Atticus Finch Character Analysis

Atticus is considered very wise and in numerous ways, it was his intellect and foresight that helped him relate to others. He also always tried to do right next to Scout and Jem which makes him very compassionate and understanding. He has proven over and over his emotional connections and has shown incredible acts of empathy. And above all, Atticus’s ability to comprehend people emotionally proves that he is the most empathetic person out of

In conclusion, To Kill A Mockingbird has many examples of how characters show empathy to other characters. In this novel, one of the main themes or lessons Lee tries to teach the reader is empathy for others. To judge a person, you must walk in his “shoes” or “skin”. Throughout the novel, Atticus, Jem and Scout Finch mature and start showing empathy more and more and to more and more people. If it weren’t for empathy, no one would have defended Tom Robinson. A wise person told me many of our lawyers today as kids they decided to be lawyers because of Atticus Finch’s heroic

Atticus is the character who displays the most empathy towards others in the novel, and he is a primary example of the importance of this theme in the novel. Harper Lee writes about empathy mainly through Atticus and his ability to feel empathetic to others even in a situation

No matter what anybody says to you, don’t you let ‘em get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change...it’s a good one, even if it does resist learning’”(Lee 101). Atticus believes in pacifism and teaches his kids to behave the same way. He thinks Scout has the potential to be an intelligent child, but she needs to avoid physical confrontation and instead focus on using her mind to learn and mature. When Bob Ewell spits in his face, Atticus encourages his children to put themselves in the shoes of the Ewell family, saying, “‘If spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take. He had to take it out on somebody and I’d rather it be me than that houseful of children out there’”(Lee 292, 293). This exemplifies Atticus’ lessons on empathy, teaching his children that “‘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 39). By encouraging his children to resist fighting and instead use their sense to feel for others, Atticus teaches lessons on empathy and pacifism. In addition, Atticus’ teachings also include racism and morals.

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.

Many characters in To Kill a Mockingbird demonstrated empathy throughout the novel. Atticus strived to understand what other people were going through in all situations.

1) Atticus is an empathetic person who tries to make sure people are treated equally, and in the case of his children, that people should grow up and make a positive difference. Atticus shows his empathy by telling Scout to try to understand what Miss Caroline is going through. Harper Lee is trying to show that with empathy, everyone benefits, and there would be less hate and injustice. Atticus says, “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 39). Atticus is telling Scout to look at the world through Miss Caroline’s eyes, to see why Miss Caroline reacts the way that she does. Atticus believes that if Scout can see how scared Miss Caroline is, with teaching a new school in a new way, then Scout can understand what makes Miss Caroline act the way that she does. When Scout asks Atticus why he is angering the town by defending Tom Robinson, he says that he must, or else he would no longer be reputable. Atticus says, “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.” (Lee 101) Atticus leads by example, and that if he did not hold himself to the same standard that he wants Scout and Jem to be at, then he is no better than the rest of the town. He knows that he is going to lose, but wants to show his children that it is important to do the right thing no matter the consequences or result, and

“All I ever wanted was to reach out and touch another human being not just with my hands but with my heart” (Tahereh Mafi). In Harper Lee’s book, To Kill A Mockingbird, there is a focus on empathy throughout the story. The theme in the book about empathy is portrayed as a very important concept in order to maintain our humanity in society. In To Kill a Mockingbird, the person who is the most empathetic, has to be Atticus, as he has many shining moments in the book.

“Atticus was right. One time he said you never really understand a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough.” (Scout 374) I believe this quote is a good

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his/her point of view...Until you climb into his skin and walk around in it”(Lee 39). These words are empathy are consistently preached by Atticus to Scout and Jem in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus always has empathy for everyone no matter their social standing or personality. Atticus’s dealings with people that Scout dislikes or thinks less of teach Scout how to empathize and always be forgiving of others.

Atticus does not have a racist mind. For example, when Atticus is explaining to scout how to view the world he tells her “walk around in someone's skin” This Incorporeal idea of empathy illustrates Atticus`s understanding of the world and how to act when in public. Another example, Atticus took the case seriously, with reasonable evidence. As the other judge seemed insensate and oblivious towards The case at hand.”

Atticus teaches Scout that you must have empathy. One example is, “But when a man spends his Eli every checks on green whiskey, his children have a way of crying in hunger pains” (Lee 41). Atticus is

First, Atticus Finch is a genuine, moral literary character because he knows that you must understand a person and know them before you can judge them. "Scout," said Atticus, "when summer comes you'll have to keep your head about far worse things... it's not fair for you and Jem, I know that, but sometimes we have to make the best of things, and the way we conduct ourselves when the chips are down—well, all I can say is, when you and Jem are grown, maybe you'll look back on this with some compassion and some feeling that I didn't let you down." (ch.11 pg.120) Atticus tries to explain to Scout the importance of understanding someone and getting to know the person before she does things. Atticus can take time to know a person, watching their actions, and seeing how they act. He then understands them and their position better than before, which can help him to better comprehend and

Atticus was the most empathetic man I ever knew. He once said, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view-” (Lee 30). While

Another example that illustrates the dangers of a lack of empathy is the oppression that society enforces on the entire African American community. There is a plethora of instances of the unfair societal rules and apathetic treatment of the black community as a whole, especially with a setting in Alabama in the 1930s. An example of this is the unjust and ignorant mindset, which was incredibly prevent at the time, that stereotyped all African American people as immoral and subhuman. Most of society did not find it necessary to try to understand, sympathize with, or care about the black community, and this made it easy to categorize all black people as second class citizens. This depicts the message of the story, because it shows how a lack of empathy can lead to the systemic oppression of an entire group of people. A quote that illustrates this is when the text explains Atticus’s point that the Ewell’s case is based on, “The assumption---the evil assumption---that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted with our women,” (232). This quote illustrates that many people assume that black people are beneath them, without ever offering sympathy or understanding. It directly states how evil and dangerous this assumption can be, and in this case it even got a man killed. Furthermore, one more quote that demonstrates this point is when the text states Atticus’s dialogue, “You know the truth, and the truth is: some