More handpicked essays just for you.
To kill a mockingbird summary 1-12
Characters to kill a mockingbird
How does harper lee present his attitude towards race 'in to kill a mocking bird'? essay
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
A quote by Debi Mazar says, “A hero is somebody who is selfless, who is generous in spirit, who just tries to give back as much as possible and help people. A hero to me is someone who saves people and who really deeply cares.” The true definition of a hero is a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel that is narrated by Scout Finch, a 6 year old girl from Maycomb, Alabama. Her father Atticus Finch, an attorney who tries to prove the innocence of a black man who is accused of rape. Boo Radley, a mysterious neighbor who puts goodies such as gum and little carved figures in a knot of a tree for Scout and her older brother Jem to take. In the novel, To Kill …show more content…
After his wife passed away, he did everything he could to raise his kids properly. In the beginning of the novel, Atticus tells Scout “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). This quote shows that Atticus tries to teach Jem and Scout that you need to appreciate the good qualities and understand the bad qualities by treating others with kindness and trying to see life from their perspective. Atticus sets an example to his children by accepting Mrs. Dubose with her devotion to being racist, while he appreciates her great courage. Scout shows that she has learned her lesson from Atticus as she starts to mature and progress as a character. These qualities that Atticus displayed for his children show that they looked to him as their …show more content…
One day, when the rabid, mad dog came along, Atticus shot it. He saved the entire neighborhood from potentially catching some sort of disease. One shot was all it took. “Tim Johnson leaped, flopped over and crumpled on the sidewalk in a brown-and-white heap” (Lee 96). This showed that Atticus Finch was bold, daring, and fearless. Jem and Scout were surprised at the fact that their father was the deadest shot in Maycomb. Miss Maudie told them, “If your father’s anything, he’s civilized in his heart. Marksmanship’s a gift of God, a talent--oh, you have to practice to make it perfect, but shootin’s different from playing the piano or the like. I think maybe he put his gun down when he realized that God had given him an unfair advantage over most living things. I guess he decided he wouldn’t shoot till he had to, and he had to today” (Lee 98). Atticus was a caring man who put others in front of him. With family and friends, he shows his kindness, selflessness, and courage, but most of all, he shows that he is their
He strives to give Scout and Jem spirit, bravery and tolerance to others. "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" (30). He teaches this life lesson to show that it's actually achievable to live with principles without losing sight of hope or acting skeptical. Atticus is able to highly regard Mrs. Dubose's courage even though he disapproves of her continuous acts of racism.
...reinforcing the idea that the roles are now switched. Atticus keeps calm during most of the situations, but lets others boss him around and take control while he mainly sits and waits nearby. Scout and Jem begin to stand up for their father when he will not stand up for himself and act caring as if they were in charge of Atticus’ actions, protecting him from the evils of others. Scout supports this idea when she begins to talk very adult-like with Mr. Cunningham, especially showing her thoughtful wisdom when speaking of “entailments”. Atticus later shows that he is proud of his children for sticking up for him when he did not himself by massaging Jem’s hair in his “one gesture of affection.” So while Atticus often is being the best father figure he can to Scout and Jem, they are also very helpful to him by taking control of situations that he would not be able to.
When people think about heros it is a person in a cape flying into burning buildings to save people or fighting a villain to save the world. According to Oxford Dictionary a hero is a person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. This shows how just normal people can be qualified as heros. A book that exemplifies this is To Kill A Mockingbird because it is filled with people that went out of their way to help others or the society as a whole. A person who did this in particular was Atticus Finch. Atticus Finch was a hero because he fell under the definition and was admired for his courage, achievements, and noble qualities.
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
On several occasions, Scout gets into a fight with people who make unpleasant comments about her father. Atticus continuously tells her that this is wrong and that she needs to learn to control her anger, “You might hear some ugly talk about it at school, but do one thing for me if you will: 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” (Lee 101). The day after this discussion with Atticus, Scout is approached by a fellow student who had previously made a mean comment about her father. “I drew a bead on him, remembered what Atticus had said, then dropped my fists and walked away...it was the first time I ever walked away from a fight” (Lee 102). Although she struggles at first, Scout develops a higher level of maturity which allows her to control her temper and simply defend her father with her words, without being rude. Jem is also faced with these type of situations and struggles with his anger, for instance when he attacks Mrs. Dubose’s flowers. Atticus goes to great lengths to teach his children that in life, they must learn to stay calm and be kind to everyone, despite how cruel those people may be. Scout and Jem face several situations in which their control is tested, which leads them to “come of age”
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...
Throughout the novel, Atticus proved his numerous abilities and intelligences. He had achieved the nickname of "One-Shot Finch" because he was always the deadest shot in Maycomb. He saved the town from a rabid dog by shooting it with one shot. Jem and Scout were amazed when their neighbour, Miss Maudie, told them, "The very idea, didn't you know his nickname was Ol' One Shot when he was a boy," (pg. 98). His children thought Atticus could not do anything, until Miss Maudie explained to them that he was also the best checker player in Maycomb and that he knew how to play a Jew's harp. Atticus also explained many things and taught many lessons to his children as they traveled the journey of growing up.
True role models are those who possess the qualities that we would want to have in the near future and those who interest us in a way that make us want to be a better person. They teach us more about ourselves and encourage us to make better choices. A role model is not just someone who is successful, but someone who has had similar experiences that we have had. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee demonstrates that Atticus Finch is a true role model. Over the course of the novel, Atticus stands up for his beliefs, respects everyone despite who they are and behaves as a true father. Atticus is truly the ideal role model.
