Category: Atticus Finch

As Scout stands on the Radley front porch after having walked Arthur (Boo) Radley home at the end of the story, Scout finally fully understands what point her father was trying to make. She’s soaking in Boo Radley’s perspective and imagining his life as a witness to theirs. Scout saw what it was like from someone else’s perspective and not just her families. She was starting to understand what Atticus was trying to say.

Atticus tells the children several times that they need to walk in someone else’s shoes before judging a person. ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ written by Harper Lee presents how one’s emotions and inevitable circumstances affects the interactions that take place among people. Set in Maycomb, in the 1930’s, Atticus, a lawyer and a father attempts to educate his children (Jem and Scout) on how to abide and comprehend people.

At an early stage in the novel, Jem was able to comfortably step in someone else’s shoes and view the situation from their perspective. When Jem confronted Scout after she had beat up Walter Cunningham he said, ”Come on home to dinner with us, Walter” (Lee, Pg 25) Jem with his righteous mind and sense of initiative and maturity allowed himself to change his perspective in a way that would be greatly valued later in the novel.

Atticus Finch, a serene and lion-hearted man who was appointed a challenging case that would test his moral courage. Atticus who was not in anyway coerced in his decision to defend Tom Robinson fought with desire and justice. When Scout asked him if he would win the case, Atticus responded, ”Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win” (Ibid, Pg 84) With Atticus being Atticus he was determined to fight the racism and prejudice and at the same time view the world from another person’s perspective.

Scout who had been coerced into the ladies meeting had realised the meticulous ways of what it was like to be a lady. After the horrid announcement of Tom’s death, Scout was able to see just how distraught her Aunty was by the shocking new yet still retained her lady ways. Scout thought, ‘After all, If Aunty could be a lady at a time like this, so could I.’ (Ibid, Pg 262) Scout allowed herself to place others predicaments and emotions in her perspective that enhanced her own actions and interactions with those who were affected,

Scout who for many seasons and years had wondered what exactly Boo Radley had seen all his life was finally able to ‘see’ herself. After Scout had graciously walked Boo home, she willingly and curiously stood on Boo’s front porch and mentally pictured and captured what Boo had seen all these years through his window, she thought, ‘Just standing here on the Radley porch was enough’ (Ibid, Pg 308) Boo Radley’s world was everything outside his four walls. Scout had viewed Boo’s world and watched as the seasons passed and how she and Jem had grown older. It was the only life Boo Radley was exposed to.

Harper Lee’s novel, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ illustrates how a father and a venerable lawyer can educate his children and other members of the community on how to show empathy towards others. Atticus Finch, the backbone of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ was able to encourage and influence others into showing compassion by his own courage employed to battle and persevere against the existence of prejudice and racism in Maycomb County.

Why are we still living in a world where racism, mistreatment and prejudice still occur daily? Its 2019 and its time to change, it’s time to take a stand and defend those who can’t speak for themselves. That’s what a hero would do, wait, no, that’s what Atticus Finch would do. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee published on the 11th of July 1960 is a novel written about a child’s view on the Great Depression era. Children tell everything as they see it; this is why the novel was based off of a child’s point of view, to let the audience get an insight on the Great Depression, even the little details about it too.

Atticus Finch defies all of the laws and controversy about African Americans by standing up and defending Tom Robinson, Tom Robinson is a twenty-five year old African American who is married with three children. In the novel Tom Robinson was sent to court with suspicions of raping Mayella Ewell, in his case Atticus Finch served as Robinsons defence attorney. In the novel Tom Robinson had no chance of his innocence being proved, after all it was 1930 and which story was the jury going to believe; the normal one about a black man raping a white woman, or the disgusting one about a black man helping out a white woman?

Why are we still living in a divided world where white people get more advantages than black people? Why do we treat them differently? It’s unfair and cruel. Racial division has always been the predominant theme of the American society as shown in To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) and still to this day.

“In our courts, it’s a white man’s world against a black man’s, the white man always win.” (Chapter 23) The key issue gathered from Harper Lee’s novel is that the American Legal System was and still is unfair to the people of colour. Lawyers find loop holes within the system to manipulate the law to make a favourable decision for the person whom they represent. This is why people say ‘find a good lawyer’ due to the fact that if you can afford a good lawyer the decision made will be favourable on your behalf however for those who cannot afford a good lawyer the decision will be unfair and biased even to those who are innocent. The legal system doesn’t treat people equally; it treats them based off of their wealth.

If the novel was written differently and Tom Robinson did not have Atticus Finch as his defence attorney then the whole story would have been different, especially for Tom. He would have been crumbled up and thrown away like a piece of paper.

Many people believe Atticus Finch is a hero for what he did, Atticus didn’t have to defend Tom Robinson, but he did. In Atticus’ mind Tom’s trial means more than proving his innocence and it means more than a referendum on racism within Maycomb. It was about the fairness of the American legal system. Atticus argues for equality within the system and society. In the novel Atticus is brave, he isn’t scared that people will hurt him, he is more concerned about the safety of his kids. He is an altruistic man.

To Kill A Mockingbird (TKAM) is a prose novel that was written by Harper Lee. It was set in the 1930’s and published in the 1960’s. The author has has identified the protagonist in the story as Atticus Finch who is a lawyer and an upstanding citizen of the town. The author has identified that Bob Ewell is racist and uneducated and Atticus Finch is unprejudiced and he upholds the law.

