Atticus Finch In To Kill A Mockingbird

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch is a stern but fair parent to Jem and Scout. He raises his children to be fair, open-minded, and compassionate in a world where most people have abandoned their morality. Jem and Scout are ridiculed for the way their father views the world, and they do not understand why other people do not believe the way they do. Atticus sees people for more than their outward appearances and teaches his children to see the same. He voices his opinions, even when they are not the popular ones. He faces mockery, threats, and physical violence, but he does not give up; he fights for what he believes in, and his strength is truly inspirational. Atticus tries to instill this strength and courage into Jem and

“'The state has not produced one iota of medical evidence that the crime Tom Robinson is charged with ever took place. It has relied instead upon the testimony of two witnesses whose evidence has not only been called into serious question on cross-examination, but has been flatly contradicted by the defendant. The defendant is not guilty, but somebody in this courtroom is,'" (Lee 203). Atticus knows Tom Robinson is innocent and desperately tries to convince the jury what they already know. It is glaringly obvious that Tom is innocent, but in society's eyes, a black man can never be innocent. Atticus knows he will not win the trial, but he fights relentlessly because even if he does not win, he is still sparking suspicion in the minds of the audience. Atticus teaches Jem and Scout to fight for what is right even when surrounded by people who will always believe it is wrong. “‘...you just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don't you let 'em get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change...It's a good one, even if it does resist learning,’" (Lee 84). Jem and Scout face ridicule after their father takes Tom's case. They hear people calling Atticus a “nigger-lover,” and it hurts them to hear people speaking so awfully about their father. When Atticus hears of Jem's plans to hurt the people making fun of him, he tells Jem that fighting with fists is never the answer. He

“'First of all,' he said, 'If you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. 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 30). Atticus tells Scout that it is wrong to pass judgements on people without understanding the situation they are in. “…neighborhood opinion was unanimous that Mrs. Dubose was the meanest old woman who ever lived,” (Lee 39). It is wrong to listen to gossip because the rumors are not always true, and Atticus challenges his children to pursue the truth always rather than listening to whisperings. Mrs. Dubose is fighting a morphine addiction, causing her to act out. Atticus tells his children this and reminds them not to judge a person without knowing the