Atticus’s courage is expressed in many parts of the novel as he shows no fear in any of the circumstances he encounters. After Calpurnia warns Atticus and Mr.Tate about the rabid dog, they start arguing about who is going to shoot it. “Look where he is! Miss and it'll go straight into the Radley house” said Mr.Tate. Atticus replies with “I haven't shot a gun in thirty years” (Lee 109). Atticus knowing that if he misses his shot a tragedy will occur, still takes the gun and shoots the dog. Although
Atticus is a great leader of his family, teaching his children morals and life lessons. He makes them better people by showing them how to deal with the trial and people making fun of them. Atticus teaches Scout how to respect other people. First, Scout learns to respect Atticus, then to respect "Boo" Radley, and finally to respect a whole race of people, negroes. He makes it a common practice to live his life as he would like his children to live theirs, and thus displays the attributes of an honest, respectable, and kind man. Throughout the trial process, Atticus shows Jem and Scout that true courage is standing up for what you believe in and that all human beings, despite their race, deserve respect. "You never really understand a person until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." This quote shows that Atticus wants his children to get along with people, and so other people will respect them for whom they are.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, many things are different than they appear. One of those things is Atticus Finch, the quiet lawyer living in Maycomb with his two children, Jem and Scout. He appears to be not much of a man at all, until trouble appears. Although Finch is a quite and peaceful man, when he shot the mad dog, it made his children admire him even more. The dog was a symbol of the citizens of Maycomb and its disease was a symbol of the racism that infected the town. Atticus proved that he would protect those when they needed it most, whether that be his family or Tom Robinson.
After Atticus has shot the mad dog, Miss Maudie says, “I think maybe he put his gun down when he realized that God had given him an unfair advantage over most living things. I guess he decided he wouldn’t shoot till he had to, and he had to today’” (Lee 98). A hero is known for his noble characteristics. Atticus recognizes that he has an advantage over most people, and he does not use it to his advantage. Many people would brag about being able to shoot well, but only people who knew Atticus from years and years before knew about his ability. Atticus is humble, and although he never comes out and tells Jem and Scout about what they should do with their own abilities, both are in awe of what Atticus is capable of and respect his ways of thinking. Atticus, for the majority of the time, is honest with his children, wanting them to be able to understand what is going on. Tom Brokaw remembers, looking back on the description of Atticus when he reread the book that “There was self-doubt. Atticus knew that he wasn’t a perfect man. He tried as best he could to give Scout the big context of what he was doing and why he was doing it” (Brokaw 62). Imperfection is key when writing a heroic character. Atticus knows that he has both strengths and weaknesses, and so he recognizes and accepts them as a part of himself. Because Atticus realizes this, he is then able to
After Atticus shoots Tim Johnson, a dog that’s gone mad, Jem and Scout are shocked. Ms. Maudie tells them “Atticus Finch was the deadest shot in Maycomb County in his time,” and that “his nickname was Ol‘ One-Shot when he was a boy.” Ms. Maudie thinks that “he decided he wouldn’t shoot till he had to,” because “[p]eople in their right minds never take pride in their talents” (Lee 98). Even though Atticus is talented in shooting, he doesn’t pride himself in it because it is an unfair advantage over other beings. He believes that “[t]he one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience.” Atticus models honour for his children through the Tom Robinson trial. He tells Scout that “before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself,” (Lee 105) which means that he has to be able to live with his own decisions before he can live with other people. Atticus also believes that “[i]t’s not okay to hate anybody,” (Lee 246) no matter who they are and what they have done. Atticus’ humility and high moral principles make him an honourable man - a quality that sets him apart from the community and raises him above
Atticus is always guiding Jem and Scout with advice so that they will become more compassionate people. Atticus sets a good example for the children when Mr Ewell confronts him. Even though he is provoked and insulted, Atticus simply has a “peaceful reaction”. This shows the children never to get into fights with people when they are upset about something. Atticus shows children about courage and all the forms it appears in. When Jem is told to read for Ms Dubose and she dies, Atticus explains to Jem about her morphine addiction, and how she died “free”. This shows Jem that courage isn’t always where you expect to find it, and that if you have some compassion, you see people for who they really are. The most important piece of advice he gives his children is that “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 is important for the children to know, because it helps them to be more caring people, and they use this advice throughout the novel.
While Scout and Jem discover a sick dog, they alerted their neighbors about it. Atticus took his rifle and shot the sick dog. Staying close to Miss Maudie, Scout listens to Miss Maudie’s story about Atticus. She tells him how he had a great shot and almost never missed. Scout wondered why he didn;t go hunting anymore. Miss Maudie explains to her by saying, “Maybe he put his gun down when he realized that God had given him an unfair advantage over most living things” (130). Miss Maudie means that because of the advantage he has on wild animals, he found it unacceptable to kill things that couldn’t fight back. This shows how Atticus is, that he is honest with himself and shooting for sport is not ok.Atticus showed an example of his integrity. Scout sees this and understands the lesson of being fair and sticking to your principles. Also, Atticus has a different opinion than the majority in Maycomb. Being a lawyer, he defends Tom Robinson. Scout talks to Atticus and talks how lots of people in Maycomb believe he is wrong, while Atticus believes he is right. Atticus the states, “The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person conscience” (140). Sticking to what he believes, Atticus shows his person integrity. He doesn’t follow something because everyone else believes something, it is more because he sticks with and is strong with his principals.