Cultural assumptions and beliefs shape Bob as the antagonist and Atticus as the protagonist. A clear example of this is “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 metaphor finds Atticus giving Scout a piece of advice that helps her development for the rest of the novel. His ability to relate to his children is that everyone should think about other peoples opinions. Atticus believes that everyone should not judge one another by what they look like and what colour they are, and everyone should be treated with the same respect. Atticus defended Tom Robinson who is a black man even after all of the backlash he got because of it. Meanwhile Bob Ewell treats everyone with no respect as he thinks that he is a “high” person, but really he isn’t. Bob also treats all black people like trash. Bob and Atticus both have very different beliefs based on cultural assumptions.

In my opinion Bob Ewell is playing the role as the antagonist. Bob Ewell is very racist towards Tom Robinson who is a black man that has been accused of rape towards his daughter. Bob Ewell is uneducated, racist and happy to let an innocent negro go to jail for a crime that he didn’t commit. When the author writes “He stood up and pointed his finger at Tom Robinson. “—I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin’ on my Mayella!”. The technique used in this quote is derogatory language by calling Tom a “nigger”. At the trial, Bob is trying to tell everybody what he thinks Tom did. He is talking about how he thinks that Tom Robinson should go to prison on a death sentence. Bob’s words are not true, but the reaction to the statement from Tom and Atticus in the courtroom makes it clear that the things did not happen the way that Bob Ewell describes them. Bob makes the statement up because he believes that because he is a white man and Tom Robinson is black, the jury will believe him and then make Tom go to jail for a crime he did not commit. Because of the actions that Bob Ewell performed, this proves that he is the antagonist in the story.

The author is trying to convey that the protagonist in the story is Atticus Finch who is a lawyer and an upstanding citizen of the town he is defending Tom Robinson, a negro that is accused of rape. Atticus is a very caring person and is always nice to most people. This can be shown by “This time we aren’t fighting the Yankees, we’re fighting our friends. But remember this, no matter how bitter things get, they’re still our friends and this is still our home.”. The technique used in this quote is characterisation because it shows us that Atticus is moral and ethical. Based on the evidence, it appears that Atticus’ morality towards his family and the black people in the town is quite strong. Based of the evidence to suggest that Atticus is moral and ethical, it proves to us that he is the protagonist in the story.

Based on the evidence stated, it has been shown by the author that Bob Ewell has been identified as the antagonist while Atticus Finch has been identified as the protagonist. They are both very different characters. Bob and Atticus have quite a different view towards their both of their lifestyles.

Michelle Obama has once said, “be the flame of fate, that torch of truth to guide our young people toward a better future for themselves and for this country”. In this quote, Michelle Obama is trying to say that older people are role models to the younger generation and they’re helping them become better people. Similarly to Atticus Finch from the novel “To Kill A Mockingbird” written by Harper Lee. Atticus sets a good example for his two kids, Scout and Jem. In the book, Atticus Finch stands up for his beliefs. He is an intellectual, and wise beyond his years, Atticus is also respected by everyone because he is considered a leader.

For starters, Atticus Finch is a good role model is because he’s wise and shares his wisdom with his children and peers. He sticks up for other people, especially kids. Atticus said that if a child asks something or says something, you should “‘…answer him for goodness’ sake’”(87). This is him trying to say that “children are children” but they can sometimes say something clever. Atticus tries to show that if you try to be the best version of yourself, you will get somewhere great. If Atticus wasn’t trying to be the best version of himself “‘…[he] couldn’t hold up [his] head in [the] town, [he] couldn’t represent [the] country in the legislature, [he] couldn’t even tell [her] or Jem not to do something again’”(75). It is clear that Atticus Finch believes in what he says, what he says is his opinion and he tells people his opinion to help others. Atticus believe in what he says and what he says comes out wise and respectful. He has also said that, “‘a court is only as sound as its jury, and a jury is only as sound as the men who make it up’”(274). Atticus has great advice and is really good at helping other with his words. He does his best to stick up for other people and to help others when they need help.

Another example of why Atticus Finch is a role model is because he doesn’t believe in violence. He doesn’t think it’s right to shoot a gun without a good reason. “‘[He] think[s] maybe he put his gun down when he realized that god had given him an unfair advantage over most living thing’”(130). It’s not right to kill a living thing without a good reason to. Miss Maudie has once said something that really explains the way Atticus is. “‘People in their right minds never take pride in their talents,’ said Miss Maudie”(130). Atticus doesn’t take pride in his talent because he isn’t proud of his talent of having a good aim and hitting something in one shot. When Atticus was a young boy, he took 15 shots and shot 14 doves. Later on, “[he] decided he wouldn’t shoot till he had to, and he had to today” (130). This shows that Atticus Finch isn’t a fan of hunting unless it’s for a good reason. Atticus decided to shoot Tim Johnson only because he had rabies. He tried to protect everyone, especially Scout and Jem, from Tim Johnson.

The last reason why Atticus Finch is a good role model is because he is empathetic. One way he shows that he’s empathetic is because he tries to understand other people’s feelings. “‘[No one] really understand[s] a person until [they] consider things from [their] point of view[…]’” (39). You would really have to be in someone else’s shoes to understand what they’re going through. You would also have to understand what people see and hear. No matter what, “‘a mob is always made up of people…’”(157). It doesn’t matter what you do, people want to see what they want to see and what they want to hear. He also tries to understand himself and tries to listen to himself. “‘But before [he] can live with other folks, [he’s] got to live with [himself]’”(105). Atticus is trying to understand himself and try to learn to be on his own before he lives with other people. He really cares about other people and listens to other people’s feelings.

