Atticus Finch Character Traits

The first of Atticus’s characteristics is that he is able to “walk in other people’s skin.” In the beginning of the book, Atticus Finch clearly demonstrates how he is able to “walk in other people’s skin” no matter what their background is when he reacts to the Boo Radley Game. The Boo Radley Game is a game that Atticus’s children, Scout and Jem, play with their friend, Dill. Boo Radley is the Finch’s neighbor. When he was in his teens, Boo and some other boys had gotten into trouble with the law. His father, Mr. Radley, promised that he would keep Boo in line to prevent him from going to the industrial school with the other boys. Boo wasn’t seen again until about fifteen years later when he was cutting newspaper for his scrapbook and stabbed

Scout, Jem, and Dill enjoy roleplaying his life on those slow summer days. When they are playing the game one day, Atticus walks out to find Jem with newspaper and scissors. He asks him what he is doing, and Jem nervously tries to cover up the game. Atticus then demands for the scissors and asks, “Does this by chance have anything to do with the Radley’s?” Jem answers with a nervous, “No sir.” (p. 53) To which, Atticus replies, “I hope it doesn’t.” (p. 54) Atticus wants his kids to stop playing the Boo Radley Game because he knows that Boo Radley can see them playing from his window. By being able to walk in his skin, Atticus knows that Boo is embarrassed to see young children acting out the embarrassing moments of his life. He understands that Boo must feel uncomfortable with watching Jem, Dill, and Scout roleplay his life without considering the fact that he is able to watch the whole scene. Atticus wants his kids to be careful not to offend him and to think of how their actions will affect others. Though Boo is a disturbing, possibly mentally ill, urban legend, Atticus sees through that and genuinely considers how Boo must feel in that