In the story To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch has completely different views from the rest of Maycomb, who are heavily influenced by rumors and racism. He takes on a huge role in defending a black man, Tom Robinson, and faces many issues from other people by doing so. Atticus knows his client,
Atticus believes that not only black people but everyone deserves a fair go whether it's a court case or not. When Tom Robinson was accused of raping Mayella Ewell everyone in Maycomb was for the side of Bob Ewell and Mayella, The white people always put their word before a black man's word. This means that Tom Robinson had no chance, but Atticus believes Tom’s word and believes in equality between white and black people. When
By being fair to everyone Atticus meets, he shows his children how to be intelligent, well rounded people. In the town where Atticus and his children live, the town is clearly cut in half between black people and white people. Scout and Jem do pick up on the racism around the town, but Atticus teaches them what’s right and what’s wrong. When Scout asks Atticus if he’s a ‘nigger lover’ he responds with "I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody... I 'm hard put, sometimes—baby, it 's never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn 't hurt you”(144). By telling Scout what he believes it teaches her what equality is which is a valuable lesson to learn. In the whole novel Atticus is shown preaching about equality, especially in the case against Tom Robinson. Atticus knew that the only reason people were going against Tom was that he was black, and Atticus made his opinion heard in the trial, “You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men are not to be trusted around women—black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men”(273).Over and over in the novel Atticus shows that he believes that everyone is equal no matter the color of one’s skin. By saying this Atticus rubs off this open mindedness onto his children which, makes them into great people like Atticus
Integrity is the quality of being sincere and having powerful high-minded principles. Integrity is shown in To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, a book that took place in Maycomb County, Alabama where racism was profoundly entrenched. Atticus Finch, a character in the book, is a lawyer who is assigned the case of Tom Robinson, an African-American, who was unjustifiably accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman. Arthur “Boo” Radley, his neighbor, is a mysterious person in the beginning of the book but ends up revealing his kindness. His children, Scout and Jem Finch, are following their father’s word of wisdom and learning about integrity throughout their experiences on the way. The amount of integrity can dictate someone’s reputation.
As the hero of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch has an unorthodox outlook on racism. He says, “As you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don’t you forget it— whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash.” (252). This outlook allows him to approach the obstacles that come with a trial of a black man vs a white woman. Harper Lee, the author of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, worked on revisions for 2.5 years on the novel before it was published in 1960. Many events and characteristics in the novel are real memories experienced by Harper Lee. Scout Finch’s character
Humanity often comes with responsibility. To be a man of basic human nature, humanity often shines within. In the novel, "To Kill A Mockingbird", written by Harper Lee, the character Atticus is a role model of humanity. Atticus is an extraordinary example of being a man of humanity and responsibility. There are many different reasons behind this. He isn't a person who judges individuals of their color and doesn't give up on dreams or visions he believes in. His humanity shows throughout the novel, and this is very important to young readers, because Atticus gives off the influence of an important role model.
Atticus became not only a role model for Scout and Jem but a role model for the whole town. He taught you not to be so quick to judge everything. From Boo Radley to Walter Cunningham, he shows how to accept people for who they are and to get know them before you judge them. “Because that is they only way he can pay me, he has no money” (Lee 21). When Scout saw the Cunninghams paying in different things like Hickory nuts and Stovewood, she was quick to question the payment. In the quote it demonstrates how Atticus has to simply explain to the Scout, you should never look at someone differently based on how much money they have. You should look at them for who they are. Some people are not as fortunate as others, it is not there fault, but like they Cunningham 's, they find a way. Atticus did not only open the kids eyes to how you should not judge someone, but also, to stand up for what you believe in, despite what others might say. When Atticus is presented with the Tom Robinson case, without much thought, he says yes to being his lawyer. He knows the rest of the town will disapprove, but he believes in the innocence of this man and does not care of his complexion. In this moment, Scout and Jem only see how everyone will downgrade them and see them differently. Atticus shows, it does not matter what others think, all that matters is that you support what you believe in. This shows how Atticus is a strong character who contributes a lot to the overall lesson