In conclusion, Atticus Finch is a good role model. He tries his best to set a good example for his kids, Scout and Jem. Atticus is a good person who is wise, doesn’t believe is violence, and is very empathetic. He teaches his kids to be the best version of themselves so they can grow up to be the same.

‘… 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.’ (Lee 16) That quote was the wise words of Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird and is probably one of the things we all should know. Jim from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn also thinks like Atticus when he says Huck’s Pap floating down the river dead and says to Huck to not look at the face so Huck did not have to get emotional over it. They both know what to do at the right times while both being very different. First, we have to get to know these characters. Atticus Finch is the father of Jem and Scout living in Maycomb, Alabama. Atticus is a very calm and wise person from the things he says to the things he does. Atticus does everything with a gleam in his eye and no regrets because he does what’s right which makes him a willing hero. Jim, on the other hand, is a slave from St. Petersburg, Missouri who is owned by Miss Watson. Jim is a very kind person even though he gets criticized all the time for being black. Jim helps Huck through so many things even to the point of risking his life for him which also makes Jim a willing hero. Jim and Atticus are heroes because of the reason that the authors wrote them and their heroic qualities.

First, Jim and Atticus were written into this book for the purposes of displaying certain themes. Atticus had the themes of racism is bad and that good and evil can live together. “I’m simply defending a Negro—his name’s Tom Robinson.” (Lee 41) That quote is one of the first parts that talks about racism. Atticus goes on and talks to Scout about the trial and says “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.” (Lee 41) That says that Atticus would be so ashamed of not representing a black man that he would have thought of himself as a bad man and tell Jem or Scout what to do.

Atticus also shows that evil can live together when Bob Ewell goes and spits in the face of Atticus. “It was Miss Stephanie’s pleasure to tell us: this morning Mr. Bob Ewell stopped Atticus on the post office corner, spat in his face, and told him he’d get him if it took the rest of his life.” (Lee 115) is the time when we see that they can live together in this world together but not in harmony all the time. Atticus shows that you have to keep calm against the evil when he says “So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take. He had to take it out on somebody and I’d rather it be me than that houseful of children out there.” (Lee 116) Atticus has just told us that evil can live together without problems if you know why they are doing evil.

On the other hand, Jim also had the theme of racism is bad but he also had the theme of people are different depending on where they are. Jim represents the racism is bad theme by just being a slave. Jim just wanted to be free and buy his family back so he could start a happy life just like everybody else. They had to dress Jim up as a sick Arab so he would not get captured or harassed for being black like how Huck says in the line “He dressed Jim up in King Lear’s outfit—it was a long curtain-calico gown, and a white horse-hair wig and whiskers; and then he took his theater paint and painted Jim’s face and hands and ears and neck all over a dead, dull, solid blue, like a man that’s been drownded nine days.” (Twain 160) That alone shows that racism has brought him to hide so he would not be captured. The town also immediately thought since he was missing when Huck was murdered that it was him and not Pap who was always drunk and was a horrible father as said in this “Well, next day they found out the nigger was gone; they found out he hadn’t ben seen sence ten o’clock the night the murder was done.” (Twain 59)

The town did not even look into it and instead thought it was Jim because he was a slave. He also represents the difference in people when they are in different places. Jim is not the one being different but he is the main person being affected by this. Huck really is the one changing but Jim is the one that is being affected. “When we was ten foot off Tom whispered to me, and wanted to tie Jim to the tree for fun.” (Twain 6) This is the first time when we see the racism in Huck and how it affects Jim by scaring him. They tied him to a tree and put his hat on the branch of a tree so he would think it was witches. They know Jim will believe this because Jim does not understand that people can lie to what happens which is why this affects Jim. “Jim won’t ever forgit you, Huck; you’s de bes’ fren’ Jim’s ever had; en you’s de only fren’ ole Jim’s got now.’ (Twain 92) This quote is showing how much Jim likes Huck.

Huck accepts this while they are alone and not by other people. Huck acts differently when he was just with Jim then when he was on the land with others because Jim was black. Jim was the deciding factor on how he should act which shows that Jim is really representing this. Jim and Atticus are both showing that racism is bad which is a very important theme that some people in this world still can not seem to grasp. Just those characters show that to perfection and ho it should not be a thing anymore but it will probably continue until this world ends. The other themes, evil and good can live together and people act differently around certain people, represent the differences in others that we as humans all need to change. All of the people in this world have evil and good but one may show more than the other. Harper Lee wants people to see that evil should not live in us and that we need to show the good and never show evil. Other people act differently around certain people is what we all do as humans and is a bad habit that we need to stop. Being different around other people is just hiding who we really are. That is why Atticus and Jim are written into these stories.

The final comparison between these two heroes is their heroic qualities. Atticus and Jim have heroic qualities such as bravery and knowing the difference between right and wrong. Those are the qualities they share.

Atticus Finch is regarded by many as a hero and an ideal role model. He’s known to be a proponent for humanity’s equal right to justice and his parenting was considered to be way ahead of his time. But no one’s perfect, and Atticus is no exception. Even though Atticus’s parenting is commendable, his idealism is a reflection of his privilege as a white man because his social and economic status protects him from the effects of racism and allows him to disregard any threats or insults directed at him.

