Harper Lee’s classic novel,To Kill a Mockingbird, has warmed people’s hearts for over fifty years. Arguably the most touching part of the novel is the close relationship between Atticus, the father of the two main characters,and his children. Over the course of the novel Atticus is able to teach his children,Scout and Jem, many important life lessons. Atticus successfully teaches Scout and Jem empathy, courage and to be true to yourself. These three characteristics shaped Scout and Jem into admirable people.
One of the most important lessons that Atticus teaches his children is to put themselves in other people’s shoes or, in other words, show them empathy. At the beginning of the story, Atticus clearly demonstrates to his children empathy
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by allowing Mr.Cunningham to pay him in food he grows on his farm. Atticus understands that the stock market crash hit Mr.Cunningham very hard and left him unable to pay Atticus for law related things he helped him with. Jem and Scout have a difficult time understanding why he would allow Mr.Cunningham to pay him this way, especially since they are not rich themselves. But Atticus puts himself in Mr.Cunningham’s shoes and simply says “Because that's the only way he can pay me.”(pg.26) Atticus continues to teach his children empathy but more specifically Scout in this case, when Scout is having problems with her school teacher. Ms.Caroline had offered to give money to one of her students and being new to the town hadn’t known that the student wouldn’t have been able to pay her back. Scout tried to explain this to her and in return Ms.Caroline got upset with her. Atticus has to explain to Scout that it takes time to get to know new places and the people in them. Atticus does a good job of explaining this to Scout and in return she empathizes with Ms.Caroline. She even says “Miss Caroline had learned several things herself...but if Walter and I had put ourselves in her shoes we’d have seen it was an honest mistake on her part.” (pg.39-40)Finally, probably the most evident example of how Atticus teaches his children empathy is towards Boo Radley. Boo Radley is the neighbor of Scout and Jem and at the beginning is thought to be a monster of some sort. Scout,Jem and their friend Dill try to make him come of his house and even reenact him stabbing his father. “I’m going to tell you something and tell you one time:stop tormenting that man.”(pg.65) Throughout the novel Atticus has to continue reinforcing that they have to empathize Mr.Radley but it’s not until the end when Scout says “Atticus was right. You never really understand a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley front porch was enough,”that it becomes clear they understand. Thanks to Atticus Scout and Jem have a deep understanding of empathy and why it’s important to empathize. Atticus is a strong example of an example of a courageous person and he tries his best to pass this quality on to his children. The 1930’s were a very racist time. Black people were very much so mistreated, abused and used as slaves by white people. In To Kill a Mockingbird a big thing that set Atticus apart from others in the town he lived in was that he was not racist. Therefore him making the decision to defend someone of the black raise, Tom Robinson was very controversial. This in return left the town upset with him and talking badly about him. Cecil Jacobs, one of Scout’s classmates even said “Scout Finch’s daddy defended niggers.”(pg.99) He was only one of the few people saying these kind of things. Even though his decision disappointed and upset many people he went through with it , while ignoring all the negative comments. Before his court date, while Tom Robinson was in the county prison, there was suspicion that he would be attacked or even murdered. Even though he knew his life would be in danger, he went and sat outside the jail to ensure the safety of Tom Robinson. The odds of Atticus winning a fight against a large group of men is slim but when they tell him leave he stands his ground. “You can turn around and go home,Walter,”(pg 202) Atticus said to one of the men. Instead of simply leaving he then told the men to leave. The last way Atticus teaches his children about empathy is by using Ms.Dubose as an example. Ms.Dubose was morphine addict who was very close to death. But instead of dying still addicted she decided she would die free and not attached to anything or anyone. Atticus explains how this is courage to his children by saying “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. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.”Courage is a very important life lesson and Scout and Jem will highly benefit from having it as a characteristic. Atticus is constantly telling and showing his children how to be true to themselves.
First of all Atticus never changes the way he is based on where he is or who he is with. He doesn’t try to hide his feelings or put on a different face. Ms.Maudie, a close friend of the family’s brings this up while talking to scout. She says “Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is in the public streets.” (pg.61)Another one of Atticus’s actions that suggests he is always true to himself is that he takes the tom robinson case. It is important to Atticus that everyone i treated fairly and with the same level of respect. That is why it was important to him to take the case, even if it was controversial at the time to defend a black man. Atticus describes to Jem and Scout why it was important to him to take the case when he says “If I didn’t I couldn’t hold 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.”(pg.100) Atticus also stays true to himself and to his values when placed in a difficult situation regarding Jem. Atticus had reason to believe that Jem killed Mr.Ewell, another one of the people who lived in the town. When given the choice between covering up the situation or doing the truthful thing and turn him into the police,he chose the truthful way to go. He made this decision because he knew it was the right thing to do. Atticus says “I’m sorry if I spoke harshly Heck but nobody’s hushing this up. I don’t live that way.”(pg.365)Atticus sets a fine example of how to stay true to yourself and what you believe in for his
children. Atticus teaches many necessary life lessons to Scout and Jem.These lessons will ensure they grow up to be the way Atticus envisioned. He does a very good job of teaching them empathy, courage, and to stay true to themselves.Hopefully the readers of the novel also benefit from these lessons.
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.
Atticus’ statement on prejudice and racism characterises his moral integrity and his empathetic nature. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus Finch is depicted as the complete opposite of what people would perceive to be a stereotypical southern man living in the Deep South during the 1930s. Contrary to the majority of his fellow townspeople of Maycomb, Atticus is a man of great virtue and moral strength. He in not bigoted or racist and is egalitarian in his approach to all people This sort of moral integrity is what he tries to instil in his two young children, Jem and Scout, despite the bigotry and inequality surrounding them. Atticus Finch stands as a moral beacon of the town, a label which causes much friction between himself and other members of the Maycomb community. A clearer idea of Atticus’ principles can be gained by comparing and contrasting them to three other characters in the Novel, Calpurnia, Bob Ewell and Aunt Alexandra.
