Atticus Finch An Admirable Parent Analysis

There are countless factors when one would need to reflect on when deciding whether a parent is admirable or not. However, when it comes to Atticus Finch, the phrase, “an admirable parent” describes Atticus completely.

Some might say that Atticus is not an admirable parent and puts his children in awful situations. But Atticus has a motive for his actions. When Atticus went to defend Tom Robison from the mob, his children followed him out of curiosity. By trying to be polite to Mr. Cunningham, Scout ends up stopping the circumstance before something awful happens. “‘What’s the matter?’ I asked. Atticus said nothing. I looked around and up at Mr. Cunningham, whose face was equally impassive. Then he did a peculiar thing. He squatted down and took me by both shoulders. ‘I’ll tell him you said hey, little lady,’ he said. Then he straightened up and waved a big paw. ‘Let’s clear out,’ he called. ‘Let’s get going boys.’” (Page 154, To kill a mockingbird) Although Scout and Jem shouldn’t have been out late and in the midst of a mob, Atticus wouldn’t have let anything happen to them. As a result of the children showing up at the jail, a huge problem is avoided just by their presence.

Over the years of Scout and

Jem Finch’s life, Atticus has always been there for them. Teaching them right from wrong and guiding them towards a life of respect. As an attorney, Atticus understands the importance of an education. In chapter 3, Scout tries to persuade her father to not let her go back to school. Atticus’s rebuff to Scout’s suggestion is this statement; “‘you can’t do that, Scout,” Atticus said. ‘Sometimes it’s better to bend the law a little in special cases. In your case, the law remains rigid. So to school you must go.’” (Page 30, To kill a mockingbird). In this statement, Atticus shows tough love towards Scout.
“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.” (Page 30, To kill a mockingbird) This is one of Atticus’s most famous quotes.

This quote, along with others, proves that Atticus teaches his kids about equality and how to treat others. Atticus Finch was not the average white man in his time. Thus, Atticus is a man of trust, honesty, and belief. Atticus stays true to his word and believes that all men and women are equal. This is excellent advice to pass down to your kid, and that is exactly what Atticus does with Scout and Jem. Atticus teaches the children that racism is terrible and that a person’s personality is more important than the color of the person’s

skin.
In other’s view on Atticus’s parenting skills, Atticus is wrong for teaching his children about equality. It is common to give into majority rule and to ‘go with the flow’. That is what most of Maycomb citizens did when the case of Ewell vs. Robinson began and prior to the case. Opponents of this argument might believe that Atticus could be putting his children in harm’s way by telling them to be independent because people in Maycomb might want to hurt the children for thinking differently. In some ways, this might be true, such as the situation with Mr. Ewell. But Mr. Ewell only attacked the children because he was drunk and he felt threatened. Mr. Ewell realized that Atticus and the whole town knew the truth of the case and he couldn’t live with the feeling of being an outcast. On the contrary, Atticus just wants his children to grow up knowing right from wrong and that everyone is made special in their own way. “‘Scout,’ said Atticus, ‘nigger-lover is just one of those terms that don’t mean anything-like snot-nose. It’s hard to explain-ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebody’s favoring Negroes over and above themselves. It’s slipped into usage with some people like ourselves, when they want a common, ugly term to label someone.’ ‘You aren’t a nigger-lover, then, are you?’ ‘I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody… I’m hard put, sometimes- baby, it’s never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn’t hurt you.’“ (Page 108, To kill a mockingbird). this quote is another example of how Atticus raises Scout and Jem to find the best in everyone and to not be racist.
When it comes to time, many people may think that Atticus was also too busy for his children because of work. Atticus was a busy man, yes, but when Atticus had free time it would be with Jem and Scout. Atticus would walk home every day from work, and meet his children by Mrs. Dubose house and walk the rest of the way home together. “-And had decreed that we must run as far as the post office corner each evening to meet Atticus coming from work.” (Page 100, To kill a mockingbird) Atticus would read and spend time with the kids after dinner with Calpurnia. If there was a way to spend time with Scout and Jem, Atticus wouldn’t hesitate to jump on the opportunity.
Along with teaching Jem and Scout equality and education, Atticus also teaches his children courage. This quote from Atticus teaches his children the real meaning of courage; “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. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” (Page 112, To kill a mockingbird).
In conclusion, Atticus is an admirable parent. Like said before, Atticus teaches his children the importance of an education, equality, courage and also finds time for his family. “It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived.” (Page 100, To kill a mockingbird). This statement sums up Atticus to be the bravest man in Scout’s eyes. When you think about it, Atticus is the bravest man who ever lived.