Is Atticus a Good Father in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Consider Atticus’ role as a parent in To Kill a Mockingbird Is he a

good father, in your opinion? You should refer closely to the text in

your answer.

Is Atticus a good father?

Atticus lived in Maycomb County, Alabama where he brought up his two

children, Jeremy (Jem) and Jean-Louise (Scout) alone as his wife

passed away when Scout was little. Maycomb County is inherently

racist and consists of many prejudiced people. Most of the county

called black people ‘niggers’, but to Atticus everyone is an equal.

Atticus comes across as a very kind and gentle father, and never seems

to loose his temper when Jem or Scout are naughty or misbehave.

Atticus although a lawyer in Maycomb, does not earn a great deal of

money and has too stretch it out between him and his children. Atticus

tries to be good father as much as he can to Jem and Scout. He never

brags about his abilities, he is loving and caring towards his

children and tells them the difference between right and wrong. I

think Atticus a good father and that he does extremely well looking

after his children, Jem and Scout. He seems, in the context of the

1930’s, Deep South, an extremely modern parent!

Atticus is an example to Jem and Scout, he doesn’t physically punish

them instead he punishes them in other ways for example sending Jem to

read to Mrs.Dubose. This is a good way to punish him because not only

is Jem not being hurt, but he is learning from Atticus that there’s

more than one way to punish people, and that a smack doesn’t always

solve the problem. But this is actually one of Atticus’ downfalls, as

he left his two small children in the hands of a frightening,

foul-mouthed old woman, and this clearly scared Jem and Scout!

Atticus tries his ...

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...’t represent this country in legislature, I

couldn’t even tell you and Jem not to do something again.’ Scout

understands what her father is saying; this shows that she really does

listen to him. Lastly, I think that Atticus should have realised what

Bob Ewell was up to and he shouldn’t of just ignored all of his

threats because by doing this he nearly lost his children and his

children mean everything to him.

I think Atticus is a brilliant father to Jem and Scout and sets a good

example to them. But Atticus does have a few downfalls and really that

puts a little dark cloud over Atticus, as a father as I think he

should have realised that what he thought was right may not have been

for his children! All in all though I think Atticus is a good father

and I think I have proved that he is and that he loves his children

and does his best to keep them happy.