Research Paper On Atticus Finch

Atticus Finch: Father of the Year or Lawyer of the Century

Different characters have different personalities, traits and flaws that shape them as well as influence us (the readers). One of the main and most influential characters in Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, is Atticus Finch. Atticus Finch lives with his two children and cook, Calpurnia, in Maycomb County, Alabama. In the small, Southern town, he is known as the best lawyer and citizen, even though many of his ideas contradict those of the rest of the town. He has numerous characteristics that set him apart from the rest of the crowd. People trust and listen to him, absorbing whatever he says, as long as it fits in with the status quo. While he may not realize it, everything

he does influences his community, especially with his children, while they navigate through their young lives and grow up. However, every man has at least one flaw. For Atticus it is that he is a bit of a workaholic. He comes home late and leaves early, often doing extra work at home. Somehow, he manages to pull it of and is a great father as well as a great lawyer.
Atticus Finch is considered to be the best man in all of Maycomb.

He is brave, kind and commits wholeheartedly to anything he does. Miss Maudie says, “...if Atticus Finch drank until he was drunk he wouldn’t be as hard as some men are at their best”(60). What Miss Maudie means is that even if Atticus was completely drunk, he’d still be a better man than most men are while they’re on their best behavior. Miss Maudie also says, “ Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public street.” (60) This implies that Atticus,unlike the rest of Maycomb, has nothing to hide from anyone. He is not furtive in the slightest and believes in the truth. During the trial, Atticus gives a very deep, very frank speech to the community, asking them to extinguish their presumptions and make a decision purely based on evidence. He bares his soul and tries to convince the town to break stereotypes and evolve. The fact that they didn’t heed his advice shows how close-minded and different they are compared to

him.
Furthermore, Atticus is a great role model for his children and all the children in Maycomb.

Scout says, “We were far too old to settle our argument with a fist fight so we consulted Atticus. Our father said we were both right”(1). This shows beyond doubt that the children go to Atticus with any problems they might have and rely on his help to solve them. Whether he knows it or not, his children adore him and are enthralled by anything he tells them. Everything he does whittles away at their dispositions. Before the trial, when there is a lynch mob outside the prison looking for Tom Robinson, Atticus puts himself in harm's way to make sure Robinson is safe. His bravery and commitment to the trial as well as his morals and beliefs are shown in this situation. He and Scout gave the entire mob a lesson on ethics and bravery. Scout was able to stand up to the mob because she knew her father would be there to keep her safe. She was confident he wouldn’t let anything bad happen to her. Even though Atticus began to fret, she ignored him and kept going. She used all the lessons he taught her and persuaded the lynch mob to leave Robinson

alone.
As I mentioned before, Atticus is a bit of a workaholic. Scout recalls, “ Two geological ages later, we heard the soles of Atticus’s shows scrape the front steps”(138). This confirms that the children usually wait at home for Atticus to arrive home. He usually comes home late evening and often gets called out back to work in the middle of the night or leaves early in the morning. His children relish the attention he gives them, implying that he doesn’t give them enough. Because Atticus works so much, some if not most of the parenting is left to Calpurnia or other neighbors. They’re the ones who keep the children in check and look after them, especially during the summer. Even though he isn’t always there, the children still look to Atticus for the final word and he always tries his best to be fair. They know he spends as much time as he can with them, even with his time-consuming job.
In conclusion, Atticus is both a good and fair man. He doesn’t lie or keep any secrets. He treats everyone the way he wants to be treated and is a great role model for his children and all of Maycomb. Having said that, he works a lot, coming home late at night and often leaving early in the morning. His children don’t get to see him much and usually run around doing as they please during the day. The time they do spend with him is precious, and they’re always craving more. Nowadays, things don’t work quite like that anymore. Children aren’t allowed to run around outside by themselves and are far more sheltered. Single parents are often ridiculed, not respected, especially single fathers. Working as much as Atticus does and having a cook at home looking after your children is something reserved for the top 1% of our society. It is obvious that times have changed, but morals haven’t. Atticus Finch really is living a life the rest of us can only dream of.
Work Cited
Lee, Harper To Kill a Mockingbird, Grand Central Publishing 2010