Harper Lee’s book, To Kill a Mockingbird possesses many admirable characters, but one shines above the rest. Atticus Finch is portrayed in the story as nearly the perfect father. Atticus not only pours his heart and soul into his career as an honest lawyer, but he also displays commendable traits as a father. Throughout the story he treats his children with respect; almost as if they were mature adults. He never simplifies his speech just because he is speaking to children. Atticus does not demand respect from his children just because he is their father, yet he expects it because he treats others, including his children, with the same respect. Atticus is a person and father worth imitating because he is just, wise, and courageous. Toward the middle of story Atticus displays his fair and just qualities while defending Tom Robinson, a black man accused of rape. Atticus knows he will most likely lose the case, however that does not stop him from giving Tom the strongest defense he could. Atticus is one of the few characters able to overlook racial prejudice. He does not let Tom’s skin color obstruct the fact that he is an innocent man. He looks upon every man equally no matter how he looks, acts, or speaks. “You aren’t …show more content…
Scout and Jem constantly come to Atticus for advice or guidance in their lives and he never fails to deliver meaningful directions. Even though Atticus is one of the older parents he still possesses wisdom beyond his years. Atticus lives by the saying think before you act. He constantly considers every factor of the story before hastily arriving at a conclusion. He constantly tells Scout to look at things from their point of view. “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” (39). By thinking before doing Atticus displays one of his finest traits; his
Throughout Scout and Jem’s childhoods, their father Atticus was always there for them. Atticus always made sure he made time to talk to his children and teach them valuable life skills. Atticus taught both his children to read before they began schooling. Although he was ridiculed for it by Scout’s teacher, Miss Caroline Fisher, who told Scout “Your father does not know how to teach (page 28)”, by teaching Scout to read he gave her
Atticus Finch is widely regarded as one of the most influential characters in modern literature. His pivotal role in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee exemplifies this influence and demonstrates his positive effect on his children, Jem and Scout. Throughout the novel, Atticus leads by example and provides lessons and teachings for his children to follow. His wisdom proves to be an instrumental part in the maturation and development of his children, and helps them to grow, learn, and adapt to the changing world around them. Atticus Finch teaches his children important lessons by forcing Jem read to Mrs. Dubose, remaining pacifistic, and defending Tom Robinson; therefore, he is a beneficial father and role model for his children.
Atticus’ fairness also shows he is a good father because he believes that everyone deserves a chance to be understood and all have reasons for their actions. For example, after revealing the news to Jem and Scout of Tom’s death, he says, “Depends on how you look at it. What was one Negro, more or less, among two hundred of ‘em? He wasn’t Tom to them, he was an escaping prisoner” (Lee 235). This passage shows Atticus's fairness because he always tries to put himself in other people’s shoes in order to give everyone a chance at being understood, as he teaches Jem and Scout to do. He gave up his respectable reputation among many of the whites in Maycomb to defend Tom Robinson, and still speaks highly of the men who killed him. When he says this, he is trying to make the children see that the men who killed Tom did not know him as a person, but as a Negro who committed a crime, so cannot be discriminated upon for doing their job. Along with Atticus’ sense of fairness, his Teaching also characterizes him as a good father to Jem and Scout.
Finally, Atticus is a good role model because he fights for equality. While some might believe that Atticus does not fight for equality because he could take on more cases, he does fight for equality because he is the only lawyer to put his all into defending a black man. Every lawyer that was assigned a black man who was falsely accused of charges in Maycomb simply let the man be convicted. They did not offer the basic right of a lawyer in court that they deserved. However, when Atticus was assigned the role to defend Tom Robinson, he saw that the man was innocent and decided to put all of his effort into defending Tom. Atticus went
Atticus is a wise father and helps his children accept people no matter how they look or act. This is evident when he says “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.” (Lee 33). Throughout the novel, Jem and Scout mature at different paces. Atticus guides his children as they begin to grow and mature. “It ain’t right, Atticus,” said Jem.” “No son, It’s not right.” (Lee 243). When Atticus lost the case, Jem expressed how he felt. He had tears on his face. Here was a turning point for Jem because he was old enough to understand the case. Atticus comforted him and agreed it was not right. Atticus shows affection towards his children when they saved him from trouble with “the mob”. “As they passed under a streetlight, Atticus reached out and massaged Jem’s hair, his one gesture of affection.” (Lee 176). At first, Atticus may have been frustrated with his children being at the office. Then, their innocence saved him. Atticus has many characteristics and is a loving father. Atticus displays a valuable lesson about equality and fairness for his children.
