To Kill A Mockingbird Essays: Atticus Finch

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Atticus Finch, a character in the moving novel To Kill a Mockingbird illustrates a strong and moral character through the honorable way he treats and views the world around him. Although uncommon and rather controversial, Atticus’s honesty, hard-working nature, and respectable actions provide the Finch children with a unique understanding of the world around them and inspire countless lives in Maycomb, Alabama. Even in an environment where most individuals treat the Finch family unfairly, this reliable friend and father communicates to his children that they will never understand a person’s motives until they have truly walked in their shoes. With an optimistic outlook and an open mind, one can always learn something new from the experienced and inspirational Atticus Finch. …show more content…

Many individuals personally involved in the Finch family’s life do not understand how he speaks so candidly to his bright yet vulnerable children. Generally, Atticus sees the importance of not “sugar coating” any truths the children seek to understand. His parenting philosophies are illustrated in Chapter 9 when he explains, "When a child asks you something, answer him, for goodness sakes. But don't make a production of it. Children are children, they can spot an evasion quicker than adults” (116). Refusing to “dumb down” the facts of life, he prepares Jem, Scout and even Dill for the insensitive nature of the world they live in. Overall, Atticus displays pure honesty towards his young children and views every day as an opportunity to teach them something of

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