Through all of the opposition, most of the characters follow the majority filled with hostility and prejudices, but the remaining few who hold on to their personal values help to influence other characters positively for the rest of their lives. Through the many contrasting characters, Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird teaches the values of courage, loyalty, and honesty. The first value expressed through many characters throughout the novel is courage. One character in the novel who showed a great amount of courage, although at first glance it may not have seemed this way, was Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose. After Jean Louise Finch (Scout) and her older brother Jeremy Atticus Finch (Jem) spent a good amount of time reading to Mrs. Dubose, they both came to the conclusion that she was evil.
It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what” (Lee 149). When Atticus says this it’s realized that Ms. Dubose wasn’t the only courageous person in the novel beating her painkiller addiction before dying but Atticus was courageous too knowing he wasn’t going to win the trial but doing it anyway no matter what came his way. A mockingbird represents a lot in this novel. For one it represented Tom Robinson. When his children receive guns Atticus strictly says not to kill mockingbirds.
A Man of True Dignity In a world full of injustice and cruelty, people like Atticus who fight against that norm are incredibly important. Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird remains one of the best novels ever written, partially because of Atticus, a very wise man who embodies exactly what dignity ought to be. Atticus carries himself in a matter that deserves respect and honor. Not a word comes out of his mouth that he has not thought through carefully and he possesses words of wisdom for any scenario or situation in life. Throughout the novel, Atticus clearly lives his life in a very discerning, upstanding and peaceful manor.
Being the older sibling, Jem realizes the long-held values of Maycomb, but only as he matures does he understand what it means to have moral integrity. There are many times in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee in which the reader can see Jem’s maturity and his moral values. The first time Jem starts to understand moral integrity is when he is forced to read to Mrs. Dubose. After her death, Atticus explains just how much she was going through, and this information had a great impact on Jem. Jem furthers his knowledge of moral integrity during the trial.
Atticus took upon defending Tom, a black man, knowing he would not win the case, he knew the harsh things people would throw at him. But Atticus brushed them off. The characters Atticus and Scout, in To Kill a Mockingbird showed courage by taking risks, though the outcome may not be in their favor. Atticus had defended Tom Robinson, though he knew he would not win. Scout stood up for herself when Aunt Alexandra was rude to her about her clothing choices.
For a long time after the publishing of To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch, the father of Jem and Scout, was championed and even deified in some cases. He was revered for his vigilant defence of a black man, Tom Robinson. This book came out in a time when racism was taught at home. For many whites in America, especially in the South, this was the first time their eyes had been opened to the injustice of racism. The reason so many people chose Atticus to be their champion of morality was because he represented strong morals and was believed to be one of the first of his people to stand up against the way things were.
There are many important things that make the probably most talked about novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, what it is. Harper Lee creates a perfectly in detail story that fits the theme of truly following your beliefs in a society filled with stubborn contradictory people. Atticus Finch is the most outstanding character who strongly supports this valuable theme with his personality. As Lee represents him as a man with integrity who has wisdom, compassion and courage. He manages to remain loyal to his beliefs even when he struggles to make a difference in a town filled with ignorance and prejudice.
Father, lawyer, and friend, the gentlemanly Atticus Finch hopes to shape the character of his children. The novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, is the story of the childhood of the young girl named Jean Louise “Scout” Finch. Throughout the book, the character Atticus, who is her father, tries his best to raise her and her brother, Jem, the right way as a single parent. To Kill a Mockingbird exemplifies the way the character of Atticus Finch either uses ritual or abandons it in order to develop certain character qualities within his children. He is especially concerned with the development of honesty, courage, and humility.
Mrs. Dubose as a ‘punishment’ wanted Jem to read to him. So Atticus says ‘’’Then you’ll do it for a month.’’’ (pg 140). He chose a month a month because in that time Jem started gaining respect for Mrs. Dubose. By Atticus being fair with the punishment and taking the high road, it became a important and positive life lesson for Jem. Lastly, he shows fairness when he thought Jem was the one who stabbed Bob Ewell.
For example, Atticus described Ms. Dubose to Scout by stating,"She had own view about things, a lot different than mine, maybe...I wanted you to see something about her--I wanted you to see what real courage is...she died beholdend to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I knew." The main focus of this quote was for Atticus to show Scout how Ms. Dubose had different views about courage and bravery.This passage is an example of the theme judgement because characters throughout the story had a variety of thoughts about Ms. Dubose including Scout, but Atticus saw the courage in her because he imagined himself in her skin. He felt her feelings in her situation and realized how brave she really was. Harper Lee provided this quote to elaborate the reader's understanding on the overall theme, and how it relates back to Atticus.