Atticus Character Analysis Essay

Bob Ewell is a wretched, two-faced, conniving most unworthy person to have the gift of life in all of Alabama. He drinks a lot, does not bother to work, and he just collects welfare checks and spends them on alcohol. Harper Lee wrote, “a little bantam cock of a man . . . A shock of wispy new-washed hair stood up from his forehead; his nose was thin, pointed, and shiny; he had no chin to speak of—it seemed to be part of his crepey neck”(Lee 227) Harper describes Bob Ewell as a apathetic, tipsy, Neanderthal that can’t keep a job to save his skin. During Tom Robinson’s trial Bob Ewell tried to say that he beat his daughter Mayella and then raped her; when in in reality Bob Ewell is the one who beat Mayella. Another reason Bob Ewell is terrible person is at the end of the story when he tried to kill Scout and Jem. Harper Lee had wrote, “What is it, Heck? Said Atticus. Mr. Tate found his neck and rubbed it. Bob Ewell’s lyin’ on the ground under that tree down yonder with a kitchen knife stuck up under his ribs. He’s dead, Mr. Finch. (Lee 357). Mr. Ewell had aimed to kill Scout and Jem but Mr. Author James Radley, more commonly known as Boo Radley, saved their lives. Mr. Ewell was mad at Atticus because he knew that it wasn’t Tom who beat Mayella and raped her, so Bob Ewell saw that he could get back at Atticus by taking the lives if the two most important people in the world to him. Bob Ewell illustrates the dark side of

After Scout confronts Atticus about “defending negros”, Atticus replies on how this decision is for his own dignity: “‘For a number of reasons’, said Atticus. ‘The main one is, if I didn’t, I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again.’” (123; ch.9). Out of the lots of prejudice in Maycomb County, Atticus is one that looks passed race and gender. He holds equal respect for those who abide by the laws of being human. Not much of population consist of people like Atticus, who is not just fighting for Tom for the sake of the town, but for his own virtue. It takes a lot of integrity to stand up for what is right during that time and that is exactly what Atticus is making an effort to do.

Throughout Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, it seems as if Atticus Finch is a failure as both a parent and a lawyer. However, somebody with a good understanding of the novel will realise that Atticus is in fact a terrific lawyer and a superb father. However, like all people, Atticus has his flaws.

In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee presents Atticus Finch as a principled lawyer, committed but single father to Scout and Jem, and a law-abiding citizen. Atticus is a respectable gentleman in society and a role model for his children. Throughout the book we see evidence of his honorable intentions, though he doesn’t seem to reap the rewards. He is morally upstanding, even-keeled, and daring. Because of these things, Atticus is a man who deserves great respect and admiration.

True role models are those who possess the qualities that we would want to have in the near future and those who interest us in a way that make us want to be a better person. They teach us more about ourselves and encourage us to make better choices. A role model is not just someone who is successful, but someone who has had similar experiences that we have had. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee demonstrates that Atticus Finch is a true role model. Over the course of the novel, Atticus stands up for his beliefs, respects everyone despite who they are and behaves as a true father. Atticus is truly the ideal role model.

To Kill a Mockingbird is the story of the trial of a black man, Tom Robinson for the raping of a white woman, Mayella Ewell, in racist Alabama in the 1990’s.

Was Atticus a True Hero of To Kill A MockingBird? Yes and no Atticus Finch and Scout Finch were both true heroes of the story because they did many Helpful things throughout the book to help everyone no matter what they were or what they look like. Atticus had a lot of courage such as when he help out Tom Robinson at the jail he stayed with Tom at the jail even know he knew that the mod of white Americans of Maycomb would come for Tom and try to kill him. When Tom Robinson was convicted of raping a white girl Tom stranded up for him and showed courage which as a white person it was not a normal thing to stand up for a black person. Although Scout is a hero in the book too, Throughout the book Scout learns about her life and gets to

Tom Robinson had been accused to raping Bob Ewell’s daughter, Mayella. Although Atticus provided all the evidence that proved he was innocent, the jury declared him guilty and he was sent to a prison. There, he was shot dead by the guards after allegedly trying to escape. But this is all suspicious since Tom knew that he might still have a good chance of being released. It is also skeptical because the guards shot him seventeen times, an unnecessary amount, Atticus said “seventeen bullet holes in him. They didn’t have to shoot him that much” (Lee 268). Atticus realizesDill dares Jem to run up to the Radley’s door and touch it, which is a big deal to them. Scout’s comments and reactions aided in triggering her older brother to accept Dill’s dare. Scout teases and mocks him about being scared. She says that “in all his life, Jem had never declined a dare”, and he wasn’t about to now (Lee 14).When he hesitates, she laughs at him. He can’t admit that he’s scared, especially not to his little sister who would never let him live it down.

