The first way that Atticus Finch is the most influential character is To Kill a Mockingbird is through his actions. In the story, Atticus made Jem and Scout read to Mrs. Dubose and enforced her willing for them to do so. On page 140, it states, “ ‘Atticus,’ he said, ‘she wants me to read to her.’ ‘Read to her?’ ‘Yes sir. She wants me to come every afternoon after school and Sundays and read to her out loud for two hours. Atticus, do I have to?’ ‘Certainly.’ ‘But she wants me to do it for a month.’ ‘Then you’ll do it for a month’” (Lee 140). In this moment in the book, Atticus is showing to believe in standing up for what you did, admitting what was wrong with your actions, and pay the consequences. This moment shows that Atticus believes in building character, and taking responsibility for one's actions. Another example of Atticus being influential through his actions is how he treats his kids. He treats his kids like he would any other adult. The reader can see this on page 6, it says, “...he played with us, read to us, and treated us with …show more content…
Throughout the book, Atticus interacts with many people of the town, some nice, and some mean. One example of a mean townsman would be Mr. Bob Ewell. In the text the reader sees that , “...this morning Mr. Bob Ewell stopped Atticus on the post office corner, spat in his face, and told him he’d get him if it took him the rest of his life” (Lee 290). When Bob does this, this proves that he does not like Atticus and is a very rude and mean person. On the next page, the reader sees how Atticus reacts. He reacts by saying, “‘I Wish Bob Ewell wouldn't chew tobacco…’” (Lee 291). When Atticus says this, the reader is shown that Atticus does not get phased by physical assault. He plays the bigger man in the situation and ignores the hate that is directed towards him and shuts down Bob with no
Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird was published in the year of 1960, and is one of the few American classic novels awarded the Pulitzer Prize. The racism that is prevalent in many southern American towns in the 1930s is brought to life with profound imagery in To Kill a Mockingbird. There are several characters in the book, yet the true main character is the narrator's father, Atticus Finch. He is a man of great integrity and intelligence. A very heroic figure in more ways than one, Atticus possesses traits like being principled, determined, and, more importantly, he teaches others. When looking at To Kill a Mockingbird, one can see that Lee uses lots of description, dialogue, and actions to portray Atticus as a heroic individual.
The Importance of Atticus Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird The core character of a novel is responsible for maintaining the stability of society within the novel, exhibiting qualities of a true hero, and constantly emphasizing the novel’s central themes. In the classic, To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch serves as the core of the novel by displaying a character of stability, humility, and high moral standards. Atticus Finch is a character of stability in an unstable society.
Atticus’ statement on prejudice and racism characterises his moral integrity and his empathetic nature. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus Finch is depicted as the complete opposite of what people would perceive to be a stereotypical southern man living in the Deep South during the 1930s. Contrary to the majority of his fellow townspeople of Maycomb, Atticus is a man of great virtue and moral strength. He in not bigoted or racist and is egalitarian in his approach to all people This sort of moral integrity is what he tries to instil in his two young children, Jem and Scout, despite the bigotry and inequality surrounding them. Atticus Finch stands as a moral beacon of the town, a label which causes much friction between himself and other members of the Maycomb community. A clearer idea of Atticus’ principles can be gained by comparing and contrasting them to three other characters in the Novel, Calpurnia, Bob Ewell and Aunt Alexandra.
As a father, Atticus Finch tried to make his kids the best they can be. He tried teaching them that just because everyone acts a certain way, doesn’t mean they have to be close-minded and go along with it. Furthermore, he tries teaching them to always place themselves in someone’s position before judging them. Atticus leads them with example in the way he fought for Tom Robinson, tried helping Mayella Ewell deal with her father, and tried protecting Boo Radley from harassment. In conclusion, Harper Lee portrayed a sense of universal understanding in her novel.
Atticus is an incredible character in the book To Kill A Mockingbird. He displays three qualities that make him an incredible character. Atticus is determined. This is evident in the trial when he tries very hard to win for Tom Robinson and when he wants to take the case for an appeal. Atticus is also kind. We witness Atticus’ kindness in the way he acts and treats everyone in Maycomb. Atticus treats everyone with respect even if they don’t deserve it. Lastly, Atticus is patient. The author shows this through the way he treats Jem and Scout and everyone else in Maycomb. This essay will show that Atticus possesses the three qualities just mentioned. This essay will also show how the events and examples just mentioned show unique qualities.
