Throughout history we have seen how parents can dramatically influence the behavior of their children. We know that good teachings were around all the way to 69 BC when Cleopatra had her four sons. Even now authors are still trying to put messages about wise parenting. While reading To Kill a Mockingbird with its inspirational themes, I noticed how parents during this time period had a big impact on the decisions of their children. Throughout the novel of To Kill a Mockingbird examples of good and bad parenting are shown. Parents good and bad, have a big impact on their children, but not just the choices and decisions, but their overall aspect of the world and how they view it. Atticus Finch and Bob Ewell are two very important parents that …show more content…
Bob Ewell might as well be the total opposite of Atticus when it comes to parenting because he lacks the respect that parents should have towards their children. Mr. Ewell disrespects his children in many different ways. In the novel, Bob Ewell blames his daughters sexual abuse on an innocent black man. During and towards the end of the trial, readers start to see that Tom Robinson is not guilty and start to question Mr. Ewell’s honesty. It is very obvious that Bob intentionally abused his eldest daughter. When Mayella was up in the stands saying what happened, Atticus asks, “ Do you love your father” ( Lee 245 ), and Mayella hesitated which indicated she is thinking about her answer. Mayella nodded to Atticus when he says, Bob is abusive when he is drinking. As readers learn later on in the story, they know that Bob has beaten his children more than once when he is drunk. The actions Bob took towards his children was disrespectful to them, to a point where they felt uncomfortable. Bob Ewell clearly does not have any respect for his …show more content…
Even today we see people like Atticus, who influence their children in a positive way, and there are people like Bob who influence in a negative way. There is a definite reason why the 2016 Guardian News said, “Atticus Finch, hero of Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, is the most inspiring character in literature, according to new research” ( The Guardian News ). I think many people, after reading this novel, will understand why 2000 UK adults chose him at the top of their list. This quote explains why people are still reading this book over the years. Atticus and even Bob Ewell still leave such an impression on the parents today. We need to keep reading this book because Atticus shows us what lessons to really teach our children. “Most parents know what their children are capable of but step in to make things easier for them,” Says Sheri Nago. Atticus does the complete opposite by letting Jem and Scout be themselves. Parents today that are like Bob Ewell need to understand this novel and know what Atticus does and why he does it. There was an incedent that happened with a father and his daughter where“The acccused had been alledged to have sexualy abused his daughter for nearly a year” (www.ndtv.com ) This shows that there are still people like Bob Ewell today that do horrible
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Show MoreBob was furious at the way Atticus had defended the black person, Tom Robinson. He wanted retribution for something that was, according to his world view, a heinous act against the principles of white men. He knew that he couldn’t get to Atticus directly, so he went after the next best thing—his children. Scout and Jem’s guardian angel, Boo Radley, saved them and they got home alive, if not uninjured. They got home to find that their assailant was none other than Bob Ewell.
Bob Ewell spat in Atticus’s face and threatened to take his life. Flooded with emotions of anxiety and trepidation, Jem and Scout hurry home to Atticus, only to find him unflustered and smug. Atticus assures them of his safety, but their fear of various furtive future events persists. To ease his children, Atticus obligingly explains his thought-process: “[i]f spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take.
With their unbeknownst number of kids the Ewell brood, specifically Bob Ewell becomes jealous and outright angry that Atticus would oppose him in the court of law by representing Tom Robinson. Although against the odds Atticus feels empathetic towards the Ewells not necessarily Bob but instead for Mayella, he understands what she is being put through, Suffering through domestic abuse, and in court Atticus even goes so far as to state that he feels sorry for Mayella. To add to this he implies that the man truly guilty of beating Mayella is in the courtroom (Bob Ewell). This did nothing to calm Bob Ewell’s seething manner instead it only escalated it, and in an attempt to get back at atticus he tries to kill his children whom are saved by an unseen and unknown force which killed Mr. Ewell. The precursor towards this however was when Bob Ewell spit on Atticus but even through this Atticus was rational, he thought about it.
A person cannot call themselves a noble person if they can’t understand others. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is told in first person by Jean Louise Finch or by her nickname, Scout a 6-year-old. Harper Lee, depicts Atticus Finch as a proficient father to his two children, Scout and Jim, 10-year-old. Atticus teaches his children life lessons, one being it 's a sin to kill a mockingbird.