When Bob Ewell first takes the stand it is obvious to all that he is a wasted human being (Lee 230). Harper Lee crafts his image as a man who has no purpose in life, a drunken individual with flagrant disrespect for his own children. But this same image of Mr. Ewell asks the reader for empathy. Initially, one detests him. How could he risk a man’s life simply to hide the fact that he beat his daughter? When Atticus defends Mr. Robinson, he makes this moral dilemma clear to everyone inside the courthouse. But after the trial, Atticus understands that he has ruined this man’s reputation for life. Because he understands Bob Ewell’s unfortunate circumstances, he feels no hatred when the man spits upon him. Atticus’s principled stance even applies to men like Hitler. When Scout asks “But it’s okay to hate Hitler [sic]?” after school one day, Atticus responds: “It is not. It’s not okay to hate anybody” (Lee 330). This word of wisdom comes from Atticus understanding that Hitler has his own personal

In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch is represented as the stereotypical, all well-knowing fatherly figure to Jem and Scout, and more than oftenly teaches them moral lessons and how to behave as they are transitioning into young adulthood.  Three values that Atticus Finch heavily instills within his children is to live humbly, swear by equality, and have respect for everyone no matter what color your skin is or what you believe in.  These values shape and mold each Jem and Scout into independently minded children who learn wrong from right as the book’s plotline continues.

Atticus Finch, the 50-year-old father of Scout and Jem Finch, “was Maycomb County born and bred” and is related by blood or marriage to nearly every family in town. In comparison to the fathers of the other children at Scout and Jem’s school, Atticus is much older and repeatedly tells Jem that he is much too old to play football with him. He is a passionate, hardworking and unbiased defense lawyer; consequently, the town views him and his family as wealthy and educated people. It is seen as bizarre that he works in an office since the fathers of other children in the town have less refined careers. Scout describes that “he wore glasses…was nearly blind in his left eye” and also that he has “graying black hair and square face” and gradually the book paints a picture of Atticus. He is quite tall, wears a three-piece

Bob Ewell and the majority of Maycomb are indignant when Atticus voluntarily defends Tom Robinson, but they are even more furious at the outcome of the trial. Atticus is perceptive and courageous during the events of the trial as well as the tribulations concerning Mrs. Dubose. Regarding Bob Ewell harassing Atticus and spitting in his face, Scout narrates,“Miss Stephanie said Atticus didn’t bat an eye, just took out his handkerchief and wiped his face and stood there and let Mr. Ewell call him names wild horses could not bring her to repeat … I wish Bob Ewell wouldn’t chew tobacco.” (Chapter 23). Atticus’ graciousness in the face of such hate and ignorance illustrates his ability to respect those with absolutely no respect for him. He even finds reasons to understand where Bob Ewell is coming from, like the fact

Atticus Finch is one of the major characters in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus is a lawyer in Maycomb, Alabama, and the father of Scout and Jem Finch. Throughout the story Harper Lee portrays Atticus Finch as a courageous, wise man that is filled with integrity.

Some have more courage than others do. In the book To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee, Atticus, a father of two and lawyer, stands up for a colored man in a court of law. At first, the readers just see him as a studious, quiet father, who has unique parenting strategies, but as the book progresses, Atticus's character grows. His courage, honesty, boldness, and scruples shape his life. In the trial with Tom Robinson, this shows especially. His determination to create the best case he can even though the odds are stacked against him, show the perseverance and strength of mind he has. Throughout To Kill a Mocking Bird Atticus's character grows as a genuine, brave, godly, man.

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” - Atticus Finch. This is one of many important quote in this book. Therefore, in Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, it is indisputable that Scout's perspective on the world changes and she matures from influences from others. This idea is developed through Atticus Finch by demonstrating how to be humble, Arthur Radley (Boo) teaching her to learn about people before you judge them. While Miss Dubose explains the act of courage.