In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch is one of the more important characters in the story Atticus is the father of the narrator, Scout Finch, and plays a big part in her character development. Atticus is an older man and doesn’t do much, but he is wise and compassionate. Atticus has very strong morals which makes him a great and caring person. Atticus takes his career seriously and because of this he is trusted by the community, and he is loved respected and trusted by his children. Atticus’s character plays a big part in this story, he is a wise old man, and is a very respected person. Atticus’s physical description relates to him as a person because he is an older man, which makes him wise, understanding, and compassionate. …show more content…
Atticus morals include having self-control, having courage, and seeking justice. Atticus has a sense of self-control because he gives advice to Scout about not fighting and keeping her anger under control and because of his character traits I know he would not ask or tell his kids to do something that he couldn’t or wouldn’t do himself. The text states in chapter 9, “Hold your head high and keep those fists down… try fighting with your head for a change.” Atticus is showing his self-control of how he doesn’t let his anger take control of him. Atticus is courageous, he does what he knows is right even if he stands alone. The text states in chapter 11, “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. It's when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” Atticus is saying that courage is going against the odds but still trying your best, which is exactly what he is doing by defending Tom Robinson. Atticus always seeks justice, he shows this moral when he represented Tom Robinson and does his best to prove his innocence. The text states in chapter 20, “Our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this country our courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal.” When Atticus says this, he is talking to the jury and is wanting them see that Tom …show more content…
Atticus is a trusted and respected lawyer he always does what’s right and always does his job to the best of his abilities. The text states in chapter 21, “Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father’s passin’.” This was said by Reverend Sykes, he respected Atticus for defending Tom Robinson and felt that Atticus should he thanked and honored for everything he did. Atticus is trusted to always do what is right, and not give up when he knows something is wrong. The text states in chapter 24, “Whether Maycomb knows it or not, we’re paying the highest tribute we can pay a man. We trust him to do right. It’s that simple.” This was said by Miss Maudie, she says this after Aunt Alexandra asked what the town wants from Atticus, the town knew that Atticus was going to do the right thing and wasn’t going to give up, the town and Tom relied on him to do his best to get justice done. Atticus is respected by not only the community but he is also trusted, respected, and loved by his kids because they see all that he does and respects that. The text states in chapter 1 and 11, “Jem and I found our father satisfactory: he played with us, read to us, and treated us with courteous detachment.” And "It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived.” Jem and Scout loved their father and he
In the story To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, we are introduced to the character Atticus. He is a hard working single parent of two who is kindhearted and does what he believes is right and treats everyone equally. Being such a hard worker, his mind is often on work, even at home, which means less time spent with his children. While Atticus may make some mistakes as a parent, overall he is an admirable father.
Atticus was by that definition a very good father. Whenever Scout was mislead by anything, like the legend of Boo Radley or about how grown ups are, or why certain people feel prejudiced about certain people, Atticus was always right there to guide her. Atticus was also a good father because he knew right from wrong. He was different then most of the men in that town, as hard to find as a needle in a haystack. He saw people as people, not black or white. He defended Tom Robinson without caring that everyone in Maycomb was a calling him a “nigger lover'; and many other racial slurs. All Atticus did was shrug them off. When Bob Ewell spit in Atticus’s face, Atticus still did not retaliate. Instead, he wiped the spit off of his face and kept walking minding his own business. This showed Scout and Jem that there was no reason to worry themselves with other peoples opinion’s. When Mrs. Dubose called Atticus a nigger lover to Jem, Jem got angry and went home and asked Atticus if he really was a nigger lover. Atticus said straight out with no thought, “I certainly am. I do my best to love everyone…I’m hard to put, sometimes-baby, its never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is , it doesn’t hurt you. So don’t let Mrs. Dubose get you down.'; This qoatation shows exactly how Atticus in influencing Scout and Jem to be good people. He gave his, what may be called lessons on life, so fluently that it seemed less like a lecture then it really was. He tried his best to teach his children that some people can only feel good about themselves when they attempt to make someone else feel bad.
