Miss Maudie Atkinson states, “ Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public streets.” in chapter 5 when she talks to Scout about why Boo Radley stays inside all the time. Miss Maudie in this instance is describing Atticus as a man who respects everyone the same as he treats those inside his house. Atticus respects everyone, no matter the race, gender, or class. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee depicts Atticus as a good father because of his compassion, honor, as well as righteousness. The first indication of Atticus being a kindhearted father is when he talks with Scout about being more understanding as well as when he is compassionate toward the displaced person of the novel. The first example of Atticus being a kindhearted …show more content…
The reader can see Atticus behave honorably when Jem does not understand why Atticus would consider Mrs. Dubose to be a valiant lady after her death. Atticus further explains, saying, “‘ According to her views, she died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew.’”(149). When Mrs. Dubose dies, Atticus remembers her for her courage and not the nasty things she said about him. Jem grows and matures with his idea of being honorable to all throughout the novel. Another moment where Atticus is a good father is when Bob Ewell attempts to get revenge at Atticus for making him look treacherous in court by spitting in his face. The author then writes, “ Miss Stephanie said Atticus said, ‘No, too old,’ put his hands in his pockets and strolled on.”(291). Atticus understands that Bob thinks the results of the trial were not enough and Atticus would rather have Bob take all his anger out on him than on Mayella. Atticus does not Bob get to him for doing what he thinks is right. His children see this and learn that they too must not let people get to them. To repeat, his honorable behavior as well as his composed character make Atticus a good
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
In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus is an ideal father, who sets a great example for his kids. A picture of Atticus is important to Scout because Atticus teaches Scout many important life lessons about life. Firstly, as Atticus talks to Scout about Miss. Stephanie, he states “if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. 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,30). Scout realizes that one can never feel someone’s pain, happiness, or glory until she looks at their point of view of things; she learns to consider other people’s situation and feelings. She also understands that she will never know what goes in other people’s lives, and therefore she cannot judge anyone. Scout matures as she learns to apply Atticus’ wise advice to understand Mrs. Dubose and Boo Radley, who are individuals that are misunderstood by the community. Furthermore, as Miss Maudie talks to Scout, she states “Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public streets” (Lee, 46). Miss Maudie knows about Atticus’ personality quite well. Miss Maudie explains to Scout Atticus is a man with moral principles, he does what he believes is right even if others are not there to praise him. Through Atticus’ exemplary role, Scout understands the importance of integrity, and strong moral values. Finally, when Scout questions her father about the possible outcome of the trial, Atticus states “simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us to try to win” (Lee, 76). Atticus teaches Scout toleration, determination and moral courage. He already knows he is going to los...
In the past century, there have been many great novels written. One of which is Harper Lee's, 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. In the novel it introduces a prominent character who not only was a good father but also a well respected, and compassionate man. This person is Atticus Finch. Through all the struggles and pressures, he stands strong as a very positive father figure, making sure to educate his children with important values including equality, bravery, and knowledge.
Intro: In the To Kill A Mockingbird novel by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch is a well-respected man through the city of Maycomb. He is a highly praised figure who is trusted, wise and grateful, but is also a man who is respected by his companions and other residents. This is shown when Atticus is given responsibilities and duties, when he is praised for his efforts and when he obtains the black peoples and white peoples respect at the same time.
He sets positive examples for his children by showing them courage and respecting others. In other words, Atticus ' children, Jem and Scout Finch refer to their father as his first name. They do not refer to him as “dad” or “father” or any other name. This is a clever idea because it shows that Atticus wants his children to open up to him and treat him as an equal individual. By calling him “Atticus”, it improves the relationship between him and his children. They open up to Atticus and come to him for advice instead of listening to others. In addition, he educates his children in a manner Maycomb is not familiar with. When Jem was punished to read to Mrs. Dubose for a month, it was also a strategy Atticus used to teach Jem the true definition of courage. At first, Jem thought courage was Atticus holding a gun to shoot the rabid dog, but Mrs. Dubose 's fight with the morphine was an inspiring example of courage. Atticus says, “She had her own views about things, a lot different from mine, maybe... son, I told you that if you hadn 't lost your head I 'd have made you go read to her. I wanted you to see something about her- I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand.” (Lee 149). As Atticus ' children grow older, he teaches them about the real world by guiding them with advice. He points out the positive values of a person and tells
Atticus Finch is the moral backbone of Maycomb County in the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. He is exactly who everyone in Maycomb should look up to and is a great father because he represents the basic morals most people at that time lacked. Atticus demonstrates seeing people as equals when no one else then can because of the strong racial prejudice. He also sees other peoples perspectives for their own benefit and has tremendous courage when it is necessary.
