Atticus Finch's Role In To Kill A Mockingbird
There are roles society places us in, and there are roles we place ourselves in, but the ultimate measure of character is what we do within these roles. Atticus Finch, who appears in Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, plays three different roles in his life, and what he does inside those roles makes him the wise, ethical man he is. He is a mentor, a defender, and a teacher. As a mentor, he is a guiding figure to his children and those around him. He is always a voice of reason, and he leads by example. He also has an enormous role as a court appointed defender. Especially in the Tom Robinson case, Atticus gives everyone time to tell their side, even if the outcome looks bleak. He is a teacher to his children as he teaches them right and wrong …show more content…
There are many instances throughout the novel where Atticus is seen teaching his children about the world around them, and tips on how to flourish in their society. Scout, Atticus’s only daughter, did not understand fully how to demonstrate empathy, until Atticus told her this, ‘“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.”’ In this quote, Atticus is teaching Scout how to interact with those around her and demonstrate empathy by seeing things their way. Towards the end of the novel, Scout remembers this quote when she is standing on the Radley’s porch, which indicates that Atticus has an impact as a teacher in Scout’s life. Atticus not only teaches Scout about how to interact with other people, but how to better understand her society. An example of this is when Scout says, “Atticus told me one time that most of this Old Family stuff’s foolishness because everybody’s family’s just as old as everybody else’s.” In this quote he is indirectly trying to teach Scout about how, in their society, family means power and status, …show more content…
He embraces all these roles, and does his best in all of them. He is not a perfect man, and he knows it is not a perfect world, but he tries very hard to be the best he person he can. He is only as wise as he is because of the different roles he plays. They each provide him with distinctive outlooks on
How Is Atticus A Good Role Model
915 Words | 4 PagesBy being strong in his belief of what's right, Atticus is a true role model. When Scout and Jem are lost Atticus is there to give them advice and take care of them. “His hands were under my chin, pulling up the cover, tucking it around me” (Lee 281). Atticus is a loving father that wants to take care of his children. “Depends on how you look at it, what was one negro, more or less among two hundred of ‘em” (Lee 235).
Examples Of Empathy In To Kill A Mockingbird
666 Words | 3 PagesOne lesson Atticus teaches Scout is, “‘You never really understand a person until you consider things from their point of view.’” (Lee 39) This quote explains how one must step into another’s shoes before judging them. Atticus helps Scout understand the reason for empathy. Connecting to the theme, once Scout begins to understand her father’s lesson, she becomes more empathetic and tries to become similar to her father.
Examples Of Adversity In To Kill A Mockingbird
1880 Words | 8 PagesAtticus gives her a tip to understand why people do the things that they do after she has some issues with her first grade teacher at school. “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). Atticus tells Scout this to help her get along with others better. This takes place early on in the novel, but later in the novel Scout remembers this lesson.
Atticus Finch Is A Hero Essay
1166 Words | 5 PagesEvery day in our lives, heroes are all around us. They may not be what society tells us is a hero, like Superman or Batman. They do not wear fancy costumes or have super powers. But these heroes change the lives of the people around them, for the better. Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird is the charismatic, understanding father of Scout and Jem Finch as well as a hard working lawyer in Maycomb County, Alabama.
Atticus Empathy Quotes
707 Words | 3 PagesIn this comment, Atticus is talking to Scout about how though people may try to provoke her, she should try and stand up for herself in a way that doesn't include violence. In addition, Atticus wants to teach his kids to do the right thing without choosing violence. He wants to instill ways to solve problems without resorting to physical aggression, along with the fact that he wants them to strive to be better in terms of solving
Atticus Finch Quotes
568 Words | 3 PagesIn which ways is the character of Atticus important to the novel To Kill A Mockingbird? Atticus plays an important role throughout the novel because of his empathetic and moral character. The integrity Atticus expresses shows us that he is the moral conscience of the novel as his attitude has a big affect on most of the characters throughout. Atticus plays an important role as a father throughout the whole novel and his children, Jem and Scout are influenced by him.
