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Essays on harper lee's life
Example in the book where Atticus influences his children
Essays on harper lee's life
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The relationship between Atticus and his kids plays a major role in Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. The bond Atticus, Jem, and Scout had was unbreakable. This relationship is what makes them such powerful characters in the novel. Though it was a positive relationship, it came with its downsides. Atticus loves his children, but he does not baby, or spoil them in any way. He would always try to get them to see things from different perspectives: "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." (Lee 33). Atticus gave them a lot of freedom to do as they pleased, but whenever they got out of line he would always real them back in. The …show more content…
Jem and Scout despised Aunt Alexandra, but Atticus still wanted her there to help take care of them. She would always question the way Atticus raised them: “Sister, I do the best I can with them!” (Lee 92) Jem and Scout got agitated when Atticus would try to handle situations by himself that they knew he couldn’t, for example, when Atticus waited outside the jail and a group of men came to cause trouble: “…Go home Jem,” he said. “Take Scout and Dill home” was what Atticus told them with fifteen or more men surrounding him. (Lee 172) However, Atticus also had things that he despised the children doing. He didn’t like them being around the court house while major trials, or trials he was involved in were happening. The only time he didn’t care was one case, the Tom Robinson case; he was so defeated afterwards he couldn’t even scold them for being there. Atticus also did not like it when they would go medaling in other people’s business, and or property. They were fascinated by their neighbor, Boo Radley. Atticus thought they should just leave him alone, because he didn’t do anything to anyone, he kept to himself. He was very upset at them when they destroyed Mrs. Dubose flowers in her garden, so he made them read to her every day after school for over a month. When all is said and done, the Finch’s are the most caring, compassionate, and maybe a little crazy, family in Maycomb. Atticus showed
Although Atticus is not like every other parent, he shows his love to his kids in his own ways. He does not need to be kissing them, hugging them or buying them things to show his affection for them. His ways are unique ways that show that Atticus is a positive parental figure. Another good piece of evidence that shows that Atticus is a positive parental figure is that he sets a good example for the children. He sets a good example by being honest and telling them why he has to defend Tom Robinson even if that decision jeopardizes his reputation and the family. When Atticus was talking to Scout about defending Tom he said, “The main one is, if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again” (100). These words show that Atticus values equality and justice and it is setting an excellent example for the kids to follow at such a young age. Atticus defends Tom Robinson, an African American man, because he believes in equality for all. Atticus also mentioned that before he tells the children to do something or follow values he, Atticus, must display them first, and he
Scout and Jem still are unable to accept her and are detached from her strong traditional southern views. As a result Atticus receives many criticism the way he brought up his children and is forced to act. 'Our Father was actually fidgeting. "No, I just want to explain to you that--your Aunt Alexandra asked me...son you know you 're a Finch, don 't you?" (177) However Jem and Scout notices this and become resentful towards the changed Atticus. As Atticus struggles with the Tom Robinson case, Aunt Alexandra plays the role of their mother since they only have Atticus “I know what he was trying to do, but Atticus was only a man. It takes a woman to do that kind of work." (170) however she also knows that instilling manners and acting as the motherly figure was the role of a woman, during that time period. Throughout the book, Atticus has struggled with the job of filling both the father and the mother. No matter how hard he tries, the roll of the mother can never be filled by Atticus. His character does not have the same personality traits that a mother would. All Scout needs is a loving mother, but when Aunt Alexandra comes, she does not nearly fill that role. She is even harsher and the spot still remains vacant. "...you 've got to do something about her," Aunty was saying. "You 've let things go on too long Atticus, too long” (36).This quote shows how Aunt Alexandra is demanding and looks as if she is trying to be the stricter side, which I dont think Scout needs "Atticus, it 's all right to be soft-hearted, you 're an easy man, but you have a daughter to think of." (136-137)I think Alexandra is totally wrong here. Scout does not like to listen to a demanding person telling her what to do. Instead of listening, she will simply do the opposite. A less harsh and caring mother would give Scout something more to mature. Alexandra is really into
Instead of talking more, he prefers to show.(EVIDENCE, ELABORATE) Also, Atticus is not a type of father who would love his children dearly all the time. At times, he will be firm and teach them harsh lessons about life when necessary. This is evident when he took Jem along with him to tell Helen Robinson about Tom Robinson’s death. This way, Atticus allows Jem to learn lessons about prejudice and other principles in life. Also, throughout the novel, Atticus works to develop his children’s respective consciences and character, through teaching vital lessons with objectives, such as though humanity has a great capability of evil and wrong doings, it also has a great capacity for good. Also, the evil can be looked upon as good, if one approaches things with an outlook of compassion and understanding, instead of hatred, thus his objective is to teach them to be more compassionate and gracious towards others in life.
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.
In the novel,”To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, the characters Scout and Atticus have several similarities and differences. One such similarity is that they both have the ability to view situations from different perspectives. When Scout walked Boo home, she was able to see the world from Boo’s perspective. Another similarity is that they both aren’t prejudice.The two also are able to use their words effectively. After Scout moves away from fighting, she gains the ability to effectively use her words as Atticus can. Aside from their similarities, these characters have several differences.