Both white privilege and racism are major problems that affect society at large. Many who fight for racism are often protected by their privilege, and therefore do not and cannot fully grasp the issues and problems those persecuted face. They often address issues in a naive fashion, disregarding their complexities as well as failing to recognize the inability of those being persecuted and discriminated against to implement those solutions.

Atticus Finch displays many of those traits. How he interacts with Mrs. Dubose clearly showcases his white and socioeconomic privilege. Mrs. Dubose would sit on her porch and insult Jem and Scout whenever they passed, “giving… [them a] melancholy prediction on what [they] would amount to when… [they] grew up, which was always nothing.” (Lee 114-115) Moreover, whenever Scout would say ‘Hey, Mrs. Dubose,’.. [she] would receive for an answer, ‘Don’t you say hey to me, you ugly girl! You say good afternoon, Mrs. Dubose!’ (Lee 115). Mrs. Dubose even went as far as insulting Atticus himself, saying ‘Your father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for!’ (Lee 177). Despite all this, whenever Atticus would pass by her house, he would “sweep off his hat, wave gallantly to her and say, ‘Good evening, Mrs. Dubose! You look like a picture this evening.’ (Lee 115).

This instance shows how Atticus always tries to find the good in people, and is always polite to them regardless of their actions. These traits are part of his progressive personality, but they also represent the power of his white and socioeconomic privilege. A poor, persecuted person of low status would have found it very difficult to be polite and indifferent to what Ms. Dubose said, because they would feel personally attacked and threatened by her derogatory comments. Atticus is protected by his privilege, and is, therefore, able to easily dismiss those comments. He even goes as far as defending Mrs. Dubose, telling Jem that “She’s an old lady and she’s ill. You just hold your head high and be a gentleman. Whatever she says to you, it’s your job not to let her make you mad.’ (Lee 115).

Another instance when Atticus’s socioeconomic privilege was apparent was when he told Scout that “n*****-lover is just one of those terms that don’t mean anything” (Lee 124) . Atticus’s high socioeconomic status, as a white, male lawyer and a state representative fully insulates him from the power and significance of that hateful word, which exists to deny black people their personhood. His denial of the impact and power of this word showcases his limited awareness with regards to the terror and pain the African American community faced, and inadvertently creates a “vacuum” for people to use the word freely.

Perhaps one of the clearest examples of Atticus’s privilege is when Bob Ewell stopped Atticus, spat in his face, and threatened him. Atticus just walked away, carelessly, and said, “No, too old [to fight],” (Lee 248). Atticus was certain that Bob Ewell was just venting his frustrations, and that his socioeconomic status would protect him and prevent Bob from doing any harm to Atticus and his family. This is expressed very clearly when all Atticus said about the encounter was “I wish Bob Ewell wouldn’t chew tobacco”. If Atticus was an African American, he would have probably reacted very differently to the threats, as he would not be protected by his status or privilege. Atticus’s overconfidence in his family’s safety backfired in the end, when Bob Ewell attempted to murder both Jem and Scout.

In conclusion, although Atticus is highly respected due to his progressive beliefs, his idealism is a reflection of his many privileges, which shield him from the effects of racism. His socioeconomic privilege is showcased throughout the book, such as when Mrs. Dubose would insult him and yet he would treat her politely, his belief that n*****-lover didn’t mean anything, and when Bob Ewell threatened him and he just walked away.

We should always remember the following Quranic verse, which teaches us that all of humankind is equal. “O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).”. It turns out that Atticus may not be as much of a hero as he is often portrayed.

In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee develops Atticus as a complicated character who refuses to abide to his society’s norms. On one hand, portrayed as the valiant protector of Tom Robinson, his outstanding moral qualities set him far apart from others of his time. In contrast, he also distinguishes himself from others by his wishes of a gradual social change in Maycomb, though he desires minimal conflict whenever possible. What possible motivations could ever produce such striking behavior in one from the highest social class? I believe that Atticus’ incentive for both of these behaviors neither originates solely from his inherent virtuous qualities, nor his wishes for Maycomb’s progression–but from his distaste for the prejudice of innocents.

Atticus, undoubtedly a hero, exhibits numerous cases of righteousness and bravery throughout the novel, through both his venerable advice to his children and his valiant effort at protecting Tom Robinson. In spite of the criticism he recieves after taking up Tom’s case, he tells his children that he felt compelled to do it: “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”(120). Although he knows that “we were licked a hundred years ago before we started”, he still takes on the case, fitting his own definition of “true courage”. Atticus’ rectitude is apparent throughout the duration of the trial too. As he defends Tom to the best of his abilities, he makes moving speeches about justice and morality. Remarkably, he sympathizes with Mayella, even though her lies ultimately result in Tom’s death: “I have nothing but pity in my heart for the chief witness for the state”(231).

Atticus’ willingness to fight until the very end of the case also displays his heroic qualities. He tells Mr. Deas that he will never give up until the citizens of Maycomb recognize the Ewells’ deceit: “Link, that boy might go to the chair, but he’s not going till the truth’s told… And you know what the truth is”(166). Mr. Deas warns Atticus that it was a mistake to take the case in the first place, but Atticus persists and refuses to turn down the case. Not only does Atticus realize the futility of his efforts, but he is also clearly aware of the enormous criticism he and his children would receive upon his taking up the case–yet he does it anyway.