Golden Rule In To Kill A Mockingbird
722 Words | 3 PagesOur whole lives growing up we are told to follow the “Golden Rule”. This rule is defined as to treat someone the way you want to be treated. In the book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch a lawyer in a town called Maycomb in Alabama tries his best to be a role model for his two children. In the quiet town of Maycomb Atticus is given the job to defend a black man named Tom Robinson. Atticus wants to teach his kids Jem and Scout life lessons at an early age so they grow up as respectable people.
Atticus Finch: A Modern Day Hero
1664 Words | 7 PagesHeroes are not invincible, and certainly are not the ones who always win; however, a hero is someone who, despite this, is courageous enough to fight for what is right. Atticus Finch, one of the most inspiring literary characters from the highly acclaimed novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, is an example of such. This classic novel is told from the perspective of Scout Finch, Atticus’ daughter, a young girl who lives in the town of Maycomb County, Alabama, in the 1930s, a town where prejudice and discrimination is rife. Rather than succumbing to societal expectations and adopting the extreme animosity held by the other citizens, Atticus views and treats all with the dignity and respect that they are entitled to, guiding his
Atticus Respectful Quotes In To Kill A Mockingbird
452 Words | 2 PagesHe shows Jem and Scout not to judge people until they've walked in their shoes. Chapter 3 on page 85-87 Atticus says "First of all, 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.” Out of all the people in this book Atticus is the one who is most likely to not judge someone. He stands up for a black man knowing he will get judged and made fun of.
Atticus Finch Discrimination Quotes
951 Words | 4 PagesAtticus is able to see beyond the issues of society, do his job, and treat everyone with courtesy and respect. He helps Scout have the same mindset. In the beginning of the novel, Scout was very close minded and reacted like the others in the community. Perhaps, it is because she was young or it just seemed easier than changing her outlook on the society she lives in. As the novel progressed, she became more mature and developed her own views of discrimination, racism, and prejudice.
Similarities Between Radley And To Kill A Mockingbird
727 Words | 3 PagesA mockingbird is a harmless songbird that offers only its beautiful voice. To Kill a Mockingbird is a coming of age novel written by Harper Lee. This story took place in a small rural town called Maycomb County, in the 1930’s where everyone knew each other and all the townspeople were infected by a disease called gossip. This gossip harmed the “mockingbirds”, because all of them were “shot down” physically and metaphorically. Harper Lee implied that there were distinct characteristics that parallel mockingbirds.
Lessons Learned In To Kill A Mockingbird
751 Words | 4 PagesTo Kill A Mockingbird, morality is a big part of the theme; what one is taught as a child one will forever use as an adult. The first lesson learned by Scout is empathy. This is taught to her when she and Miss Caroline get into a little fight about how scout knows how to read. Scout comes home and tells her dad, Atticus, about the event. Atticus responds to the event by saying, “You never understand a person until you consider things from his point of view-until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.
Father Influence In To Kill A Mockingbird
916 Words | 4 PagesAtticus is a morally upright person who teaches his kids a number of important life lessons and leads by example. In Chapter 3, of To Kill A Mockingbird Atticus shows an interest in Scouts feelings as he is quick to notice that something is bothering her. Scout tells Atticus of her rough first day at school and teaches her an important lesson. Atticus says, “if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you 'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks.
To Kill A Mockingbird Cultural Analysis
1395 Words | 6 PagesScout learns this lesson through the sociological perspective of social interactionism. In one part of the book Scout invites a young boy named Walter Cunningham from her class to have lunch with her family. Walter is a farm boy who is very scrawny and uneducated due to helping his poor father on the farm. He explains this to Atticus during lunch, “Reason I can’t pass the first grade, Mr. Finch, is I’ve had to stay out ever‘ spring an’ help Papa with the choppin‘, but there’s another at the house now that’s field size.”
Similarities Between Atticus Finch And Odysseus
720 Words | 3 PagesLeaders are very wise people. They can find the solution to difficult situations. People follow these leaders for guidance and enlightenment. To this definition, the characters Atticus Finch, from Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, and Odysseus, from Homer’s
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