Examples Of Atticus Finch A Good Parent

Everybody has different opinions of the good qualities of a good parent, and there are many different ways on how a parent can show they are a good one. In my opinion, Atticus Finch in the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee shows good examples of what a good parent is. Atticus Finch is a good parent to Jem and Scout because he teaches valuable life lessons and he is strict towards his kids, he teaches them that through actions come out discipline.

Atticus shows many lessons that his kids won’t forget. For example, Atticus shows to be fair to all. In To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus treats everyone the same, to him a skin color and a religion doesn’t matter. For example, Tom Robinson is an African American. African American’s are viewed

differently, they don’t have the same rights has a normal white person does, they are viewed as not even being human sometimes.

But to Atticus, Tom was a normal person just like everyone else is. In the story, Atticus says, "nigger-lover is just one of those terms that don't mean anything—like snot-nose,” (114) This shows that even the “N-word” doesn’t mean anything to him, it’s just an unuseful word. Another life lesson that Atticus teaches his kids is the true definition of courage. In the story Mr. Finch says, “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.”(149) Jem and Scout learn the true definition of courage after Jem ruins Ms. Dubose’s garden. Even thought Jem was afraid of Ms. Dubose he had to learn that courage had to do with facing your fears, and sometimes do what you’re afraid of even though it’s the right thing to do. A few other lessons that Atticus teaches his kids is that people always talk but it isn’t always the truth. Also, his kids are taught about stereotypes. A quote from To Kill a Mockingbird about stereotypes is "Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall, judging from his tracks; he dined

on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, that's why his hands were bloodstained -- if you ate an animal raw, you could never wash the blood off. There was a long jagged scar that ran across his face; what teeth he had were yellow and rotten. his eyes popped, and he drooled most of the time."(16) This quote shows that many people talk and they automatically assume that Boo Radley is a monster. Atticus teaches his kids that everything is not the truth. For example, when the kids were playing the “Boo Radley game” Atticus wanted to put a stop on it. He knew that the way the kids were playing the game was all made up, Boo wasn’t anything that the kids made him look like. Atticus is a good parent because he teaches his good important lessons like what the true definition of courage is, respecting others and not to believe what other people say.
Another reason why I believe Atticus is a good parent is that he is strict, he shows that through some actions come discipline and I believe this is good for the kids.

Atticus makes them apologize if they have done something wrong. For example, when Jem ruins Ms. Dubose’s garden. “‘I strongly advise you to to go down and have a talk with Mrs.Dubose,’”(138). As a consequence Atticus makes them read to Ms. Dubose. “Atticus,” he said, “she wants me to read to her.” “Read to her?” “Yes sir. She wants me to come every afternoon after school and Saturdays and read to her out loud for two hours. Atticus, do I have to?” “Certainly.” “But she wants me to do it for a month.” “Then you’ll do it for a month.” (140) This quote shows how Atticus isn’t lenient, he makes sure his kids learn that what they have done was wrong. Atticus make sure Jem and Scout respect their elders. He makes sure they say “ma’am” and “sir” when they are talking to someone. For example “Please don’t send me back, please sir,”(39) “Yes ma’am, blanket. It isn’t ours.”(95) In the story Atticus puts a stop to certain stuff and Jem and Scout always need his permission. “‘Jem, Scout,’ said Atticus, ‘I don’t want to hear of poker in any form again. Go by Dill’s and get your pants, Jem. Settle it yourselves.’” (73). Atticus is strict towards his kids because he cares about them and he wants to keep them safe. Atticus is strict by giving his kids consequences, having his kids apologize to others and by putting a stop

to certain things.
All in all, Atticus Finch is a good parent for many reasons, from being a caring parent teaching valuable life lessons to being a strict one. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird Mr. Finch shows what a true good parent is. Atticus won’t mistreat his kids in any way because he know’s how they are and that kids are kids.