A Character Analysis of Atticus Finch in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird

In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee describes the character of Atticus Finch as an interesting man. Although Atticus is a flat character, he is a key character in the story. Lee Reveals Atticus to us as a loving, understanding father, as well as a respectful man in the town of Maycomb.
Lee touches on Atticus’s loving personality from the start. Scout says, “Jem and I found our father satisfactory: he played with us, and treated us with courteous detachment” (6). This statement shows that his children do not fully understand their father’s love. It may not be evident to Scout or Jem, but their father loves them deeply. In other words, whether the children realize it or not, Atticus loves them like a father should. Lee shows Atticus’s love more as the book progresses, such as after Mrs. Dubose dies. In this scene, Atticus says, “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” (112). Saying this, Lee creates a heart touching moment between Atticus, Jem, and the reader. Atticus loves and cares for Jem...