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Atticus is a character that differs from most of others in Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird”, mostly from standing up to discrimination and racism and attempts to make his mischievous children behave and successful. His individuality among other characters set up an argument over the most prominent struggle of racism in the setting of the book in a man versus society plotline. Being at his older age, Atticus has had much experience with society, giving him ideas for wisdom as well as being an excellent role model. As the novel progressed, with the help of Atticus’s parenting, Scout and especially Jem has matured over time. Atticus’s parental style combines his wise advice, a good moral, and the individuality in his beliefs to keep his kids …show more content…
out of trouble and apply his skills in troubling situations. Wisdom is very important when you children, so you can teach them the way society has become (in simplest terms) corrupt and how to ignore it to be a good person.
Atticus is about fifty years old, so he’s lived through the first World War, giving him much experience with how society has evolved. One of the problems in depression was constant prejudice and racial discrimination. Atticus’s advice as follows, “First of all, if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you’ll get along better a lt 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” (34). What Atticus is saying is that you cannot judge someone until you know them enough to look at things from his or her point of view and act like you are that person internally. This advice helps Scout’s narration and character development. In the beginning of chapter seven, Scout applies this advice to understand Jem’s options for getting his pants. “As Atticus had once advised me to do, I tried to climb into Jem’s skin and walk around in it…” (62). This is also one example of Scout’s maturing and growing up in the novel, she is understanding that people know more things than she does. Jem knows more about what would happen if he went to get his pants, but Scout has to think of them and understand his …show more content…
decision. Atticus’s moral is one of his defining character traits and can describe his parenting style.
Morality is knowing what is wrong with what is right, which is something that any parent should teach, so much that it should a top priority. Atticus knows he wants his kids to have a good moral and not end up like Bob Ewell. In Chapter eleven, Mrs, Dubose said “Not only a Finch waiting on tables, but one in the courthouse lawing for niggers” (106). Later that day, when Jem and Scout were coming home from downtown, Jem stopped at Mrs. Dubose’s house and used the baton Jem bought for Scout and smashed all of Dubose’s flowers. Atticus finds out about the tantrum and told Jem, “Son, I have no doubt that you’ve been annoyed by the contemporaries about me lawing for niggers, as you say, but to do something like this to a sick old lady is inexcusable” (108). This is Jem’s lesson to his bad behavior and vandalism of Mrs. Dubose’s property. Jem was also given punishment for this action; to read to Mrs. Dubose for two hours every day for a month. As a result, Jem has learned two important lessons: Not to get upset about people making fun of Atticus accepting Tom Robinson’s case, and that there are consequences to improper
actions. One thing that individualize Atticus from the rest of Maycomb, is his individuality in his beliefs. From his anti-prejudice beliefs, to his beliefs on the justice system, Atticus is a key character when we are talking about individuality. "I'm no idealist to believe firmly in the integrity of our courts and in the jury system—that is no ideal to me, it is a living, working reality. Gentlemen, a court is no better than each man of you sitting before me on this jury. A court is only as sound as its jury, and a jury is only as sound as the men who make it up. I am confident that you gentlemen will review without passion the evidence you have heard, come to a decision, and restore this defendant to his family. In the name of God, do your duty" (208). This quote was part of Atticus’ closing statement in the trial. He is stating that he does not believe in the intended ways of the court and jury system, and that being in a jury does not give power, it is only as good as the people that make it up. Most people think that being in a jury gives you all the power of placing a verdict as you have all credit over the decision, which to Atticus is not true because a jury can be divided and have to have a second trial with a different jury. This shows many flaws with society and how Atticus thinks of it, and tells us what is politically correct of what a jury is. Now that we know that Atticus is very wise, has a good moral, and has individuality on his beliefs apart from society, and provided clear evidence that Harper Lee mentions in the novel. We can say that his parenting style makes a good role model for the kids to learn from and continue to grow up into the same traits as Atticus himself.
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.
In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus, a lawyer and the father of Jem and Scout, displays great courage, loyalty, and patience in every situation.
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.
Childhood is a continuous time of learning, and of seeing mistakes and using them to change your perspectives. In the book To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee illustrates how two children learn from people and their actions to respect everyone no matter what they might look like on the outside. To Kill A Mockingbird tells a story about two young kids named Scout and her older brother Jem Finch growing up in their small, racist town of Maycomb, Alabama. As the years go by they learn how their town and a lot of the people in it aren’t as perfect as they may have seemed before. When Jem and Scout’s father Atticus defends a black man in court, the town’s imperfections begin to show. A sour, little man named Bob Ewell even tries to kill Jem and Scout all because of the help Atticus gave to the black man named Tom Robinson. Throughout the novel, Harper Lee illustrates the central theme that it is wrong to judge someone by their appearance on the outside, or belittle someone because they are different.