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.
Instead of talking more, he prefers to show.(EVIDENCE, ELABORATE) Also, Atticus is not a type of father who would love his children dearly all the time. At times, he will be firm and teach them harsh lessons about life when necessary. This is evident when he took Jem along with him to tell Helen Robinson about Tom Robinson’s death. This way, Atticus allows Jem to learn lessons about prejudice and other principles in life. Also, throughout the novel, Atticus works to develop his children’s respective consciences and character, through teaching vital lessons with objectives, such as though humanity has a great capability of evil and wrong doings, it also has a great capacity for good. Also, the evil can be looked upon as good, if one approaches things with an outlook of compassion and understanding, instead of hatred, thus his objective is to teach them to be more compassionate and gracious towards others in life.
Atticus teaches Jem and Scout to act courageously by modelling that type of behaviour. By defending Tom Robinson Atticus puts himself in the middle of the conflict. Tom Robinson and Atticus Finch are both despised by most of the town given that Tom is believed to have raped Mayella Ewell and Atticus is hated for defending his client. “The boy might go to the chair, but he’s not going till the truth’s told. And you know what the truth is.”(Lee,152). This shows that Atticus is devoted to truth and justice, and that he will do all he...
In conclusion, one can say that Atticus and his children portray Atticus’ unique approach of life numerous times throughout the novel. Atticus portrays his philosophy not only as a citizen but as a parent, lawyer and victim. As the novel progresses one realizes that his actions influence Jem and Scout to follow his footstep to effectively understand others. Altogether, looking at more than one perspective allows one to better comprehend actions, emotions, lifestyles, etc.
In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee Writes about the life lessons Atticus teaches Jem and Scout. Atticus teaches Jem and Scout Different life lessons in order for them to learn how to cope with different situations and problems. Atticus teaches his kids to treat others with respect, he also teaches his kids that having manners and being polite will go a long way. Atticus teaches his kids the importance of equality and by treating people equally you will be treated with respect.
The unforgettable, Anne Frank, wrote long ago, “Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands” (Goodreads). In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, the novel revolves around three children named, Scout, Jem, and Dill. It follows them through their years of growing up and coming to understand the importance of lessons, Atticus, Scout and Jem’s father, advises them. Furthermore, Lee shows often the best lessons are learned outside the classroom.
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 is always guiding Jem and Scout with advice so that they will become more compassionate people. Atticus sets a good example for the children when Mr Ewell confronts him. Even though he is provoked and insulted, Atticus simply has a “peaceful reaction”. This shows the children never to get into fights with people when they are upset about something. Atticus shows children about courage and all the forms it appears in. When Jem is told to read for Ms Dubose and she dies, Atticus explains to Jem about her morphine addiction, and how she died “free”. This shows Jem that courage isn’t always where you expect to find it, and that if you have some compassion, you see people for who they really are. The most important piece of advice he gives his children is that “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.” This is important for the children to know, because it helps them to be more caring people, and they use this advice throughout the novel.
...heme of maturation in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, is conveyed through the characters of Scout and Jem, in conjunction with the assistance of their virtuous father Atticus Finch. Early in the novel, Atticus ascertains himself as a major facilitator in the maturation process of Scout and Jem by incessantly providing mature solutions to his children’s predicaments. Moreover, Scout, a major benefactor of the Boo Radley incident and Atticus’ wisdom, has helped her develop into a very tolerant and mature individual. Undeniably, Jem’s remarkable development into a broadminded and compassionate character can be directly attributed to Atticus’ kindness and Jem’s exposure to the Tom Robinson trial. In synopsis, it is evident that the individuals and social circumstances that surround an individual play a major role in defining the type of individual one will become.
“The great gift of human beings is that we have the power of empathy.” –Meryl Streep Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. This particular skill requires one to walk around in someone else’s shoes. It is a very valuable emotional skill that develops in many characters during the course of the novel. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, empathy is consistently present whether it’s Atticus being empathetic, Atticus teaching the kids to empathize or them empathizing themselves in certain situations.
Initially written as a simple love story, To Kill a Mockingbird is regarded by many to be one of the finest examples of classical American literature; it is a compassionate, dramatic, and deeply moving tale. This novel delves deep into the readers thoughts and paradigms, for it exposes such ingrained aspects of human behavior and consciousness - ideals/themes of innocence and experience, love and hatred, justice and racism, courage and cowardice, and many more. Nonetheless, at it's core To Kill a Mockingbird is, as the author Harper Lee puts it, a "love story, pure and simple". There are many diverse yet interconnected love stories in To Kill a Mockingbird. However, the most prominent one is the relationship between Atticus, a righteous lawyer in Maycomb, and his daughter Scout, Scout in particular. In this kind of love, the mentor-figure (Atticus) seeks to foster the development of the apprentice-figure's (Scout) knowledge and character. It is reminiscent of the love between a teacher and pupil, an older and younger brother/sister, and such.
The main thing that was said in this chapter was when Atticus 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." What Atticus says kind of explains something about the Maycomb community, if you are less fortunate then you are allowed to bend the rules a bit to help put food on your table. In the book it says "Atticus said the Ewells had been the disgrace of Maycomb for three generations. None of them had done an honest day's work in his recollection. He said that some Christmas, when he was getting rid of the tree, he would take me with him and show me where and how they lived. They were people, but they lived like animals."They can go to school any time they want to, when they show the faintest symptom of wanting an education," said Atticus.