To Kill a Mockingbird - The Character of Atticus Kill Mockingbird essays

To Kill a Mockingbird - The Character of Atticus

During the first half of To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee constructs a sweet and affectionate portrait of rowing up in the world of small town Alabama. Harper Lee, however, continues on to dig underneath the portrayal of small town courtesy in the second half of the book. None of the characters in the book are perfect. This begins to show through in the second half of the book when the facade is removed to reveal the ugliness of Maycomb and the people living there. Through these tough times though, one character manages to keep his cool. Atticus Finch, through all the struggles and pressure, stands strong as a very positive father figure, making sure to instill in his children three very specific values: education, bravery, and acceptance.

At the beginning of the book it becomes clear why Atticus thinks education is so important, as he and Scout read before bed each night. During his closing arguments in Tom Robinson's case Atticus clearly acknowledges the ignorance blinding people's minds and hearts: "the witnesses for the state...have presented themselves to you gentlemen...in the cynical confidence that their testimony would not be doubted, confident that you gentlemen would go along with them on the...evil assumption...that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women, and assumption one associates with minds of their caliber" (217). Education is the key to unlocking the ignorance that causes such prejudice. Because of Atticus' example Jem begins to this lesson toward the end of the book, when he wonders if family education could be based more on education than on bloodiness.

Jem also learns important lessons from his father regarding bravery. Early in the book we learn that Atticus does not approve of guns. He believes that guns do not make men brave and that children's fascination with guns is questionable. To prove his point, he sends Jem to read for Mrs. Dubose who struggles to beat her morphine addiction before she dies. He wants to show is son that one shows true bravery "when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what" (121). Atticus also role models his sense of bravery by refusing to carry a gun to protect Tom Robinson from angry farmers and refusing to carry a gun to protect himself from Bob Ewell after he threatens guns. Atticus knows that bravery is more than the decision to carry a gun. Atticus shows bravery when he takes Toms' case despite knowing that his town would turn against him and his children would have to suffer. Jem shows bravery when the children intervene on behalf of Atticus and Jem refuses to leave his father's side during the showdown with farmers at the jailhouse. And, perhaps the biggest lesson Scout must learn is to turn away and show real bravery rather than fight when people antagonize her.

Atticus' most important role in the book remains the notion of acceptance in all forms. Clearly, with Tom Robinson's cast, the characters deal with racial prejudice head on. References to black men as "niggers" and "boys" can be found everywhere throughout the book. Black people occupy the lowest class level of Maycomb society as Maycomb's white population of every class waste no time making known their rigid class rules. The fact that Atticus realizes that he has no chance to win his case defending Tom because Tom is black offers the clearest indicator of deep-rooted racism, and acceptance despite it. Atticus' closing argument in chapter twenty clearly outlines Atticus' views on racism. The book also shows examples of prejudice as it pertains to gender and social class. Although the whole town subscribes outwardly to gender roles and class distinctions, Aunt Alexandra's stand plays the greatest role in reinforcing these concepts within the Finch family. Aunt Alexandra believes that, because the Finch family comes from a lineage of landowners who have lived in the county for generations, they deserve greater respect than do other people, and she believes that they must elevate themselves to that status. She refuses to associate with both black and white citizens alike because they do not fill the same social status. Atticus, on the other hand, urges his children to "walk in their skin" (30) before they judge or criticize others. Scout suffers severely from the stereotypes imposed upon her due to the strict gender rules that govern southern life. She hates to wear dresses and finds the accusation that she acts like a girl highly offensive. Although the characters do not explicitly deal with gender issues, several other characters are introduced, Miss Maudie and Miss Stephanie in particular, who illustrate the very broad spectrum of southern womanhood that lies beneath the "southern belle" stereotype. Atticus makes sure to instill in his children the ignorance instilled in the concepts of racism and prejudice, and tries to mature their consciences in a way that they will be accepting to all people.

All in all, Atticus' role in the book is one of the most important. His children are at a very crucial point in their lives, with a lot going on around them. He is the one who acts as his children's consciences, helping them to develop their own. Though his actions are very low-key, many of his thoughts and ideas are very revolutionary for his time. Though times are hard and there is a lot of pressure to just give up, Atticus does not give up on his children and he makes sure to impose on them his standards for living. He makes sure his children will plant in their hearts the seeds of education, bravery, and acceptance.