What Is Atticus Finch's Relationship In To Kill A Mockingbird

In To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, the biggest impact is that children having a relationship with their parents. In the town of Maycomb, there are many different families. Each family has their own way to live, think, and treat their children. Through the relationships, readers will understand how the children grow and change in society.

Atticus Finch is the father of Scout and Jem Finch. Atticus raises them without a wife, so he tries to love and take care of them even more. Atticus wants Scout and Jem to understand that people are basically equal, and encourages the children to call his name “Atticus”, rather than father. Throughout the novel, Atticus tries to teach Jem and Scout how to behave properly. For example, when, Scout would try to solve problems with violence, Atticus says, “She just needs to hold her head high and keep that fist down, although she hears some ugly talk at school” (Lee 76). Atticus teaches Scout to communicate instead of fighting. Also Atticus teaches Scout to respect consciences. Atticus tells Scout that she has to put herself in a

person’s shoes before she judges them. Atticus loves his children and wants his children to grow up as good people that don’t judge others in a bad way.
Scout and Jem have a relationship with Calpurnia, a black woman who works at their house. Although Calpurnia is a black woman, the children follow her like a mother, and Calpurnia takes care of the children like her own kids. For example, when Walter Cunningham came to the house for dinner and poured syrup on his food, Scout protested his way. Calpurnia became furious and called Scout to kitchen. Calpurnia said to Scout that, “don’t matter who they are, anybody sets foot in this house’s you’ company, and don’t you let me catch you remarking on their ways like you was so high and mighty. Your folks might be better than the Cunninghams but it doesn’t count for nothing the way you’re disgracing them- if you can’t act fit to eat at the table, you can just set here and eat in the kitchen!" (Lee 24~25). Calpurnia teaches Scout that she needs to understand and respect their own way, although it’s different from the way they do things.
The relationship between Mayella and Mr. Ewell is completely opposite to the Finch Family. Mr. Ewell isn’t a proper father figure. The Ewell family is one of the town’s least respected families. His family lives behind a dump, in a Negro’s cabin, and he has eight children. During the trial, the Ewell family’s lifestyles are revealed. According to Mayella, Mr. Ewell is tolerable, except when he’s drunken (Lee 183). This statement implies that Mr. Ewell hits Mayella when he’s drunk. Mayella was really afraid of her father and falsely accused to Tom Robinson hitting and raping her during the trial. Mr. Ewell is careless and irresponsible with his children, meaning that he is not a supportive father.
Dill, a friend of Jem and Scout, lacks a relationship with his parents.

Dill has a stronger relationship with his friends than with his parents. Since Dill’s mother remarried, the father is his stepfather. After he leaves Maycomb for a while, he ran away to Maycomb again, because he said his parents weren’t interested in him, they didn’t want him anymore (Lee 143).

A parent is the role model of a child. Parents could affect children in either good or bad ways. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus is a good example to affect Scout and Jem. Atticus tries to teach them how to become a real person in the world. In contrast, Mr. Ewell is the example of affecting his kids badly. Mr. Ewell abused Mayella, and made Mayella lie in court. These relationships show people the importance of relationships between parents and their children, and how parent's effects are important to their children's

lifestyle.