus cannot always see their home objectively. Scout expresses a callous attitude towards racism early in the book, for example, but Dill’s reaction is visceral revulsion, which inspires the Finch children to reevaluate their view of the world. Calpurnia Cal is the Finches’ housekeeper and a surrogate mother to Jem and Scout. Whereas early in the novel Scout views Calpurnia as a disciplinarian and killer of fun, by the end of the novel she views Cal as a figure of respect and admiration. Calpurnia is educated and intelligent, and has helped to raise the Finch children to be the same. She also provides the children with a window into the world of black citizens in Maycomb, which is vital to their understanding of the stakes involved in Tom Robinson’s plight. Tom Robinson Tom Robinson is a black man who supports his family by working as a field hand despite having a crippled left arm. He is charged with the rape of a white woman, and Atticus is assigned to defend him. Despite being the accused, Tom has very little to do with the central conflict of the story- just like other members of the black community in America at the time, he is largely powerless, and the conflict is fought between white people. Tom’s essential decency is perceived by Scout when he finally takes part in his own defense, and his eventual death disillusions and depresses Scout.