Atticus is a very complex character in To Kill A Mockingbird. There are two main reasons to dignify him from other people in Maycomb. Atticus is a very calm man especially in a intense situation. Two ways to prove that he’s calm is, Atticus is a good father, and Atticus is a good person. To make Atticus a good father he helps Scout with her problems at school and throughout her life. In the beginning of the novel Scout struggled with her teacher, Miss Caroline. Scout would get in trouble for knowing how to read, so her teacher forbid her to read at home with her father. Scout was devestated with the fact of getting and trouble, but not being able to read with Atticus anymore made it worse. Atticus made a deal with her that if she promised not to tell her
The mockingbird in To Kill A Mockingbird is symbolic of innocence. Early in the novel, Atticus, the father tells the children Scout and Jem that it is a "sin to kill a mockingbird". Later Scout asks Miss Maudie what he meant by that because she has never heard her father say anything was a sin. Miss Maudie explains his reasoning by saying that all mockingbirds do is provide beautiful music. They do not harm anyone, they don't bother anyone, and they "sing their hearts out for us." Because the mockingbird is a symbol of innocence it is symbolic of the characters of Boo Radley, and Tom Robinson. Both are misunderstood and judged by the townspeople without really knowing them. Tom Robinson is killed violently due to being put in prison because
Just because Atticus won’t win the case doesn’t mean he shouldn’t try to save the man’s life. If he doesn’t give his best attempt to fight the unjust social mores, who will? Atticus also sacrificed a little more than just his reputation during the novel. Bob Ewell is deeply angered by Atticus exposing to all of Maycomb that Bob beats his children so like the scummy person he is, Bob seeks revenge and spits in Atticus’s face and cusses him out. In response to this Atticus says “ if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella one extra beating, that’s something that I’ll gladly take.” (292-93). Atticus is so selfless that he would sacrifice his well being so that Mayella possibly won’t face beatings. The meaning behind Atticus’s selfless actions is deeper than just looking good to the public eye. Atticus has very clean and polished morals, “but before I can live with other folks, I’ve got to live with myself.” (140) Atticus sacrifices everything so that others can live easier lives. He couldn’t live with himself if he never tried to make a dent in the unjust social mores so he is willing to sacrifice everything in the name of
Throughout the novel To Kill a MockingBird Atticus proves his greatness as a father by teaching his children life lessons through everyday actions. In the novel, Scout and Jem go through many rocky bumps in their life, and with Atticus they receive a stable role model to lead them through harder times. Atticus being a lawyer could have made him into a very serious busy man who could have paid little to no attention to his young children. But being a lawyer helped mold Atticus and his children into well rounded and educated people. By the end of the novel Atticus has changed his children into disciplined and reasonable human beings.
Alliteration- the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. “...Miss Rachel’s cook’s son" ( To Kill a Mockingbird 100). I think that Lee put this in, to show that Scout did not want to go to school at all.
Our 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 takes the trial knowing the consequence that him and his family will be harrassed by the town because it is the right thing to do. Atticus finch decides to defend Tom Robinson to be a good role model for his children and prove that the “Golden Rule” is a rule to
As a father Atticus has done everything he can to maintain his children, Jem and Scout, informed of what really is like out there in the real world. Honesty seems to be Atticus rout when dealing with life. In times Atticus will lose trial but the courage he has won’t allow him to give up on innocent people, like Tom. Atticus is the definition of role model to follow. He’s a great father to his children showing the the truth will always push them forwards in life. Not only that he believe everyone in this world is a mockingbird who isn’t truly known till walked in their shoes. LAstly his pride in taking a stand for someone who only has hope in himself is beyond exceptional for anyone else. Finally remember to treat other the way you want to be treated and don’t just assume, become them for a minute
“We will never have true civilization until we have learned to recognize the rights of others.” said Will Rogers. People will not understand how people would feel if it were them being the ones that were separated just because of the color of their skin, You’re looked at differently Like you’re not good enough to be treated as a human. Never think that you’re not good enough to have your rights. No matter what race you are or beliefs you have you are human, the same as everyone else. Two kids, Jem and Scout experience the true hat and cruelty of the world. That people won’t learn to see black people as equals. Atticus, their father, tries to defend Tom Robinson’s case where he was accused of raping a white woman. Tom knew that he wouldn’t be able to survive so he tried escaping from jail, but was shot multiple times. An
Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” is set sometime in the 1930s in Maycomb County Alabama. The story is told through the point of view of Scout Finch who lives with her father, Atticus, and brother, Jem. The kids like to play pretend with their friend Dill about the man who lives in a scary house down the road, Boo Radley. The kids come in a few close counters along the way during these games in which Atticus does not approve. Scouts’ father, a lawyer, is appointed by Judge Taylor to defend Mr. Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a young girl. Atticus is faced with many threats along the way and is shunned in the community for defending a man of such a heinous crime. During the trial Atticus makes many strong arguments and it is plainly
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. This saying is true in many cases and happens to be true in To Kill A Mockingbird. Throughout the book you see children of characters start to grow up and act like their father. This essay will be looking at three families in To Kill A Mockingbird, the Finches, the Cunninghams, and the Ewells. These three families are key examples that a father’s influence has a significant influence on the character of his children.