In the novel, To Kill a MockingBird, Harper Lee illustrates the harsh treatment receive from the townspeople’s when he is order to defend Tom Robinson. When talking to his brother, Jack, Atticus explains that he hopes that his children will not catch Maycomb’s usual disease of racism and prejudice, he hopes his children will come to him. “I just hope that Jem and Scout come to me for their answers, instead of listening to the town.” When Scout asked Atticus if he was really a n***** lover, Atticus responded “I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody... I'm hard put, sometimes—baby, it's never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn't hurt you." That shows that he believes good wins over evil. Looking at Atticus we can see that he is not held back by the conventions of racism and prejudice, he is trying to live and guide his children to be fair and loving towards
Not to mention, he takes the case without outwardly pleading it is a hopeless cause. To show, Atticus defends Tom Robinson as he would defend any white man, and makes it his civil duty to do this man right. Coupled with Atticus’s personal beliefs, he never shows regret in his obligation to Tom Robinson and his family. In another instance, Atticus respected these citizens even before the case. Though the residents of Maycomb did not agree with him, Atticus stuck to his belief all men are created equal. Equally important, he never frowned upon them, or disgraced their ways. While speaking to his children, Atticus conveys this, “Scout, I couldn’t go to church and worship God if I didn’t try to help that man” (Lee 139). As a result, he displays to his children that he is not a coward and will not back away from a challenge, even if it means his reputation may taper as the trial advances. Correspondingly, the African American populous makes known that they are appreciative of Atticus’s intentions to free Tom of his accusation. During the trial, the members of the African American public watched Atticus vividly defend their friend as if color was no
When Scout complains about Miss Caroline, Atticus states, “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” (Lee 33). Atticus Finch says empathy is based on sympathy, on being able to see another person 's point of view and comprehend why they act the way they do even if it 's hard to agree with it. He is allocating fatherly advice to Scout by telling her that Miss Caroline was probably just trying to do her best in a new environment. This piece of advice supports Scouts development throughout the novel by making her not as agile to judge. Although Atticus is crucial to his children 's growth, he can’t give a “feminine” input which sometimes flaws his parenting, but Lee proves that good parenting requires a person to do the right thing, no matter the circumstances through fairness, perspective, and integrity.
“Racism is taught in our society, it is not automatic. It is learned behavior toward persons with dissimilar physical characteristics.”-Alex Haley To Kill A Mockingbird is a novel that is greatly affected by the way others see the world. Scout, a young girl, growing up in Maycomb a place where racism is accepted. She is constantly learning how racism affects the community through different altercations in Maycomb. She realizes that racism shouldn’t exist due to the side effects. In To Kill A Mockingbird Harper Lee conveys that racism causes inequality between people, isolation, and injustice.
What makes a good father? It is someone who is a leader, someone who always wants what is best for you. Especially when times get rough. Over time parenting has changed and grown in many different ways. Authors tackle the ideal parent and different parenting actions and views. Harper Lee in, To Kill A Mockingbird shows many different types of parents. As a single father, character Atticus Finch stands out the most. He shows he is a good parent as he provides important life lessons to his children and others. He shows fairness to others and his kids especially. Lastly he shows that you should always stand up for others no matter what.
He had compassion in his heart and the thought of equality in his mind. He understood when people needed help but could not pay for it, and he knew that “it takes a long time sometimes…that you all’d ride [the harsh times] out together [SIC]” (205-206). He was troubled by the narrow- mindedness and prejudice of the townspeople. He knew, sadly, that the people in the court would automatically assume “that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women” (273). Atticus felt that he needed to uphold the justice. He needed to protect the innocent, because if he didn’t “[he] couldn’t hold up [his] head in the town, [he] couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, [he] couldn’t even tell [Scout] or Jem not to do something again” (100). Mr. Finch was an honest, considerate, and honorable man, who led the society down the right path and provided goodness to Maycomb County, just like a mockingbird.
Atticus Finch is a man with many commendable attributes, one being the fact he believes in equality for all people. Regardless of their skin color, he does his “best to love everybody” (Harper, 144). Another attribute of Atticus is his wisdom. He has always been there for his children to share his fatherly advice. All the lessons Atticus teaches to Scout and Jem further strengthen the fact that Atticus is guiding his children, as a leader does. The reader can see one of Atticus’s lessons influencing Scout when she says, “Well, it’d be sort of shootin’ a mockingbird, wouldn’t it” (370). Another great leader, Odysseus, is on a journey to make it home to his family. On the way, he has to lead a troop of men passed numerous obstacles, such as the