Throughout the novel, learning and growing is a key theme, but as Scout and Jem grow Atticus does also. Atticus starts out as the lawyer of Maycomb, the best one around, unlike the other children’s parents who are farmers and mostly uneducated southerners. Atticus looks at things a little bit differently than most. Later on he chooses one of the most daring things he could do, defend a black man in court. He takes on the case of Tom Robinson, who allegedly raped Mayella Ewell, and had a little chance of getting free considering his race. Most people thought he was rightfully accused and some just thought he was a lost cause. This is the story of Atticus Finch, told by his daughter Scout, a story of strength and dignity.
Atticus treats Jem and Scout as equals, such as allowing them to call him by his first name and giving them freedom to make their own decisions (that are well within reason).
When Aunt Alexandra first arrived at the Finch house, she took over as if she had been living there her whole life. When arriving home, Jem and Scout found her, “sitting in a rocking chair exactly as if she had sat there every day of her life.”(p. 168). From the very beginning, Aunt Alexandra felt she should be completely in charge. The first thing she said was, “‘Put my bag in the front bedroom, Calpurnia,’” (p. 169). Aunt Alexandra treated Calpurnia as if Calpurnia was her servant. Aunt Alexandra was a strong influence within the Finches home, from the beginning. It did not do much of anything in the end, yet Jem and Scout saw a different side of their father, Atticus. “Atticus suddenly grew serious. In his lawyer’s voice, without a shade of affection, he said: ‘Your aunt has asked me to try and impress upon [Jem] and Jean Louise that you are not from run-of-the-mill people, that you are the product of several generations’ gentle breeding−’”(p. 177). This may have been one of the first times that the children...
From chapter one to thirty-one, Atticus shows his love to his children from compassion and his ability to explain the right in any situation. An example of this is when Atticus makes an agreement with Scout after Miss Caroline tells Scout Atticus is no longer allowed to read to her (Lee, 33). Scouts mood is soon brightened by Atticus's agreement to continue reading to her if she goes back to school. We also see Atticus's love for his children when he refuses to
Miss Maudie's statement is true in that the right things he did were sometimes unpleasant, I think Aunty Alexandra's stay with the Finch Family was one of those things. Even if Aunty's stay wasn't entirely his idea, Atticus tolerated her stay and her a treatment of the children because he knew that in some ways she was good for the children. Scout needed to have a female influence in her life and unfortunately that meant having a sometimes cold and stern woman living with them.
She saw the Finches as high and mighty, and everyone else is lower than them. Alexandra went to Atticus about how the children were acting, because she did not think it was proper. Unlike Atticus, Alexandra only sees the world in wealth or skin color. When she has her tea party, all of her friends talk about the black community and how much they need help with everything. They still talk about how bad being black is and why they need to be by themselves. They discussed all this when they are at Atticus’s house. Scout was with her aunt at the tea party. She hears everything they say, including all the negativity that is going on around in the room. Scout hears that blacks cannot help themselves. Scout is at a very impressionable age. She will start to only hear what her Aunt is saying, not Atticus. Jem doesn't get affected by Alexandra as much. He is older than Scout and not as impressionable. He had listen to his father all his life, he knows right from
Atticus’s parenting style is strict but also tolerant. First I will be evaluating his tolerant parenting style. Does not get mad while disciplining his children. He never seems upset or angry if Jem and or Scout is in trouble. He never yells at his kids. He also Spends time talking and explaining why they are wrong in what they have done. He rarely physically disciplines his children physically. Atticus is also a pretty fair parent. He lets his kids pretty much hang out and play whenever they want. He lets them go just about anywhere they want to. Also he lets them hang out with Dill. Atticus may be a tolerant parent but he can also be a strict one. First he does not like his kids playing games about other people when they’re not with them. For example when the kids played dress up and pretended to be Boo Radley, Atticus saw this and did not approve of it. Also when they made a snowman that looked like Mr. Avery, Atticus asked Jem to change it into someone else. When it comes to Scout he wants her to turn out like a respectful young lady. He tells her that she can not say the N word. He also tells Scout to hold in her anger
Aunt Alexandra is Atticus' sister. She moves to live with Scout and Jem because she wants to teach them the right way of growing up since their mom is dead. As she watches them grow up, she grows up mentally also. “People up there set them free, but you don't see them setting at the table with them. At least we don't have the deceit to say to them ‘yes, you are as good as we are but stay away from us’ said Mrs.
Jem and Scout have a lot of reasons to look up to Atticus as a role
Initially written as a simple love story, To Kill a Mockingbird is regarded by many to be one of the finest examples of classical American literature; it is a compassionate, dramatic, and deeply moving tale. This novel delves deep into the readers thoughts and paradigms, for it exposes such ingrained aspects of human behavior and consciousness - ideals/themes of innocence and experience, love and hatred, justice and racism, courage and cowardice, and many more. Nonetheless, at it's core To Kill a Mockingbird is, as the author Harper Lee puts it, a "love story, pure and simple". There are many diverse yet interconnected love stories in To Kill a Mockingbird. However, the most prominent one is the relationship between Atticus, a righteous lawyer in Maycomb, and his daughter Scout, Scout in particular. In this kind of love, the mentor-figure (Atticus) seeks to foster the development of the apprentice-figure's (Scout) knowledge and character. It is reminiscent of the love between a teacher and pupil, an older and younger brother/sister, and such.