He shows this by saying, ‘’’If I didn’t, I couldn’t hold up my head in the town, I couldn’t represent this country is legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something.’’’ (pg 75). This shows he is a good parent because he is providing positivity towards his town. By taking the case of Tom Robinson he is making a clear view of what the community should look like. He is setting an example towards his children Jem and Scout. He is not only doing it for Tom Robinson, he is doing it for himself as well. Secondly, Atticus stands up for what is right because the moment he is asked to take Tom Robinson’s case he doesn’t think twice. He knew that someone who is innocent should not have to go to trial for something they did not do. He thinks racism should have an end. By taking this case he not only opens the eyes for his children, he opens the eyes of his peers and community members. He is showing that no matter the race you do what is right. No matter the opinion of others, if you know something is wrong, stand tall and take charge. This is a positive role model where his kids can follow in his footsteps, look up to him and understand the rights and wrongs of things. Lastly, Atticus says, ‘’’I wanted you to see what real courage is...it’s when you know you 're licked before you begin but you begin
“Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit’em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (Lee 119). In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch and his children Scout and Jem live in the prejudice town of Maycomb, Alabama. In the town they have many misconceptions of things such as Boo Radley, who has not been seen out of his house for fifteen years ever since he was caught causing a disturbance but the children soon figure out what really occurred after he got into trouble. As the story progresses Atticus accepts the request to defend a colored man named Tom Robinson which affects his family in multiple ways. The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee uses characterization to show how in the process of growing up children
“Boo was our neighbor. He gave us two soap dolls, a broken watch and chain, a pair of good-luck pennies, and our lives. But neighbors give in return. We never put back into the tree what we took out of it: we had given him nothing, and it made me sad” (Lee 373). To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a story about the sleepy town of Maycomb. It takes place during a dark time for America, the Great Depression. The tale is told from the point of view of Scout Finch, a naive, young girl who matures throughout the book. Through her flashbacks, the reader discovers how Scout develops with Atticus’ guidance; as she learns how a mockingbird symbolizes innocence, the discrimination towards African Americans, and how empathy can change a person’s outlook
The saying “to kill a mocking bird is sin” is a common saying back then, maybe until now it’s still being used. The saying says “killing a mocking bird is sin” because mocking birds doesn’t really do any harm they just sing out with their hearts a tune. The book refers to this saying meaning that the innocence are taken away intentionally by the the accusers or townsfolk. In the book there are two or three “mockingbirds” they were misunderstood, accused, or just fighting for justice but the townsfolk just turned their backs on them. These mocking birds are: Arthur “boo” Radley, Tom Robinson, and Atticus finch.
The mockingbird in the title of Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird," symbolizes a number of characters throughout the novel. In order to fully understand why these characters symbolize killed mockingbirds, one must first understand what the title represents and why it's wrong to kill a mockingbird. The idea that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird was first mentioned by Atticus Finch (the protagonist's, Scout, father) when he saw the children shooting things with BB guns. As he knows that soon they will go after birds, he tells them: "Shoot all the Blue jays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird”. As Miss Maudie (the Finch's next-door neighbour) explains to Scout, it's a sin to kill a mockingbird because