Although Atticus is not like every other parent, he shows his love to his kids in his own ways. He does not need to be kissing them, hugging them or buying them things to show his affection for them. His ways are unique ways that show that Atticus is a positive parental figure. Another good piece of evidence that shows that Atticus is a positive parental figure is that he sets a good example for the children. He sets a good example by being honest and telling them why he has to defend Tom Robinson even if that decision jeopardizes his reputation and the family. When Atticus was talking to Scout about defending Tom he said, “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” (100). These words show that Atticus values equality and justice and it is setting an excellent example for the kids to follow at such a young age. Atticus defends Tom Robinson, an African American man, because he believes in equality for all. Atticus also mentioned that before he tells the children to do something or follow values he, Atticus, must display them first, and he
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus is a very fair man and wants to do what is right. Throughout this story you see him teaching Jem and Scout differnet things that have to do with social justice. In this essay I will be writing about how he deals with the problems in court and how he is a kind and honest man.
In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus is an ideal father, who sets a great example for his kids. A picture of Atticus is important to Scout because Atticus teaches Scout many important life lessons about life. Firstly, as Atticus talks to Scout about Miss. Stephanie, he states “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). Scout realizes that one can never feel someone’s pain, happiness, or glory until she looks at their point of view of things; she learns to consider other people’s situation and feelings. She also understands that she will never know what goes in other people’s lives, and therefore she cannot judge anyone. Scout matures as she learns to apply Atticus’ wise advice to understand Mrs. Dubose and Boo Radley, who are individuals that are misunderstood by the community. Furthermore, as Miss Maudie talks to Scout, she states “Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public streets” (Lee, 46). Miss Maudie knows about Atticus’ personality quite well. Miss Maudie explains to Scout Atticus is a man with moral principles, he does what he believes is right even if others are not there to praise him. Through Atticus’ exemplary role, Scout understands the importance of integrity, and strong moral values. Finally, when Scout questions her father about the possible outcome of the trial, Atticus states “simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us to try to win” (Lee, 76). Atticus teaches Scout toleration, determination and moral courage. He already knows he is going to los...
Atticus is a good father for teaching his children to respect everyone. Scout asks Atticus if he is a “nigger lover” and he simply replies, "I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody... I'm hard put, sometimes—baby, it's never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn't hurt you." This shows that atticus is not like the other people in Maycomb he considers every man to be equal to one another. Judge Taylor comes to Atticus to defend Tom Robinson because he knows he’s the only man in Maycomb that is fit to do to the job, and do it fairly. While thinking about taking the offer Atticus firsts thinks about his kids and how it will affect their lives. Atticus says “…do you think I could face my children otherwise? You know what’s going to happen as well as I do, Jack, and I hope and pray I can get Jem and Scout through it without bitterness, and most of all, without catching Maycomb’s usual disease. Why reasonable people go stark raving mad when anythin...
When most people were against him and are trying to convince him not to, Atticus was determined to continue defending Tom Robinson (an African American who was accused of raping a white lady name Mayella Ewell - Mr. Ewell's daughter). (Make it active voice ?) Due to his good morals, Atticus felt like he needs to help Tom Robinson “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” (108). As addressed in To Kill a Mockingbird, Jim Crow laws manipulated individuals ethics to think that blaming African Americans is fine since all they do is not good (change the wordings). This type of discrimination made African American victims of jails and crimes that they did not even consider doing but were thought of doing because of racial segregation enforcement (popularity?) within the Southern society of the US. However, Atticus was different and believed that Tom robinson is innocent since he understood (understands?) how people discriminate others and was aware (is aware) of different types of prejudice (in that time period). So, due to Atticus’ good morals and values, he was willing to try his best to support the truth (who was right or something) and help Tom Robinson which makes him a great parent because (he is a person of morals?) of his good morals and values (delete morals and values?). Atticus (atticus’s ?) belief (of noting using one’s power to hurt each other … ?) that people should not harm each other should be admired. For instance, Miss Maudie (Atticus neighbour) was confirming to Scout that what Atticus said about Mockingbirds is right “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They
Atticus Finch is a lawyer in the town of Maycomb In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, he is a father of two children, Jem and Scout Finch. He is a man of wise character and considerate soul. He knows his morals and tries to help his children grow up to be successful and happy. Throughout the novel, Atticus acts justly, loves tenderly, and walks humbly by the way he perceives the people in his life, how he succeeds in his job and treats his family.