Atticus’s character reflects true integrity and this integrity makes him the most accepting and equal character. First, Atticus accepts a very controversial role as Tom Robinson’s lawyer, and this shows how he doesn’t care that Tom is black. Even with a majority of the town against him, he tried his best to win the case. They may have lost, but he fought a tough battle that no other lawyer would have. Second, Atticus views the world through other peoples standpoint. Mrs. Dubose was a major aspect in this viewpoint. She may have been cruel at times to the finches, but she was very ill and was expected to pass soon. He treated Mrs. Du...
Atticus Finch as a parent teaches Scout and Jem moral values and tries his hardest to pass on to his children his way of thinking. Atticus worries that his children sees to much racism and injustice, and tries to show his children that all people are equal no matter the color of their skin. He teaches them to go against the norm in Maycomb which is prejudice and unjust in their actions.
Atticu Finch is one of they key characters in the book who leads by example and shows what courage is. In chapter nine, Atticus takes a case to defend a Negro who has been accused of raping Bob Ewell’s daughter Mayella444. Atticus, the father of main characters Scout and Jem Finch, loves and cares for his children, although since the children’s mother passed away when they were at a young age, Atticus is not always sure of how to fill her role. In chapter thirteen, Aunt Alexandra stays with the Finch family so that she can help them if anything happens while Atticus defends the black man, Tom Robinson. Atticus has always been respected in the town of Macomb, until he takes the Robinson case, which leads to controversy within his friends and his family. On several different instances, the towns people tried to convince him not to, and o...
Atticus Finch is a very essential character in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. He is not only the father on Jem and Scout, but he is also defending Tom Robinson. Along with all of the obstacles and challenges that Atticus faces he is still an exceptional role model for the children. He also overcomes the diversity of Negroes and whites that is displayed during his time by standing up and fighting for Tom Robinson and his triumph in court against Bob Ewell. Lee presents Atticus Finch as understanding of Tom Robinson, caring with the children, and calm throughout the Tom Robinson trial.
He is the one everyone looks up to and can turn to in their time of need; he is well regarded and respected throughout the county. Later Atticus sacrifices his reputation to help an innocent man and everyone turns their back on him. On page 100, when Scout asks Atticus why he is defending Tom Robbinson, he responds by saying “If I didn’t, I couldn’t hold my head up in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again.” Atticus does this simply because it is his job and the right thing to do. As mentioned earlier, when the head of the family is labeled a certain way, the whole family is destined to have that label on their name. Atticus isn’t just sacrificing his own reputation, he is sacrificing his family’s reputation. Throughout the story Scout stubbornly defends the family and her father. As the trial moves forward Atticus tells her “You might here some ugly talk about it at school, but do one thing for me if you will: you just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anyone says to you.” Scout is seen as the girl who throws punches first for the family, but she cannot do that anymore as told by Atticus and has to sacrifice her own reputation as well. At the end the family is going to be seen as outcast, for example, Francis says “We’ll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb again.” Thus the
The actions Bob Ewell displays throughout the novel help emphasize the actions Atticus displays. For example, Atticus wants justice for Tom Robinson so he takes his case because he knows no one else will even try to defend him. “ Do all lawyers defend n-Negroes, Atticus? Of course they do, Scout…. If you shouldn’t be defendin’ him, then why are you doin’ it? For a number of reasons, the main one is, if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town”
Throughout the book To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch demonstrates himself as an honest lawyer, a loving father, and a symbol of righteousness through his beliefs that he instills in his children. Atticus Finch values empathy, respect, and bravery, and he proves himself as a moral compass by teaching both Jem and Scout these values in the form of life lessons.
The exploratory of the novel “To Kill A Mockingbird” influenced the character Jem, Scout and Atticus because it educated in them bravery, equality and how to face injustice.
Atticus has showed bravery and the fact that color does not matter when someone is innocent. Along with this, Atticus has taught his children many things about life. “As Atticus once advised me to do, I tried to climb into Jem’s skin and walk around it: if I had gone to the Radley Place at two in the morning my funeral would have been held the next afternoon. So I left Jem alone and tried not to bother him.” (Lee 48) This is a clear example of how effective Atticus is. He is able to give important information to anyone, including his daughter, and them being able to use this important advice in real life. “It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what…” (Lee 93) This serves as an analogy to the Tom Robinson case and shows that Atticus knows he will not win, but must try his best in search for justice. Atticus has been an excellent example in Maycomb of what kind of person you shall
Atticus treats everyone with fairness. He always hears both sides of the story. He does this after Scout has gotten into a fight with Francis Hancock. After a time Atticus hears Scout’s side of the story and realises that it wasn’t totally Scout’s fault. Scout also tells Uncle Jack that when she and Jem get into fights Atticus stops to hear both sides of the argument before placing the blame, if any.