Conversely, Atticus can be viewed as a patriarchal character who seeks to adjust the social structure of Maycomb with minimal conflict. As opposed to defending Tom purely out of the goodness of his heart, he instead defends Tom in hopes of preserving the reputation of Maycomb. Atticus knows that allowing a lower-class white to get away with dishonest accusations of a black will only make matters worse, encouraging the escalation of

Atticus indicates his disinclination for unseemly events when he stands up against the mob, wanting as little social unrest as possible: “You can turn around and go home again, Walter… Heck Tate’s around somewhere”(172). Atticus shows that he has the audacity to stand between the mob and Tom in order to keep the social hierarchy in line, knowing perfectly well that he gambles his own life in the process. Concurrently, Atticus understands that in preventing the lynching, he sets apart Maycomb from other southern cities at the time, where racial prejudice and civil unrest were prevalent. Clearly opposing the mob’s intentions, Atticus moves Walter Cunningham and the mob to reevaluate the situation: “Then he did a peculiar thing. He squatted down and took me by both shoulders. ‘I’ll tell him you said hey, little lady… Let’s clear out… Let’s get going, boys’”(175). In establishing a clear demarcation between rational actions and foolish actions, and allowing the mob to realize it, Atticus reinforces both Maycomb’s civility and stability.

Though Atticus possesses his own predilections regarding race and justice, he values the steadiness of his own community to a greater extent: “This time we aren’t fighting the Yankees, we’re fighting our friends. But remember this, no matter how bitter things get, they’re still our friends and this is still our home”(87). Atticus advocates for social change in the courthouse, but would never want to damage the mutually beneficial relationships with the others in his community with his solicitation of racial equality. Having said that, Atticus continues to promote impartiality, within the court: “But there is one way in this country in which all men are created equal–there is one human institution that makes a pauper equal of an Einstein, and the ignorant man the equal of any college president. That institution, gentlemen, is a court”(233). Notably, Atticus makes this statement in front of an all-white jury who

In saying so, Atticus brings Maycomb a step further in its social transformation, saying the things that no one had ever said before. In addition, when Bob Ewell spits on Atticus, a stoic Atticus does not retaliate, not wishing to create any unnecessary conflict: “Atticus was leaving the post office when Mr. Ewell approached him, cursed him, spat on him, and threatened to kill him… Atticus didn’t bat an eye, just took out his handkerchief and wiped his face and let Mr. Ewell call him names wild horses could not bring her to repeat”(248). Atticus, with the intention of avoiding any pointless trouble, endures the verbal abuse, and in turn progresses “Maycomb’s ways” through his unforgettable mark on the community through his defense of Tom.

While I concur with the previous two interpretations, I believe that Atticus took the case due to the fact that he could not tolerate prejudice of a defenseless human being–not solely because of his exceptional quality of character or his disposition towards preserving Maycomb’s reputation. Atticus’ aversion for such behavior shows when his children pester Boo with pranks: “Son, I’m going to tell you something and tell you one time: stop tormenting that man. That goes for the other two of you”(54). Atticus does not want his children growing up with “Maycomb’s usual disease”, part of his motivation to take Tom Robinson’s case. Furthermore, another instance of Atticus’ sympathy for vulnerable people arises when he makes Jem read to Mrs. Dubose, much to Jem’s dismay: “‘Atticus, do I have to?’ ‘Certainly.’ ‘But she wants me to do it for a month.’ ‘Then you’ll do it for a month.’”(121). Atticus hopes for his children to follow his previously given advice to “climb into their skin and walk around in it”, even with Mrs. Dubose’s disparaging comments toward his children. Moreover, Atticus teaches his children that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird, because it deals no harm to anyone: “‘Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.’That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something”(103). Scout includes the small detail that it was the only time that Atticus ever called something a sin, alluding to his distaste of such behavior. Likewise, following the trial, Atticus expresses his aversion once again towards prejudice of individuals: “As you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don’t you forget it–whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash”(252). Atticus grants no special advantages to those of his on race: Atticus believes that no one has the right to harm defenseless individuals.

Who is Atticus Finch? Atticus is one of if not the best man in Maycomb, he is also a lawyer and a father who acts in a very gentleman way even in the most nerve-wracking situations a person could be in. And in the types of situations that he finds himself in during the novel he really shows that he is a person that has a huge amount of courage. During the whole novel Atticus demonstrates how he is a very honest man that always wants to do the right thing no matter what the odds against him are like.

During the events of To Kill A Mockingbird Atticus shows just how much of a gentleman he can really get to be, even under threats and situations in which most people probably would have responded in an aggressive way, he still manages to keep his temper under control and respond in a calm way that sent a message of education and confidence. “Mr. Bob Ewell stopped Atticus on the post office corner, spat in his face, and told him he’d get him if it took the rest of his life.” This fraction of the book showed how Bob Ewell out of pure anger confronted Atticus in an aggressive way and even went to the point of spitting at him, to which Mr. Finch reacted in an educated way and did not keep a grudge against him, instead he managed to comprehend him and forgive him. Another way in which he demonstrated throughout the story that he was a real gentleman, was the way he treated everyone in a polite way without regard of who they were and what their economic and social status was. “So you did, ma’am. You’ll have to bar with me, Miss Mayella.” That quote is a perfect example of just how much of a gentleman Atticus truly is. Mayella Ewell had probably never been addressed in a formal way yet he spoke to her in the same type of language that he would use to address anyone in that courthouse. Even though Atticus went through difficult situations, he managed to confront them, showing that he has courage.