Firstly, Tom Robinson is just one character that is prejudged in the novel. He is accused of raping a white girl named Mayella and it is a problem to the jury that a black man is trying to defend himself in court. Atticus realizes how Tom is being treated unfairly and that it is uncommon for African Americans and white people to associate with each other. During Atticus’s speech, Mayella is accused of lying in her testimony when “she kissed a black man [which is] something that in our society is unspeakable” (Lee 272). The black man who Atticus refers to is Tom. He is ridiculed and judged by several people in the book and he gets all this
The character Atticus once again is a perfect role model of a person who has passion for their job which gives him courage to change the world with his work in serving justice. Although the case of Tom Robinson trial against Myela Ewell was sprung on him and he knew their chances were hopeless, he still treated it like another case of his and braved the trial. When Scout asks why Atticus must defend Tom Robinson, Atticus replies with the main reason being that he couldn't be the lawyer, and parent he’s worked hard to be any more if he didn’t defend Tom. “Atticus’s decision to defend Tom is born out of his need to be seen as a lawful, moral, responsible citizen and father, not out of an urgent ethical need to change bitter racist conditions” (Dogra, 43).
“People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built.” (Eleanor Roosevelt) Mr. Finch, a older gentleman, wise beyond his years demonstrate strong character traits. In Harpers Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch, one of the main character, showed many admirable characteristics. Finch, a well respected man, always knew the right thing to do. He showed fairness and never favored one side more then the other. Atticus Finch the well respected prominent citizen in Maycomb demonstrated many admirable character traits including wisdom, courage and justice.
He then holds them responsible for what they do and say. Although his ways are different than the societal standards, Atticus’s involvement with his children is effective for discipline. He does not always discipline them in the same manner, but does so in ways fitting to the circumstances. Atticus chooses particular words to express exactly what his children need to hear in order to mend their ways. Often, he simply expresses his disappointment. Sometimes, he uses firm reprimanding. Once, we see Atticus use his keen intellect, employing what Scout calls “the oldest lawyer’s trick on record” (50) so that Jem admits to “putting [Mr. Radley’s] life’s history on display for the edification of the neighborhood” (49), as Atticus describes it. Scout’s father teaches by example countless times when he reminds her that “it ain’t time to worry yet” (70), even when a fire threatens to sweep away all of their belongings. In addition to his honest discussions with Scout and Jem, Atticus gives them many profound lessons through his intentional interactions with others.
Regardless of one?s race or colour, Atticus has a fair attitude towards all people. Early in the novel, a black man named Tom Robinson was accused of raping a white woman. Atticus took on the case to defend Tom without another thought simply because he treats everyone
To Be a Gentleman Ideal men of their word have attributes and qualities that correspond with their actions. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, a young girl named Scout understands that her father, Atticus Finch, is a man not at all like others in the town of Maycomb County, Alabama, in the 1930s. As a fair lawyer and understanding father, Atticus is a genuine man of honor that is well-respected and respectful to others. He’s valiant, yet humble. His righteousness almost has him to a fault, but he does all that he can to set things right.
Atticus Finch is a very important character from the book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. He is honestly he is the true image of the mockingbird. He is respected a lot especially by blacks. This is true because he is determined, courageous,, and wise and he stands up for what he believes is the right thing
A parent is someone who takes care of their children needs, “provide an optimal environment”, protect, teach and educate them. They give advice to their children hoping that they will learn something positive out of it. One can strongly agree that Atticus does an amazing job performing all these duties it takes to be a good parent. He has taught countless of valuable lessons to both Jem and Scout. However, one of the most important concepts that both Jem and Scout are introduced to is understanding how others feel before judging
“To Kill a Mockingbird”, an acclaimed novel by Harper Lee, is recognized throughout the world. The novel follows a lawyer and his children prior to and during a legal case to defend a black male. That lawyers name is Atticus Finch. Atticus Finch is not just an ordinary father. He teaches his children things no parent of the 1930s, or even the modern time period, would think of doing. His style parenting, compared to modern day parenting and parenting in the 1930s, is unique and is not traditionally the way a parent wants to raise their child.
Atticus is a great parent. He does many things that make him a great parent such as, being respectful, giving great advice, and he is very caring. To begin with, Atticus does not expect the respect of his children but earns it, this is shown many times, but the best example is when he tells Scout “We’ll go on reading as we always have.” (pg.41) he is showing he respects Scout because he believes she is smart enough to read and agrees more with Scout than her teacher. Secondly, he gives them great advice, when Scout is upset about her teacher telling her not to read, Atticus tells her that she will get along with people better if she can climb into their skin and walk around in it. He makes her understand what is happening in her life and resolves her issue. Lastly, Atticus is very caring.