Atticus is a great leader of his family, teaching his children morals and life lessons. He makes them better people by showing them how to deal with the trial and people making fun of them. Atticus teaches Scout how to respect other people. First, Scout learns to respect Atticus, then to respect "Boo" Radley, and finally to respect a whole race of people, negroes. He makes it a common practice to live his life as he would like his children to live theirs, and thus displays the attributes of an honest, respectable, and kind man. Throughout the trial process, Atticus shows Jem and Scout that true courage is standing up for what you believe in and that all human beings, despite their race, deserve respect. "You never really understand a person until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." This quote shows that Atticus wants his children to get along with people, and so other people will respect them for whom they are.
He tells Scout that “you never really understand someone until you consider their point of view” and that if she does “[she will] get along a lot better with all kinds of folks” (Lee 39). This quote shows his kindness, because it displays that he is always trying to look at the other’s point of view. This validates his kindness, since he takes the effort to not offend people. In the eleventh chapter of “To Kill a Mockingbird” Mrs. Lafayette Dubose, an old lady living in the Finch’s neighborhood, insults Scout and Jem whenever they pass by. After one of these incidents, Atticus just tells her that she “[looks] like a picture” (Lee 133).
Atticus is non judgmental; he treats blacks and everyone equally. He puts himself in someone else’s shoes and respects their thoughts and opinions. He is a very responsible father, while managing his lawyer cases he still made time to teach his children Jem and Scout the lessons they need to become honest and dignified people later in life. Atticus demonstrates responsibility when he takes time to explain to Scout “You never really understand a person until you consider things from their point of view” (39).
Growing up in Maycomb, Southern Alabama in the 1930s was not an easy thing. Amid a town of prejudice and racism, stood a lone house where equality and respect for all gleamed like a shining star amid an empty space. The house of Atticus Finch was that shining star. Jean Louise Finch, also known as “Scout”, is given the opportunity of being raised in this house by her father, Atticus. I stole this essay from the net. As she grows, Atticus passes down his values of equality and righteousness to Scout and her brother Jeremy Atticus Finch, also known as “Jem”. In “To Kill a Mockingbird”, by Harper Lee, we see Scout learns many lessons about dealing with prejudice by observing the behavior of other characters in the story.
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.
Atticus treats everyone with fairness. He always hears both sides of the story. He does this after Scout has gotten into a fight with Francis Hancock. After a time Atticus hears Scout’s side of the story and realises that it wasn’t totally Scout’s fault. Scout also tells Uncle Jack that when she and Jem get into fights Atticus stops to hear both sides of the argument before placing the blame, if any.
Throughout the novel, Atticus’ assistance to Jem and Scout’s development becomes evident. Atticus takes every opportunity to attempt to teach his children the importance of having an open-mind. For instance, when Scout queries Atticus about Maycomb’s prejudice perspective, he tells her, “You never really understand a person until…you climb in their skin and walk around in it.” (Lee 30) Even during the early stages of the novel, it is apparent that Atticus endeavors to instill the values of empathy and tolerance within Jem and Scout by teaching them how to have multiple perspectives on a situation. In addition, Atticus also attempts to enlighten his children about peaceful resolution in society. For example, when Atticus is chosen to defend Tom Robinson, Atticus tells Scout, you might hear some ugly talk about it at school but…you just hold your head high and keep those fists down.”...
The morals for Scout and Jem to live by come from their father, Atticus Finch. He has experienced evils in his life, like the death of his wife, but he never lost faith in the good of people. He taught Scout and Jem right from wrong when they were young, because their mother was no longer around to teach them. Atticus understands that people have good and bad inside of them, but he feels that the good side can always overcome the bad side. This is true when he backed Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping Mr. Ewell’s daughter. Even though no one else helped Atticus out, he never gave up on Tom Robinson no matter how hard things got.
Atticus taught Jem and Scout to respect people, even if they didn’t respect them back, he taught them to understand that you never know what a person is going through to make them how they are so you shouldn’t judge them or hold it against them. Because Atticus taught his children these lessons they were able to recognize the injustices found throughout the town of Maycomb and sometimes when they spoke out, they would make a little change in someone’s ideals (for example, scout talking to Mr. Cunningham at the jail house, or Jem spending time and reading to Mrs. Dubose.) Whereas, the children of Bob Ewell wouldn’t recognize injustices because Bob Ewell didn’t teach them about morality, he only taught them how to be like him—which is a liar, a slacker, and a rude hurtful person. The same goes for the rest of the children; Cecil Jacobs referred to Black people as “niggers” (Lee 99) because that’s how his father and the town taught him to refer to black people as, whereas Atticus tells Scout to never say that word because its “common” (Lee 99) meaning uneducated. Even though Atticus wasn’t confronting everyone with racist views, what he was doing was way more effective than going for to door educating people, he was educating his children, educating the next generation on how to act in the face of racism and he showed them what was right from wrong. By teaching his kids these important lessons he is making sure that they pass their knowledge on to everyone else and that by doing that the next generation won’t be as ignorant as the previous one. Atticus didn’t have an insufficient response to racism; he just understood that he couldn’t change the town, but the children
When she goes home and tells Atticus, he says, "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." ( pg 39 ) Atticus says this to teach Scout to have respect for other people, even if they are different. If Scout could understand how others felt she would be able
“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...