Essay on Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird

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.

The definition of role model according to Merriam Webster Dictionary is, “someone a person admires and tries to be like” Atticus Finch is a role model for his kids, neighbors, enemies, friends, and family. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch is the father Jem and Scout. He is also a lawyer and a well known person throughout Maycomb, the town where the book takes place. He is a very influential character in the book and to the readers. Throughout To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus shows bravery, intelligence, and respect to everybody.

Atticus Finch is widely regarded as one of the most influential characters in modern literature. His pivotal role in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee exemplifies this influence and demonstrates his positive effect on his children, Jem and Scout. Throughout the novel, Atticus leads by example and provides lessons and teachings for his children to follow. His wisdom proves to be an instrumental part in the maturation and development of his children, and helps them to grow, learn, and adapt to the changing world around them. Atticus Finch teaches his children important lessons by forcing Jem read to Mrs. Dubose, remaining pacifistic, and defending Tom Robinson; therefore, he is a beneficial father and role model for his children.

Dubose starts yelling at the children from her porch rocking chair. Mrs. Dubose tells Scout how ugly she is and how bad of a parent Atticus is. Atticus comes to walk the children home and says to her, “ ‘Good evening, Mrs. Dubose! You look like a picture this evening’ “ (Lee 133). Atticus is able to control his thoughts and actions by remaining cool. His quiet dignity and even-keeled manner manifests in his genuine humility. Though Mrs. Dubose never says anything remotely kind to him or the children, he always smiles and responds with utmost politeness.

Whether in the form of a living person or a fictional character from a book or movie, heroes are prevalent in everyone's life. The typical view of a hero is someone who fights crime or saves people from mortal peril, but the true definition of a hero is a person of distinguished courage admired for their brave deeds and noble qualities. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch is the true definition of hero. Although he wasn't seen as a hero during the time the book took place, Atticus Finch is considered to be one of the most heroic figures in American Literature because of his courage, intelligence, and sense of what is right and what is wrong.

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.

Many people have some role model in their life. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, a lawyer named Atticus Finch displays a true role model to all in Macomb County. In To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee portrays the real role model that all should recognize and desire to follow. When in the courtroom or with his family, Atticus Finch resembles a good-natured man by heart. With his self-sacrificing nature, Atticus shows Macomb county residents what it means to give wholeheartedly to others despite who they are. Along with his self-sacrificing nature, Atticus displays a peaceful attitude despite any difficult circumstances he may face in his daily life. Finally, Atticus shows Macomb county how to think with a positive mindset. Weather

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.

Dubose. Mrs. Dubose was a morphine addict who was rude to everyone around her. Most citizens of Maycomb ignored her when she lectured them. However, Atticus was always polite to her. For example, when Atticus passed by her, he stated, “Good evening, Mrs. Dubose! You look like a picture this evening.” (133) This shows that Atticus treats her with respect, knowing that he is doing the right thing even though many others in Maycomb would disregard her. Despite Mrs. Dubose’s stereotypically rude attitude, Atticus is polite because he believes that stereotypes do not define one’s character. Also, when Scout told Atticus that Mrs. Dubose called him a “n-word lover,” he did not even get mad. Instead, Atticus told Scout, “... it’s never an insult to be called what someone thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn’t hurt you.” (144-145) Atticus realizes that Mrs. Dubose’s remark toward him represents how society viewed him, as he was defending a black man. He never resorts to revenge against others because he does not allow the remarks to affect him. Instead, he is polite to them, knowing that he is doing the right

One assertion about Atticus Finch is that he is a courageous man, who believes in what is right even when it may not be popular. In chapter 17-20, he proves that he is a courageous man when he’s forced with a court case, in which he has to defend Tom Robinson. A black man that was accused of raping a young white girl. The case occurs in the small town Maycomb, where the racial tensions are high. Atticus is a white man and since he is lawyer he has to defend Tom, he knows he cannot win, but he does what is right and goes through with it. That’s why he is courageous, willing to go against all the odds, and do what’s right. Another reason that Atticus is courageous is when Mrs. Dobouse says, “Atticus is a niger lover” (100). This also shows that everyone in the town is against him. They were all once his friends and now because of him defending a black man, now all of the town is against him.

Lee uses the character of Atticus to teach his kids the importance of empathy with Mrs.Dubose.. Dubose is a character who is mean to everyone. But Atticus treats her with respect. Jem,Scout and Dill all hate Mrs.Dubose because of the comments she makes about Atticus. “She’s an old lady and she’s ill. You just hold your head high and be a gentleman. Whatever she says to you, it’s your job not to let her make you mad” (Lee 132). Mrs. Dubose is addicted to morphine, which makes her say weird things and be very mean.Atticus is trying to tell them that no matter what happens or what Mrs.Dubose says leave it to yourself, don't take it out on others. Jem rages about what Mrs.Dubose says about Atticus. Atticus is trying to tell them not to let words hurt you. Every afternoon after Atticus comes home work he makes a complaint like “good evening, Mrs. Dubose! You look like a picture this evening” (Lee 132). Atticus is being very nice to Mrs. Dubose even though she is not nice to others. