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The importance of atticus finch
To kill a mockingbird essay on atticus finch
Usage of emotional intelligence
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Empathy is a gift of a person’s personality and morales. Empathy is a talent of sharing the same experiences and feelings with others. Throughout the story, there have been an immense list of both characters that are empathetic, and characters that are not. People who show empathy can change the course of other people’s lives and alter their point of views. Empathy can make you take a step back and look into the situation, because “you never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.” This story shines a light on a little girl, growing up and learning the gift of empathy from the influences around her. Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill A Mockingbird provides insight for the process of learning, and proving that staying …show more content…
true to your morals, your own empathy can shine from within. Atticus Finch is a role model, a respectable man, a lawyer, and a fantastic father to his two children.
He influences the way that his children think about the world. Atticus was given a case, where he was assigned to defend a black man. Even though he knew that both him and his children would be ridiculed, he knew in his heart that he had to do it. He knew that no matter the color of a person, everyone needed to be treated equal. He wanted his children to understand the bad in the world, without a need to sugarcoat. He wanted them to be able to think for themselves, and be able to share their own opinions, but also being able to consider the otherside. He made it very easy for his children to embrace their inner empathy. “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.” Atticus often spoke to his children about this lesson, and considering people’s feelings before assuming the worst. He took this lesson with him throughout his trial, and tried to make other people see the way of empathy. He knew that Tom Robinson was a good man, and didn’t deserve this kind of accusation. Atticus also was aware of the other side of the case. He empathized with Mayella, because he really knew the real story of this case. No matter what, Atticus Finch always made it his mission to show people that he cares, and to always consider the opposite opinion and point of view. He projected this on to his family, the town and every single person who has at any point, read this story. Despite Atticus Finch is not classified as being a ‘mockingbird’, he showed every ounce of empathy he had to the real mockingbirds of the
story. Dill Harris, a true mockingbird throughout this novel. This kid has been through a great deal of hardships in the few years of his young life. He has been passed around and around, from family to family, trying to find a home. He has been beaten down by life, but does nothing to benefit other people. Dill empathizes with Tom Robinson, another mockingbird in the story, about the way that the court is treating him. Dill sees the real problem within this town, and within the minds of people in Maycomb County. “It ain’t right, somehow it ain’t right to do him that way.” Dill knows in his heart that nobody should be treated like this, everyone deserves a fair life. He basically breaks down, at the sight of the unfair trial. Everyone in the town knew that Tom Robinson was an innocent man, and Dill didn’t understand why the town couldn’t be fair to a good, caring father like Tom Robinson. He shares feelings with Tom, he knows what it feels like to be beaten down by life. Dill knows that pain of being outcasted and hurt from the people who they are supposed to trust the most. Dill understands what it is like to be the odd man out, Tom Robinson trusted Mayella, and Dill trusted his parents. Both of them show their inner empathy throughout the story. Tom Robinson, another clear mockingbird in the book. He stated in the trial that he felt bad for Mayella, and everyone took it as an insult. Tom only had the best intentions in saying that. Tom Robinson felt bad for Mayella because she had no one to turn to, no one to help her and nobody who paid any attention to her. Tom took the time out of his day, when he knew he had is own chores at home, and helped Mayella day after day. He knew the struggles she was going through, and just because he is a good, kind-hearted person, he did whatever he could to make her life the least bit happier. “...I felt sorry for her, she seemed to try more’n the rest of em-” He knew that she had some sort of potential, more than her siblings. He tried to reduce whatever hardship she was going through that day, by helping out with her chores. When she would offer him money, he softly declined, because he knew that she needed it ten times more than he. Being a black man in 1935, he knew what it was like not to feel like he is in power of his own life, and to not feel the same as everybody else. He shared feelings with Mayella. He didn’t feel bad for her because he wanted the higher power, he felt bad for her, because he knows what it’s like not having the same experiences as everybody else. Empathy is being able to relate so someone on a personal level. Being able to see past the barrier someone puts up to blind other people from seeing the struggles they are actually going through. People who have empathy are normally the people who have been through the most in life, and hates to see other people go through the same thing. They try to do everything in their power to try and help someone out, at least make their lives the slightest bit better. Throughout the novel, there have been plenty of people who have shared empathy with others, for me, these few are the ones who really understood what it must have been like having faced it before.
Atticus Finch is a very essential character in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. He is not only the father on Jem and Scout, but he is also defending Tom Robinson. Along with all of the obstacles and challenges that Atticus faces he is still an exceptional role model for the children. He also overcomes the diversity of Negroes and whites that is displayed during his time by standing up and fighting for Tom Robinson and his triumph in court against Bob Ewell. Lee presents Atticus Finch as understanding of Tom Robinson, caring with the children, and calm throughout the Tom Robinson trial.
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
There are some people in this world that can truly understand, or try to understand people and their feelings. They can relate to them on some sort of level. Then there's is plenty of people in this world who have no empathy at all. They don’t feel for people or even try to understand. That's exactly why everyone should read To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. The book is about a little girl named Scout and her older brother Jem, who is going through some changes as they grow older in the racist south where their father, a lawyer has a case about a black man raping a white woman. Over the course of the book, both characters grow in great measures. Their father is always teaching them in little ways what’s right/wrong, and what’s good/bad.
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings with others. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, there are many characters who showed the quality of empathy. A few examples who undoubtedly showed empathy were the main characters Jem, Atticus, and the narrator Scout Finch. These characters learned and demonstrated compassion throughout the book.
Throughout the book To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch demonstrates himself as an honest lawyer, a loving father, and a symbol of righteousness through his beliefs that he instills in his children. Atticus Finch values empathy, respect, and bravery, and he proves himself as a moral compass by teaching both Jem and Scout these values in the form of life lessons.
The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is set in Alabama in the 1930s, and concerns itself primarily with the interrelated themes of prejudice and empathy. These themes are explored as the story follows Scout Finch as she learns lessons in empathy, ultimately rejecting prejudice. While all characters in Lee’s novel learn from their experiences, not all are able to grow in the same manner as Scout. The idea of a positive role model, typified by the character of Atticus Finch, and the ramifications of its absence, is a concept that Lee places much emphasis on. The isolated setting is also pivotal in the development of characters. Lee uses the contrast between characters that learn lessons in empathy and compassion, and characters that cling to the ideals of a small town, to explore factors that nurture or diminish prejudice.
As a father, Atticus Finch tried to make his kids the best they can be. He tried teaching them that just because everyone acts a certain way, doesn’t mean they have to be close-minded and go along with it. Furthermore, he tries teaching them to always place themselves in someone’s position before judging them. Atticus leads them with example in the way he fought for Tom Robinson, tried helping Mayella Ewell deal with her father, and tried protecting Boo Radley from harassment. In conclusion, Harper Lee portrayed a sense of universal understanding in her novel.
In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird, empathy is demonstrated throughout the novel. Empathy can be defined as the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. Atticus tries to explain to Jem and Scout about what he experiences and the things that are happening in Maycomb County. Several characters learn empathy and understand how they feel about certain things and understand the experiences of others. This plays a major role in the novel.
Have American’s lost the ability to show empathy? Although a novice reader may struggle to see how a book written over 50 years ago bears any connection to our modern world, Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird could not be any more relevant. The citizens of fictional Maycomb County acknowledge their flawed legal system and unfair social castes as unfortunate truths of life, of which all you can do is accept it as fact. The sole exception is lawyer Atticus Finch, who is in charge of defending the accused in court. After seeing all too many men receive a sentence simply because of the color of their skin, Atticus embarks on a quest to teach Jem and Scout, his children, that prejudice can be fought. By understanding and exposing ourselves to different people, we can free ourselves from prejudice.
Do you not believe we need more compassion and tolerance in the world? Why can we not be like Atticus, Jem or Scout from To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee? These characters show great compassion and tolerance throughout the novel despite the society they live in. They have the courage to stand up for what they believe in.
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...
Atticus Finch as a parent teaches Scout and Jem moral values and tries his hardest to pass on to his children his way of thinking. Atticus worries that his children sees to much racism and injustice, and tries to show his children that all people are equal no matter the color of their skin. He teaches them to go against the norm in Maycomb which is prejudice and unjust in their actions.
When most people were against him and are trying to convince him not to, Atticus was determined to continue defending Tom Robinson (an African American who was accused of raping a white lady name Mayella Ewell - Mr. Ewell's daughter). (Make it active voice ?) Due to his good morals, Atticus felt like he needs to help Tom Robinson “This case, Tom Robinson’s case, is something that goes to the essence of a man’s conscience --- Scout, I couldn’t go to church and worship God if I didn’t try to help that man” (108). As addressed in To Kill a Mockingbird, Jim Crow laws manipulated individuals ethics to think that blaming African Americans is fine since all they do is not good (change the wordings). This type of discrimination made African American victims of jails and crimes that they did not even consider doing but were thought of doing because of racial segregation enforcement (popularity?) within the Southern society of the US. However, Atticus was different and believed that Tom robinson is innocent since he understood (understands?) how people discriminate others and was aware (is aware) of different types of prejudice (in that time period). So, due to Atticus’ good morals and values, he was willing to try his best to support the truth (who was right or something) and help Tom Robinson which makes him a great parent because (he is a person of morals?) of his good morals and values (delete morals and values?). Atticus (atticus’s ?) belief (of noting using one’s power to hurt each other … ?) that people should not harm each other should be admired. For instance, Miss Maudie (Atticus neighbour) was confirming to Scout that what Atticus said about Mockingbirds is right “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They
To Kill A Mockingbird embodies those very words in every aspect and exemplifies them through its three main characters: Atticus, Scout, and Jem. Yet, with racism and discrimination seemingly making its way back into the twenty first century with increased shootings of African American males and Donald Trump making an effort to export all Muslims out of America etc., the lessons of compassion, understanding and forgiveness shown in To Kill A Mockingbird could be of great use in today’s society. To Kill A Mockingbird demonstrates the value of compassion and understanding through one, Atticus and his taking of Tom Robinson's trial, two, Atticus and his relationship with Scout, and finally, with Atticus and Mrs. Dubose. To start, for most people, the second they learned of Tom Robinson’s accused crime, they knew his fate had most likely already been decided, jail it would be for Mr Robinson, yet Atticus Finch embraced the challenge and took on his case.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus is perceived by many as a very empathetic character because of many reasons. For example, as you know Atticus is a well-respected lawyer in Maycomb and many people look up to him, and even though he knows that defending Tom Robinson will harm that reputation among white people, he still chose to defend Tom Robinson. His ability to empathize with Tom Robinson shows not only the type of person he is, but also how he treats every one equally. Atticus’ spirit of empathy is not just shown in the Tom Robinson case. After the case is over, Bob Ewell greets Atticus by spitting on him and saying some rude remarks. But Atticus reacts calmly and doesn’t fight back. When the children hear of this situation, of course they are furious, but Atticus being the person he is tells them simply “…If you can just stand in Bob Ewell’s shoes a minute. I destroyed his last shred of credibility.” (Lee, 292). Another example of Atticus being empathetic is when he is speaking to Uncle Jack about lying to Scout Atticus says “Jack! When a child asks you something, answer him, for goodness’ sake. But don’t make a production of it. Children are children, but they can spot an evasi...