“Don't matter who they are, anybody sets foot in this house's yo' comp'ny, and don't you let me catch you remarkin' on their ways like you was so high and mighty! Yo' folks might be better'n the Cunninghams but it don't count for nothin' the way you're disgracin' 'em.” To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee teaches a lot of morals, for instance, respecting others no matter what race, gender, or standards they have. Always being truthful no matter the circumstance. Finally, to judge yourself before you can judge anyone else. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus tells his kids several times to respect everyone even if they seem bad or whatever the circumstance. In chapter eleven Atticus explains to Jem that respect is vital, even when …show more content…
In chapter nine Atticus and Scout have a conversation about this moral. Scout was asking about the man Atticus was defending, she currently thinks it’s wrong to defend a man of his race. "If you shouldn't be defendin' him, then why are you doin' it?" "For a number of reasons," said Atticus. "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." […] "Atticus, are we going to win it?" "No, honey." "Then why-" "Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win." That last part is just inspiring but that is beside the point. Atticus disclosed that he couldn’t hold his head up if he didn’t defend this man. If he did something he knew was wrong, then he couldn’t live with himself for it. Instead of looking for what others do wrong, try to better yourself and see your mistakes. Not only a great father, but a great man …show more content…
Some of the many morals that this book includes, are, when someone does something you feel is wrong that doesn't give you the right to disrespect them. Tell the truth no matter what, it will turn out better anyways. Next time you go to chew someone out for their faults, make sure you have yourself in check also. Leave it with a quote from Mr. Atticus Finch, "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
Atticus is respectful because he does not get into other people’s business. This part of the book takes place when Jem was trying to get information on the Radleys. According to the text it says,” When Jem would question him Atticus’s only answer was for him to mind his own business and let the Radley’s mind theirs,..” (11). Many of the townspeople of Maycomb circulate rumors about the Radleys. Atticus refrains from talking ill about them, and he tells his children that they “Should mind their own business.” It shows respect because he protects and is mindful of people’s privacy or
During our lives, we develop morals and values through life experiences. They can be influenced by our society and the people we surround ourselves with. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee demonstrates courage, social inequality and prejudice through the characters and events in the book. We experience life lessons through the protagonist Scout Finch as she develops her own values. This is displayed through a variety of life lessons and values throughout the novel.
" Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way you're a mile away and you have their shoes." Although Scout Finch in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird is a young girl, she learns many important lessons about life throughout the novel. These lessons, among others, are that she mustn't take everything she hears to heart as the truth; that she mustn't take face judgments as actual facts and respect for Atticus.
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
To really understand someone you have to stand in there shoes. Before we cast blame or judge someone we should see the situation as a whole. Harper Lee uses Atticus finch in To Kill a Mockingbird to teach us good behaviors by, being a committed and loving father, acting the same in his own house as he does on the public streets, and standing behind his
This is a very important trait to realize because many people are not kind to everyone because of differing religious, social, or racial backgrounds. Throughout the entire book, Atticus demonstrates this trait to everyone. One instance is where he teaches his children a lesson to love everybody no matter the color of their skin. Scout asks him, “You aren't really a n*****-lover, then, are you?"(144). To which he replies, “I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody”(144). Moreover, Atticus leads by example and teaches his children about accepting others. He tells Scout and Jem, “N*****-lover is just one of those terms that don’t mean anything—like snot-nose. It’s hard to explain—ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebody’s favoring Negroes over and above themselves. It’s slipped into usage with some people like ourselves, when they want a common, ugly term to label
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
This quote, along with others, proves that Atticus teaches his kids about equality and how to treat others. Atticus Finch was not the average white man in his time. Thus, Atticus is a man of trust, honesty, and belief. Atticus stays true to his word and believes that all men and women are equal. This is excellent advice to pass down to your kid, and that is exactly what Atticus does with Scout and Jem. Atticus teaches the children that racism is terrible and that a person’s personality is more important than the color of the person’s
Firstly, Atticus Finch acts justly, fairly, and always helps others who need it. One of his clients, Mr. Cunningham, pays Atticus in entailment. Scout asks her brother, Jem what the meaning of paying in entailment is, “Jem described it as a condition of having your tail in a crack … one morning Jem and I found a load of stovewood in the back yard … Mr. Cunningham had more than paid him” (Lee 20-21). Atticus believes that no one should get any disadvantages because of one’s lower financial state. He shows justice by allowing Mr. Cunningham to pay him in different sources other than money. Also, Atticus is a very wise man. He talks to his daughter with full empathy and understanding to try and help her. When Scout is complaining about her teacher’s attitude towards her, Atticus gives her great advice that, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view … until you climb into his shoes and walk around it” (30). He is teaching Scout to be just. He tells her to look at things from a different perspective and notice the difference from hers to someone else’s. Similarly, Atticus who is a white lawyer takes on a case of a black man, Tom Robinson. Therefore, Scout is made fun of for having her father d...
Would you go against normalities to raise your children the right way? Or would you risk your pride, and even your life, to stand up for what is right? These role model skills are vested in no other than Atticus from Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. In this novel, Harper Lee demonstrates the reasons that Atticus Finch is a good role model, resulting in the advancement of human rights not only for his children, but for all of Maycomb. One of the most apparent ways that Atticus represents a good role model is by being a good father to Jem and Scout. In chapter 9, Atticus teaches Scout the virtue of staying out of trouble when he says, “You just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don’t let ‘em get your goat” (Lee 101). Atticus teaches Scout how to behave appropriately, even after his own
Respect is something you earn by being a good person or doing something admirable. All of the citizens of Maycomb look up to Atticus and see him as a respectable person. Atticus is the character in the novel that has the most respect. He is a caring, loving father, the only member of Maycomb who will actually defend a negro, and he always displays respect for other people.
Towards the end of To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus decides to represent a colored man by the man of Tom Robinson, who is being accused of raping Mayella Ewell, Bob Ewell’s daughter. Atticus believes that Tom is innocent, but he does not think that Tom will be found not guilty because of they way the townsfolk treat colored people. They treat them like dirt; like they are worth nothing. Atticus went ahead and represented Tom despite the fact that he knew the townsfolk would call himself and his children names and treat them disrespectfully. Even Scout’s relative Francis said rude things about them. “‘I guess it ain't your fault if Uncle Atticus is a nigger-lover besides, but I'm here to tell you it certainly does mortify the rest of the family-...’ ‘Just what I said. Grandma says it's bad enough he lets you all run wild, but now he's turned out a nigger-lover we'll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb agin. He's ruinin' the family, that's what he's doin'.’” Atticus set a good example for Scout and Jem. He had a difficult decision to make, but he chose what he thought was
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 was incredibly courageous taking on tom Robinsons case against the prejudice of Macomb County and he shows incredible courage when he says, "Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try and won." He wants the people of Maycomb to hear the truth about Tom Robinson, "That boy may go to the chair, but he's not going till the truth's told." Chapter 15, Page 146. He was against the whole white community including his own sister practically said that he was a disgrace to his family Atticus tells scout when she asks him why he is taking the case he says "For a number of reasons. 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.
The morals for Scout and Jem to live by come from their father, Atticus Finch. He has experienced evils in his life, like the death of his wife, but he never lost faith in the good of people. He taught Scout and Jem right from wrong when they were young, because their mother was no longer around to teach them. Atticus understands that people have good and bad inside of them, but he feels that the good side can always overcome the bad side. This is true when he backed Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping Mr. Ewell’s daughter. Even though no one else helped Atticus out, he never gave up on Tom Robinson no matter how hard things got.