Harper Lee’s unforgettable novel To Kill A Mockingbird, illustrates the character of Atticus Finch to establish the themes of sympathy, empathy, and a symbol of the dying past. The setting of the novel takes place during the 1930’s in the small town of Maycomb County, Alabama. During the 1930’s, discrimination towards black people was heavily segregated in the south. All throughout Lee’s novel, Atticus is characterized as being empathetic towards all of the Maycomb County citizens, and encourages his children “to consider things from [other people’s] point of view.” He is appointed to defend an innocent black man on trial for accused rape of a white woman. Lee establishes the idea of injustice through Atticus’ integrity and beliefs that “all …show more content…
Atticus Finch is a Maycomb attorney who is widowed with two children, Jem and Scout. The first time the theme of empathy is presented is whilst Atticus is speaking to his daughter, Scout, about Mr. Walter Cunningham. The Cunninghams were “farmers” and in 1929, the Great Depression hit the United States. Due to the drought, farmers suffered immensely. Mr. Cunningham’s father used to be one of Atticus’ clients. Walter is extremely grateful towards Atticus and tells him that “[he] doesn’t know when [he will] ever be able to pay [Atticus]” for helping his father out. In this situation, Atticus understands the difficulty that the Cunningham’s are facing and Atticus reassures Walter that it “be the least of [his] worries.” Scout asks Atticus if the Cunninghams would ever repay them, and Atticus replies, “Not in money, but before the year’s out I’ll have been paid. You watch.” The payment that Atticus refers to is all of the crops that Mr. …show more content…
Cunningham and begins to speak of his actions towards Atticus. Prior to this day, Mr. Cunningham took part in a mob to try to attack Atticus for defending Tom Robinson, an innocent black man. Scout says to Atticus at the table, “I thought Mr. Cunningham was a friend of ours. You told me a long time ago he was.” In response, he replied, “he still is.” Scout then argues, “But last night he wanted to hurt you.” Atticus explains to Scout that “Mr. Cunningham’s basically a good man. He just has his blind spots along with the rest of us.” Jem disagrees that Mr. Cunningham’s attempt to attack Atticus is considered a “blind spot.” “But son, you’ll understand folks a little better when you’re older. A mob’s always made up of people, not matter what. Mr. Cunningham was part of a mob last night, but he was still a man.” In spite of Walter’s menacing actions, Atticus understands that Walter was still a human who makes mistakes. Furthermore, Atticus expounds to his kids that they were the reason as to why Mr. Cunningham did not continue to harm him. Jem and Scout “made Walter Cunningham stand in
Outside the jailhouse before the trial began, Scout learned that as a child she could make angry men stand in Atticus’ shoes for a minute. There was a crowd who was made with Atticus, and they wanted to hang Tom Robinson. She talked to Walter Cunningham directly about his own family, which reminded him of what a decent person he really was. He then led the group away. (“Last night you made Walter Cunningham stand in my shoes for a minute. That was enough.”—Atticus (Lee, pg. 157)). Mr. Cunnigham was only in that group of people because he (and most of the other men) were afraid something bad would happen to them if they turned on Atticus’ side.
Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird was published in the year of 1960, and is one of the few American classic novels awarded the Pulitzer Prize. The racism that is prevalent in many southern American towns in the 1930s is brought to life with profound imagery in To Kill a Mockingbird. There are several characters in the book, yet the true main character is the narrator's father, Atticus Finch. He is a man of great integrity and intelligence. A very heroic figure in more ways than one, Atticus possesses traits like being principled, determined, and, more importantly, he teaches others. When looking at To Kill a Mockingbird, one can see that Lee uses lots of description, dialogue, and actions to portray Atticus as a heroic individual.
Throughout the novel, Atticus displays empathy by trying to understand other people’s perspectives and what their conditions are. Mr. Cunningham, father of Walter Cunningham, is a poor farmer who was a client of Atticus. Because of the Cunningham’s financial state he was unable to pay Atticus for his services, “Mr. Finch, I don’t know when I’ll ever be able to pay you” (Lee 22). To which Atticus replied, “Let that be the least of your worries, Walter” (Lee 23). Atticus never
Compassionate, dramatic, and deeply moving, Harper Lee's, To Kill a Mockingbird takes readers to the roots of human behavior, to innocence and experience, kindness and cruelty, love and hatred, and the struggle between blacks and whites. Atticus Finch, a lawyer and single parent in a small southern town in the 1930's, is appointed by the local judge to defend Tom Robinson, a black man, who is accused of raping a white woman. Friends and neighbors object when Atticus puts up a strong and spirited defense on behalf of the accused black man. Atticus renounces violence but stands up for what he believes in. He decides to defend Tom Robinson because if he did not, he would not only lose the respect of his children and the townspeople, but himself as well.
Atticus was a man of strong morals and conscience and in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, had to overcome the backlash and hate from defending Tom Robinson. With what seemed to be the majority of Maycomb County against him and his own safety at stake, Atticus knew that he couldn’t win the trial. Yet accompanied by his rationality, good ethics and determination he overcomes the trial. It is not the desired ending, but for his efforts in the trial, Atticus gains the respect of the black community and the respect of others in Maycomb by following through and overcoming the challenges that followed the
The first “mockingbird” that is featured in the novel is a man named Atticus Finch. Not only is Atticus Finch the sole representative of Maycomb in the legislature, but also he is a brilliant lawyer. In addition, he has a good reputation in both Maycomb’s black and white communities because of his exceptional character. However, his reputation is soon shattered when he is faced with a case in court that affects him personally: he must defend an African American man in court in Maycomb’s segregated society. If Atticus chooses to try defending the man, he will lose his good status in town, since his racist American neighbors will soon disrespect him for treating the African Americans as equal to the Americans, which is highly unacceptable in the United States during the 1930s. However, Atticus still accepted the case believing that if he does not, he w...