When we are barely growing up, we usually look up to our parents because we believe they are there as the role of our parents to guide us and teach us what is right. In to Kill A Mockingbird, the novel by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch shows his kids lessons that they will need in life to be successful. Atticus is the type of person who usually doesn’t judge people, especially if he doesn’t know he/she. Not prejudging people is the greatest life lesson Atticus taught scout. All atticus wants is for his kids to be an even better person than he is by taking into consideration of of the life lessons that he taught them.
Atticus Finch is an older single father to Scout and Jem Finch and is a well-known and respected person in the town of Maycomb. He is respected for the reason that he is wise. Atticus is portrayed as a wise character as a result of how he observes people. As he voiced in the novel, you don't know someone until you hop into their skin and walk around in it, and that is exactly what he succeeds in. An example of this is with Mrs. Dubose. She is a mean elderly women who is cruel to Scout and Jem, but nonetheless Atticus is always compassionate to her. For reason that he knows she is a morphine addict and as a result of her being an addict she is also going to die soon.
“A father is a man who expects his son to be as good a man as he meant to be.” - Frank A. Clark. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch --the father of the main character-- is the epitome of this quote. He teaches his children, Jem and Scout, about morals, empathy, and bravery. Atticus is respected by everyone in Maycomb. He has earned this respect by his wisdom, his intelligence, and his kindness and understanding to both races and all social standings. When Atticus is appointed to represent Tom Robinson in the trial, he does it wholeheartedly even though he knows he will be scorned. The whole town, including the other children, torment the Finch family for being “nigger-lovers”. Through all of this, Atticus stands rigidly
To Kill a Mockingbird "I simply want to tell you that there are some men in this world who were born to do our unpleasant jobs for us. Your father's one of them." – Miss Maudie The quote above states that Atticus Finch was a man who did unpleasant things, but this quote is false. Miss Maudie had every good intention when she told Jem and Scout this and her point was taken in the way she intended it to be taken by the children. Her point could have been better worded if the portion that reads "our unpleasant jobs" were replaced with "what is right." Atticus did unpleasant things only because he knew that they were the right thing to do. Miss Maudie told the children about their father in this way only to avoid saying that the rest of the town was wrong.
In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, there are many characters. The character that stood out the most to me was Atticus. Atticus’s character reminds me of my father, simply because they are both good role models to their children's.
Atticus displays very good parenting skills as his two children, Jem and Scout, grow up. He teaches them integrity, “ If I didn’t (defend Tom Robinson in court) I couldn’t
To begin with, what makes Atticus such an incredible parent is that he shows his kids that -- no matter how a person is -- one should always have respect for them. Atticus shows respect even to those who don’t show any . For example Mrs. Dubose is an old lady that showed very little
“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.”~Atticus Finch. This quote shows the personality of Atticus Finch...loving, kind, understanding, and not prejudice. Atticus is the father of Scout and Jeremy Finch. Atticus is a caring father that believes in everyone. He understands what it feels like to be judged and he tries to see things from different sides. As a lawyer for a black man, Atticus goes against his community to protect someone that needs help. Atticus Finch is a role model to all people who live in Maycomb county.
Atticus is exemplary throughout the book. He teaches the children lessons on how everyone should be treated. At the end of the novel, his son and daughter are attacked and almost killed. Afterwards he reads to his daughter about a bad man who she believes to be nice. He then states, “Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them (376).” Even after the attack he still sees only the good in people. He reminds his children of the good in the world. Atticus positively influences the children's lives through his daily actions.