The way Mr. Finch dealt with any situation show that he had what it took to stand up for what he thought was right for example: “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try not to win.”, without caring about what the other people in Maycomb might think of him. An excellent example of his great courage was when he defended Tom Robinson from the false accusations of the Ewell family, everyone in Maycomb supported the Ewells simply because they were white, but there was one person that didn’t care that the odds were against defending an African- American, and that person was Atticus Finch. He also showed courage towards the threats that Bob Ewell made against his family, the Finch family, and those threats were not the type of beating someone up, they were the type of threats that actually involve the death of someone. Mr. Finch also has a huge amount of honesty and this he shows since the beginning of To Kill A Mocking bird because even when his own children asked him what had happened or something similar he did not want to lie to them, so he told them the truth about everything. “Atticus, are we going to win it?” “no, honey”. That is a really good example of it because he knew that the way that they looked at him would be affected if they were told, yet he considered it to be the best thing instead of hiding it. Another perfect example was when Jem and Scout were coming back from the high school auditorium and Bob Ewell attacked them, in the end Bob was found dead with a knife under his ribs, and he wanted to prove that he is an honest man by wanting to take the incident to court, even though it was not necessary.

For those reasons Atticus Finch is one of if not the best man that the county of Maycomb has. Mr. Finch is a gentleman that is very honest and has lots of courage.

Introduction to Atticus Finch’s Parenting and Role Model Qualities

Referring to the classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird, readers will see Atticus Finch as no ordinary man. He acts as not only a role model to his children Scout and Jem Finch but to the Maycomb community itself. He is shown as a good father and role model, many times throughout the novel, and strives numerous times to represent his home community, embracing his different opinions of life itself. Atticus is unquestionably a good father, however, it’s due to his job as a lawyer where he finds all his traits he uses in his everyday life, which also symbolizes him as a person, and father. His job as a lawyer gives him the traits of compassion, commitment, and strong will, which are all traits Atticus shows while raising his children in the novel.

Compassion as a Key Trait of Atticus’s Parenting

Firstly, Atticus’ job as a lawyer gives him compassion as one of his main character traits. Compassion is “a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.” (dictionary.com). Atticus always has the desire to help those in need, and always has a way to engage in what’s happening around him. His job as a lawyer allows him to not only know what to take diligently but to apply sympathy to those around him, knowing his decisions will affect friends’ and families’ lives. For example, in his job he had to be compassionate toward the Robinsons when he took the trial, and once he lost it. Atticus Finch applies this trait to a good parental role when he talks to his daughter, Scout Finch, once she came home angry and somewhat confused , after her first day of school. “You never really understand a person until you consider things from their point of view… you have to climb into someone’s skin and walk around in it”(Lee 39). This states that Atticus Finch is compassionate because compassion is primarily based on sympathy, and someone willing to help. He uses this trait to not only help his daughter but to also help the people Scout was complaining about, giving them a chance. He’s always being empathetic to those around him giving Scout the good advice to do the same. This is based on compassion because to walk in someone’s shoes, you have to have a mindset of wanting to help them, which is exactly the good parental advice Atticus gave to his daughter which he gets from being a lawyer.

Secondly, Atticus’ job as a lawyer teaches him to be compassionate by needing to be the bigger man in most situations. For example, even after Mrs. Dubose was rude to him and his children, he shows his children compassion by the way he always talked to her, and handled things with Jem. He thought and acted as a lawyer the way he handled his everyday life, even with her saying such rude things such as; “Your father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for!’ (Lee 64).“ He continued his everyday life teaching his children lessons to be compassionate. “…She died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew.” (Lee 149). By saying this after she passed away, he teaches his children good lessons to understand what’s happening, to apply sympathy and empathy before making a decision. Lastly, even the disrespectful way Bob Ewell spits in Atticus’ face, he manages to continue his life, by emphasizing the situation and compassionately teaches his son Jem Finch yet another lesson as he’s watching. “Jem, see if you can stand in Bob Ewell’s shoes for a minute. destroyed his last shred of credibility at the trial…the man had to have some sort of comeback… so if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella from one last beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take.” (Lee 293). Atticus’ compassion and his will to always help is inspiring to his children. Even when he has someone threatening him and spitting at him, he still manages to show his son in this situation the bright side of things. This not only shows him being a good father to Jem but also being a good person by being compassionate and feeling for Bob Ewell’s daughter Mayella, teaching his children to do the same. Therefore due to all these points, Atticus’ compassion trait he gets from being a lawyer, makes him an excellent father to his children.

Commitment to Equality and Justice in Atticus’s Actions

Secondly, another trait Atticus Finch obtained from being a lawyer is commitment. He uses this trait many times throughout his and his children’s lives, which will come together and prove Atticus is a good father. As a lawyer, Atticus needs commitment to find any success of any form in results. An important lesson of life that he passively teaches his children, is his commitment to equality in all forms. It’s undeniable that his job as a lawyer in the novel expresses his commitment to equality when he stands by Tom Robinson in the trial. However, Atticus also demonstrates a commitment to his children, treating them as proper equals. For example, when Aunt Alexandra talks to Scouts mistreating her as if she were some disgrace; “Aunt Alexandra was fanatical on the subject of my attire. I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches; when I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn’t supposed to be doing things that required pants… [her] vision of my department involved playing with small stoves, tea sets…”(Lee 108). Aunt Alexandra has a strong opinion on Scout and wishes that she could resemble others being “a ray of sunshine”. Although some say her mother was a ray, Atticus taught Scout that she still can be that ray in her pants rather than a dress. He chooses to allow Scout to be who she chooses to be where his opinion didn’t change throughout the book, meaning he was committed to her equality reflecting him as a good father. Another way Atticus shows he’s a good father is his commitment through his actual job as a lawyer.