In To Kill A Mockingbird Lee tells the story of a Mr. Tom Robinson who is an African American who is being charged with rape against a white women. Atticus is the lawyer who must defend Robinson in court. In the Scottsboro case a central figure was a heroic judge who overturned a guilty verdict against the young men. The judge went against the public in trying to protect the rights of the African American men. In reading the novel you learn that Atticus arouses anger in the small community when he tries to defend Robinson.
Lee interprets the Finch family as unprejudiced by describing the way Atticus influences his children. During numerous occasions, Atticus corrects his children when they treat anybody poorly. By teaching respect, Atticus accomplishes his goal of raising his children free of the Maycomb disease, or racism. Scout and Jem’s ignorance about the social differences in Maycomb causes them to treat everyone equally and as if they are all the same. Atticus’ beliefs about inequality have been inherited by the children.
Imagine being a white lawyer in the 1930s who has to choose whether or not to defend a Black man who has been accused of raping a white woman. This is exactly what happens in Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus Finch is a white lawyer in the 1930s who chooses to defend Tom Robinson, an African American man, who has been accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman. Some people believe Atticus was wrong to defend Tom because it put his life and his childrens’ lives at risk. However, Atticus was right to have defended Tom because he wouldn’t be able to face Jem and Scout if he hadn’t taken the case, and he cared about doing the right thing so he would have to live with regret if he didn’t attempt to defend Tom.
Atticus shows love to Walter when he takes away the burden of paying him back fast. The line, “…but before the year’s out I’ll have been paid…” shows Atticus has love and trust towards a fellow neighbour. Also it helps to identify Atticus’s unselfishness; he does not worry that Walter will never pay him back. This part of the novel Atticus also demonstrates to Scout how to have empathy for those who are less fortunate than them. Another important part in the novel where Atticus shows love is when, he gives a tip to Jem and Scout while they practice shooting with their air rifles. “Shoot all the blue jays you want…. but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird… mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s garden don't nest in corncribs...” (119) this quote truly expresses Atticus’s love and admiration for God’s creatures. By killing a peaceful, and beautiful creature for no reason is an extremely selfish act to do. Whereas blue jays who “eat up people’s gardens… nest in corncribs…” and are not kind. For this reason Atticus is okay if they shoot all the blue jays they want on purpose. This quote is a very symbolic
Walter Cunningham was one of the first characters to be introduced to us on the first day of school when Miss. Caroline realized he didn’t have a lunch and offered a quarter on the condition that he pays it back the next day. Walter, much like his father would have, turned down the offer due to his family’s code of ethics. Atticus, having been once of service to Walters father, accepted farmed goods from the Cunninghams as payment in lieu of money. Later at the courthouse when a group of men including Mr. Cunningham are trying to lynch Tom, Scout shames Mr. Cunningham when she says “‘I go to school with Walter,’ [she] began again. ‘He’s your boy, ain’t he? Ain’t he, sir? He’s in my grade, and he does right well. He’s a good boy,’ I added, ‘a real nice boy. We brought him home for dinner one time.’ “(154) reminding him of his and Atticus’ previous arrangement and also that she is his sons friend, and effectively reminding him that what he did next she would remember. That day Scout provided a protective role for Tom, much like Arthur Radley did for Jem as well as
Atticus Finch is a kind, strong-willed lawyer that lives in Maycomb County. During this time, Atticus is a single father that is trying to teach his kids about how racism is wrong. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch decides to defend an innocent black man that the town despises. Because of his selfless and caring personality it makes sense for Atticus to take this stand for Tom Robinson.
In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird, a black man is wrongfully convicted due to racism. In Macomb which is a small town in southern Alabama Scout and Jem Finch spend their days trying to find out who the mysterious Boo Radley is. When their dad Atticus which is a lawyer gets assigned Tom Robinsons case. Who is a black man accused of beating and raping Mayela Ewell. Throughout the story Jem and scout learn you shouldn’t judge someone until you walk around in their skin.
In the 1930’s, racism and strong feelings of prejudice caused an African American man to be falsely accused and convicted and then brutally murdered; these feelings caused a guilty man to walk free; these feelings caused two young children to almost be murdered. Although, despite these feelings, a shy recluse saved those two young children and made a friendship that will last forever. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is set in the 1930’s, during the Great Depression in Maycomb, Alabama, a town deeply rooted in racism. It focuses on the development of Jem and Scout Finch and their father, Atticus Finch’s work as a lawyer. In To Kill a Mockingbird, the characteristics of integrity, honesty, and having a conscience are portrayed by several
“You never really understood a person until you consider things from his point of view—until you climb into his skin and walk around it.” Atticus Finch is a man of extreme integrity. He, as both a lawyer and a human being, stands up for his democratic beliefs and encourages his children to stand up for their own, though they may stand alone. Harper Lee showed how far respect went in To Kill a Mockingbird when Atticus defended Tom Robinson in his rape trial. He did not think twice about being ridiculed by th...