Atticus shows great compassion and tolerance when he stands up for the Negroes. He stands up and represents Tom Robinson because he believes that everyone should be treated equally in the court of law. He knows that because Tom was a Negro there would be a slim chance of winning. That fact never discouraged him though because he says that the main reason he is representing Tom is because, ' if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature'; (75). He recited a speech, which clearly states that Tom Robinson is not guilty. In that speech he says, 'our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal'; (205). He believed that prejudice and stereotyping is wrong and he tries to teach these morals to Scout and Jem.
Atticu Finch is one of they key characters in the book who leads by example and shows what courage is. In chapter nine, Atticus takes a case to defend a Negro who has been accused of raping Bob Ewell’s daughter Mayella444. Atticus, the father of main characters Scout and Jem Finch, loves and cares for his children, although since the children’s mother passed away when they were at a young age, Atticus is not always sure of how to fill her role. In chapter thirteen, Aunt Alexandra stays with the Finch family so that she can help them if anything happens while Atticus defends the black man, Tom Robinson. Atticus has always been respected in the town of Macomb, until he takes the Robinson case, which leads to controversy within his friends and his family. On several different instances, the towns people tried to convince him not to, and o...
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
Atticus Finch is a very essential character in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. He is not only the father on Jem and Scout, but he is also defending Tom Robinson. Along with all of the obstacles and challenges that Atticus faces he is still an exceptional role model for the children. He also overcomes the diversity of Negroes and whites that is displayed during his time by standing up and fighting for Tom Robinson and his triumph in court against Bob Ewell. Lee presents Atticus Finch as understanding of Tom Robinson, caring with the children, and calm throughout the Tom Robinson trial.
“I simply want to tell you that there are some men in this world who were born to do our unpleasant jobs for us. Your father’s one of them” (Lee 288). In this part of the book Miss Maudie is telling Jem and Scout that Atticus is taking a case that is unpleasant and that nobody else would will do. This quote is saying that Atticus is selfless. Also, Atticus does not care what Tom’s skin color is he is still going to try to defend him. “Yeah, but Atticus aims to defend him. That’s what i don’t like about it” (Lee 218). A man in the courthouse says this and Jem and Scout hear him, but Atticus does not care, he is still going to try to defend tom Robinson even if other people don’t like the idea about him defending a colored man. Another good quote is “Simple since we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win” (Lee 101). Atticus is being responsible and is trying to win the case. When Atticus took this case he took a lot of risk and he go some good stuff out of
Atticus treats them as he treats everyone and how he would like to be treated. Atticus should defend Tom Robinson because he prides himself on following the Golden Rule, and if he does not defend Tom Robinson, he could not live with himself. Atticus tells Scout he would not be able to show his face in town if he does not defend Mr. Robinson because he would be going against everything he believes in for what others want him to do. The people of Maycomb trust Atticus to stand up for what is right when no one else has the courage. Miss Maudie says, "Whether Maycomb knows it or not, we're paying the highest tribute we can pay a man."...
Atticus has a clear mind. He will not sit by and watch as his two children are abused and their views twisted to match the society of racism they live amongst. Atticus builds his morals up in the children very evidently, although no so much as to draw attention. He speaks words of wisdom to them in their distress, but also with the treatment and position of Calpurnia, he is able to demonstrate a precise view of his own conscience. Atticus knows that because of this, he is considered one of the most non-racist people in Maycomb, therefore being offered Tom's case. Judge Taylor knows the right man for the job.