Even though Atticus already knew what the results of the trial were going to be, he still shows his commitment to racial equality by taking the case, defending a black man. When his children were confused and asked why he would do such a thing, he teaches them the true way of life through his commitment through his beliefs. “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win. “(Lee, 78). Due to the racial prejudice back in the day, it would’ve been nearly impossible to win the trial, but that didn’t stop Atticus from trying to make a difference and show his children the importance of equality, by deciding to make a reason to try and win. He takes a stand against racism and encourages his children to do the same. For example, when he says “don’t say nigger” to Scout. He also says “I hope and pray I can get Jem and Scout through it without bitterness, and most of all, without catching Maycomb’s usual disease.” (Lee 117). This simply shows that Atticus doesn’t believe people should be treated differently because of their race where he’s being a good role model to his kids showing her not to follow through others’ footsteps and to stick to your beliefs, which he reflects through his job.

One last reason why Atticus’ commitment represents him as a good father is how he treats Jem and Scout together. There are many times when Jem bothers Scout and she gets mad and ends up beating him up. In most situations, Atticus is committed to his equality to show age is just a number. For example, Jem attempts to tell Scout how to behave, which immediately makes her angry while Jem was just starting to mature, which already made Scout mad, to begin with. She later started a fistfight and Atticus comes to break up the fight. Scout says that Jem was trying to tell her what to do, where rather than Atticus immediately taking Jem’s side since he’s older, and getting mad for Scout for starting a fistfight, he doesn’t focus on gender, or who’s older. ‘Let’s leave it at this: you mind Jem whenever he can make you. Fair enough?’ (Lee 138). Atticus simply bases their relationship on equality. Although what he said may open a gate to more fighting in the future, he doesn’t undertake over the fact he’s committed on allowing Jem and Scout to be who they can be, allowing them to shape themselves into the adults they strive to be in the future. The fact his opinion on allowing them to handle most things by themselves didn’t change, which means he uses his trait of commitment well, reflecting him as a good father once again. To sum up, commitment is another important trait he obtains from his job as a lawyer, which reflects him as a good parent.

Strong Will and Determination: Atticus’s Guiding Principles

Lastly, the final trait Atticus Finch acquires from being a lawyer is strong will where he effortlessly shows this trait regularly. As a lawyer, Atticus must demonstrate strong will everywhere he turns. There are many times when in a certain trial unexpected things occur, where he has to stay determined with confidence that he’ll win whatever the evidence and facts that are provided for the case. A rather obvious point where Atticus uses his strong will is when he took the trial. As some have read before, he was committed to racial equality. He uses his strong will and stays determined to do whatever he can, teaching his children the same. An example is when Atticus went to the jailhouse once Tom Robinson was moved there to protect him from the others in the racial environment. Once he got there, the group of men showed up, where Atticus uses his strong will and stands his grounds afraid but determined. His actions due to his will inspired his children to do the same, following their will to go protect their father. With Scout, Jem, and Dill showing up, Atticus strictly asks them to leave, however, Scout felt the need to say something to Mr. Cunningham. “…Don’t you remember me, Mr. Cunningham?… I go to school with Walter…He’s your boy, ain’t he? Ain’t he, sir?… He’s in my grade,…and he does right well. He’s a good boy…a real nice boy. We brought him home for dinner one time. Maybe he told you about me, I beat him up one time but he was nice about it. Tell him hey for me, won’t you? (Lee, 155). Atticus’ actions open the gate for Scout to the same in front of all the angry men, which not only arises her confidence but gives her the determination to prove a point easily. He shapes his children into confident, and determined children they should be representing a good parental role.

Another reason why Atticus’ strong will makes him a good father is the fact he’s able to keep a strong dignity while he continues working at life. One thing he is determined on is equality, where he keeps a strong dignity to respect whoever or whatever shows up. He teaches his children the same way of life by telling them to respect and to use their heads to fight. Another example is although Bob Ewell “won” the case against Tom Robinson, he held a grudge against everyone who participated in the trial making him look like a fool. When Ewell threatened Atticus’s life, by insulting and spitting on his face, Atticus simply took out a handkerchief and wiped his face. This shows he was determined to behave in a certain way, teaching his son who was in the car to stand by your beliefs with your head. “Too proud to fight, you nigger-lovin’ bastard?” (Lee 249). With Atticus’ strong will, Bob felt frustrated that he responded like that to his threats, and felt the need to fight back. Atticus’ actions do nothing but show the true way of life, being a good role model and father to his children.