Atticus’s parenting style has a moral education. Atticus keeps no secrets from his children so that they feel the same as everyone else and not feel excluded. Atticus’s children are taught to follow the law, making them upstanding citizens. Bob has a different type of parenting style from Atticus. Bob instills fear in his daughter with abuse and violence.
In this book, Atticus Finch is a loving father who is raising two children, Jem and Scout. He is often a misunderstood individual and is frowned upon by many in his town. By looking at the examples of Atticus Finch’s parenting style, it can be seen how he is a good, loving father to his children who teaches them the proper way in which they should go. An important aspect to consider when deciding if Atticus Finch is a smart and loving father to his children is to examine some examples from the book To Kill a Mockingbird.
Atticus receives a threat and gets spit on by Bob Ewell and he does not do anything back to Bob. A while after this incident Atticus tells his children that he took the insult from Bob Ewell to potentially save Mayella a beating from her father Bob Ewell. Since Atticus reveals Bob Ewell's behavior toward Mayella in the court. Atticus feels sympathy towards Mayella and tries to avoid another incident where her father is beating her up. This proves that empathy is one of the characteristics of Atticus.
Calpurnia is seen both by Atticus and the reader as more than just a housekeeper and a cook; she is a part of the family and fills in the role of a mother to Jem and Scout by helping raise them alongside Atticus. Atticus deeply cherishes Calpurnia’s efforts of taking care of the children. With her doting attitude, yet, strict disciplinary, Calpurnia treats both Scout and Jem as she would her own children. Furthermore, this following quote proves that fatherhood is indeed an arduous and burdensome role as Atticus says these following words. Without Calpurnia by his side, Atticus would have found fatherhood even more of a demanding role without a wife by his side to help support and take care of the family, as well as raise his children to grow
A parent’s love and care is a major key to makes their children feel special .For example, in the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the Ewell family don't care what their children do or if they attend school. This represents not being an ideal parent and a parent who does not care about their children. Parents should show their love by using warm words, hugs and facial expressions. As a matter of fact, they should always explain something to their child calmly and out of love.
Atticus is known around town as one of the best lawyers. Bob knows this and still lies in front of the court, committing perjury. First, Bob Ewell shows the most courage in the novel because he tried to murder
Throughout the book, Harper Lee suggests that a father’s influence has a significant effect on the character of his children. Jem and Scout look up to their father and both children develop into morally upright individuals. Walter Jr. shares many of his father’s character traits such as hard working. Walter Jr. is also a quiet, respectful boy who values hard work. Burris and Mayella both are disrespectful, terrible individuals.
Atticus Finch is portrayed as great parent in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. The way Atticus Finch acts at home and on the streets provide a good role model for Jem and Scout. He is a parent who always does the right thing and stays true to himself and to his children at all times. Atticus is a positive role model for his children because he is the same character wherever he goes and whoever he talks to. When Scout misinterprets Miss Maudie’s words she attempts to defend his father about how he does not do anything at home different than what he would do at work.
Personal values and morals are instilled into children by their parents . Jem and Scout Finch, characters from Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, are open minded, educated, young children that have a father named Atticus Finch who tries to teach his children to have sound morals and personal values . The children have not been sheltered from life's hardships due to their father Atticus's views on parenting instead they have learned right from wrong. Atticus Finch believes that not sheltering his kids from the world allows them to form strong morals and values. Atticus Finch does what he believes will help make his children into strong citizens with outstanding values and morals.
Because the children did not understand Boo until the end of the story, the way they treated him was based on fear and the stereotypes they learned from the others in the town. Other significant examples of misunderstanding in the book come during the trial of Tom Robinson. After Bob Ewell finds his daughter, Mayella, kissing a black man, Tom Robinson, Mr. Ewell severely beats his daughter and accuses Tom of raping and beating her. Although it is physically impossible for Tom to have attacked Mayella, he is convicted of the crime. In Bob Ewell’s case, he responds to both Mayella and Tom with violence.
Bob Ewell is violent towards Atticus because Atticus chose to defend Tom Robinson, a black man. Bob doesn’t like the fact that Atticus is defending Tom Robinson just because he is black. So Bob starts to act violently towards Atticus, a man who is just doing what he believes is right. Scout also shows signs of racism throughout the novel. She is still a young girl and doesn’t understand what she says when she is being racist.