How Does Harper Lee Show Atticus To Be a Good Parent? To kill a mockingbird is a novel written by Harper Lee, set in the 1930’ in “Maycomb County,” Alabama. The story focuses around Atticus Finch, single parent to Jem and Scout Finch. Jem and Scout are brought up alongside racism. However they seem, for the most part to escape such discriminatory views, due to the parenting of Atticus. The children are affected at first by children at school, as most children are influenced by their peers, however the trial of Tom Robinson, was key to bringing up the children with non racist views. As the story goes on, we see that Atticus’ views are very centered around ethics. He says “you never know a man until you jump in his skin and walk around in it” this shows clearly that he is not a judgmental person like many of the other characters in the book. This is important as a parent, as young minds are fragile and moldable, Jem and Scount can now be subjected to two types of indoctrination, one from the community, and the general ethos of disliking blacks, and the second from A...
... that complete the story of the children and the Tom Robinson trial. Although he was a flat character, he helped some of the other characters come alive. A large fragment of the meaning of this novel was growing up and maturing. Atticus nurtured the children and overall created a perfect example for them to grow up watching. In the time of this book, segregation was a big part of life in Maycomb, Alabama. Atticus, being a lawyer was in the middle of the fight between blacks and whites. Although the controversy was intense, Atticus understood the perspective of the Negroes and understood the struggle of living in Alabama at that time. When Atticus is appointed to defend Tom, he was blind as to what events would occur. Overall he was calm when people condemned him. The character of Atticus was an essential part of the novel and the lives of the people in the novel.
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
In the story To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, we are introduced to the character Atticus. He is a hard working single parent of two who is kindhearted and does what he believes is right and treats everyone equally. Being such a hard worker, his mind is often on work, even at home, which means less time spent with his children. While Atticus may make some mistakes as a parent, overall he is an admirable father.
As a result, throughout the book Scout and Jem grow and become more sympathetic and loving towards everybody in the town, coloured or not. Atticus shows this when he defends Tom Robinson, stands up to the mob on the night before the trial and treats Calpernia as an other parent to the children instead of a slave. He raises his children to be courageous and empathetic through teaching them good life lessons and teaching them to not be like the rest of the town but to treat everyone equally. Heroism is not just being kind, but going above and beyond to help someone in need.
In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch’s parenting skills were often questioned throughout the novel. Although there were people that didn’t believe he was a good father, I think that he was. There are many different reasons provided throughout the novel that prove he is a good father. Atticus may let his children get away with a little more than the average parent would, but he has a good head on his shoulders. He is open to giving his kids more freedoms and there’s nothing wrong with that. Atticus approaches life with a devotion to fairness and exposes his children, Jem and Scout, to real life. Overall, he makes a pretty good father.
Atticus shows great compassion and tolerance when he stands up for the Negroes. He stands up and represents Tom Robinson because he believes that everyone should be treated equally in the court of law. He knows that because Tom was a Negro there would be a slim chance of winning. That fact never discouraged him though because he says that the main reason he is representing Tom is because, ' if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature'; (75). He recited a speech, which clearly states that Tom Robinson is not guilty. In that speech he says, 'our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal'; (205). He believed that prejudice and stereotyping is wrong and he tries to teach these morals to Scout and Jem.
As Lee Haney has quoted, “Parents must lead by example. Don't use the cliche: do as I say and not as I do. Parents are children's first and most important role models,” it is important for a parent to set healthy and positive examples throughout a child's development stage. In a small town of social division through prejudice and intolerance, Atticus teaches to Jem and Scout his values and beliefs through setting examples. Atticus teaches them that prejudice is bad by going against societal norms, such as taking a black man's case in a dominating “white society” and standing up for the African-American community to defend their equal rights. When Scout questions, "...Why did Cecil say you defended niggers? He made it sound like you were runnin' a still," Atticus then responds, "I'm simply defending a Negro...they're clean living folks. Scout, you aren't old enough to understand some things yet...there's been some high talk around to the effect that I shouldn't do much about defending this man." (Lee, 75) This is important in the novel because Atticus demonstrates tolerance to his children when he receives the Robinson's case and decides t...
As we highlight the role of the mother, this is not to say that the father is not important or is less important. In To Kill a Mocking Bird, Scout’s father, Atticus nurtures her and her brother alone as a single parent. Atticus Finch, a lawyer and devoted father, is an intelligent man whose knowledge, consistency, and ability to see past the ill in people are what make him respected by everyone. He is a good role model and proper guide towards his children and is devoted to bringing them up right despite criticism from his family and neighbors saying that they lack discipline and proper guidance. But as the story goes on, it is shown that this isn’t true at all. Scout and Jem seem to learn more about socially succeeding and being a good person in general from Atticus than anywhere else.
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
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee suggests that Atticus is a model parent. Atticus gives guidance to Jem and Scout, and he treats them with fairness and honesty. He tries to bring them up as best he can as a single parent.
There are countless factors when one would need to reflect on when deciding whether a parent is admirable or not. However, when it comes to Atticus Finch, the phrase, “an admirable parent” describes Atticus completely.
Atticus Finch has many assertions that make him a good character but there is only a few that make him the best which are he is a good citizen, he is kind,and he is a wonderful father.
Atticus’s parenting style can be caring, but also strict. We can see that Atticus’s parenting style in caring in how he handles Scout's first day of school. Even though Atticus did not go to school he can see how all of this happening would be hard for her. He also comforts her by reassuring her that as long as she agrees to go to school, she will continue to read to her. Proof of this in shown in the book “If you’ll concede the necessity of going to school, we’ll go on reading every night just as we always have” (Lee 41). Also in this quote, we see that Atticus refers to going to school as a “necessity” (Lee 41). Atticus considers school a necessity because he never had the privilege of going to school. We also see that Atticus has a caring parenting style
In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, which takes place in the racism-tainted town of Maycomb, Atticus Finch must fulfill his obligation as a lawyer by defending a black man against a rape accusation from a white women. To make this undertaking even more difficult, the verdict will be determined by an entirely white jury. While attempting this near impossible task, Atticus strives to teach his children his values and morals to prevent them from catching, what he calls, “Maycomb’s usual disease”. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus demonstrates his values through his career as a lawyer and in how he raises his children.
What is a mockingbird? A mockingbird is a type of bird that can be found in a warmer