The last reason why Atticus’ strong will makes him a good father is due to the fact he wants peace in his world. The novel demonstrates many forms of discrimination and racism. Atticus’ does nothing but stays determined to show to his children to never judge people and to “walk in their shoes” to fully understand them For example, he willingly taught Jem and Scout that they needed to respect Mrs. Dubose because she’s going through a tough time. He continuously demonstrated the true way to behave, even when you’re not sure what’s happening, through his friendly hellos and comments throughout the novel. He also told his children many times to give Boo Radley a break when they would make up stories about him, and try to bother him. Atticus wanted to share his beliefs with his children like a good father and was determined to do so. Due to Atticus’ strong will, he changes his children’s beliefs and gets them to “walk in others’ shoes” before making a final opinion on them to understand why Boo Radley stays shut up in the house all this… it’s because he wants to stay inside’ I think I’m beginning.’ Jem finally understands what Atticus taught him, where he understood the situation. From being the childish boy playing silly boys, to see through Atticus’ eyes. Finally, his strong will his last important trait he obtains from his job as a lawyer, which undeniably reflects him as a good parent.

Conclusion: Atticus Finch as an Exemplary Father and Role Model

In conclusion, Atticus manages his role as a single parent in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird extremely well because of his job as a lawyer. The traits of a lawyer he uses being compassion, resilience, and a strong will are all traits Atticus showed with raising his children. He’s always compassionate where he has the desire to help those in need, and always has a way to engage what’s happening around him. Atticus is also always empathetic to those around him giving his children good advice to do the same many times. He also demonstrates a commitment to his children, treating them as proper equals, as well as committing to following his beliefs to make his home a better place. Finally, he uses his strong will and stays determined to do whatever he can, teaching his children the same. Due to these many reasons, there’s no doubt that Atticus in undeniably a good father to his children.

“Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain but it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving,”(Dale Carnegie). The book To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee contains many strong and defining characters. One character who stands out from the rest is a lawyer who defends a black man accused of raping a white woman. This character goes through hatred and the struggles of racism, but still manages to hold a firm composure, his name is Atticus Finch. Atticus Finch is a wise and moral man who plays a significant role in the public by teaching not only his children, but the community about why it is important to put yourself in another’s shoes in order to better understand an individual, and their roles in society.

Throughout the story, Atticus shows his strong ability to understand a situation from another person’s point of view. Earlier in the book when Mrs. Dubose had passed away, Atticus mentioned to Jem that she had died free of her morphine addiction. He had told Jem that, “‘She had her own views about things, a lot different from mine… I wanted you to see something about her–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…. According to her views, she died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew,’”(Lee 149). In other words, Atticus is trying to tell Jem that although Mrs. Dubose might have had a different standpoint than Atticus it was still important to acknowledge what really mattered, her courage. Atticus understood that even though Mrs. Dubose was rude and made snarky comments about him she was a strong person because of her ability to overcome addiction. The way Atticus repeats the word “I” shows us that Atticus wants to influence Jem to see a different side of Mrs. Dubose. He’s teaching him to look beyond what words people say and the stereotypes involved to see the truth behind a person. This shows how Atticus is not one whose quick to judge and how he’s willing to take the time to understand a person which then reveals his wise words and moral teachings.

Atticus’s wise and moral attributes are displayed throughout the book and can be found influential throughout his children’s lives and the Tom Robinson trial. Towards the beginning of the book Scout had complained about how her new teacher yelled at her because she could read. After listening to her ramble Atticus said,“‘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,’” (Lee 39). Atticus is trying to explain to Scout that if you put yourself in another person’s shoes and look at a situation from their point of view you’ll begin to understand them. This explains to us that Atticus has good intentions by providing Scout with wise advice. His job as a lawyer has made him more open-minded, such as the fact that he’s defending a black man because he doesn’t want to dishonor his morals. During the Tom Robinson trial, Atticus presented his evidence to both the jury and spectators, hoping it was enough to persuade them to make the right decision. Nearing the end of his talk, he said, “‘There is not a person in this courtroom who has never told a lie, who has never done an immoral thing, and there’s no man living who has never looked upon a woman without desire,’”(Lee 273). In other words, Atticus is trying to say that no matter the race, there is not a single person who hasn’t lied, done an immoral thing, or looked at a woman. The quote reveals a big part of Atticus’s character because it shows that he has the right idea about what kinds of people are really out in the world. His actions influence the way people view others and helps them to open their eyes to the reality of life. By using his wise and meaningful words he demonstrates how a person can learn from a man with the right morals.

Atticus expresses his effective teaching capability by conveying his beliefs to others through teaching them from experience. Towards the end of the book, Scout walked Arthur Radley home and after he walked through his door, Scout was left alone standing on the Radley’s porch. She could see the neighborhood from his perspective and at that moment she realized, “Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them,”(Lee 374). After standing on the Radley’s porch, she had realized what Atticus had meant when he said you never really know a man until you walk around in his shoes. This quote reveals to us how a simple action can change the view of a person. Scout had never really taken into consideration what other people saw, but after standing on the porch and remembering Atticus’s words she learned a very valuable lesson and what it truly meant to be open-minded. To sum it up, Atticus’s way of teaching is not something that could be taught in words but instead through experience. He shows his children the positive outcomes of an honest and understanding man, enabling them to become more aware of the reasons why a person might say or do something. His ability to teach a lesson through the hardships of others really shows how important his role in the book is.

Atticus Finch is not only a person with wise and moral intentions, but is also one who can teach his children and the city of Maycomb the significance of reading a person better to further understand their place in society. Atticus’s ability to understand and teach a person not only affects him but influences the thoughts and morals of others around him. His dominant attributes such as his way to speak wise words as well as his strong morals shows the reality of the world how a person can view it differently. As you can see, Atticus Finch is a very influential person who teaches the importance of grasping another person’s character and could be considered or thought of as a life changer.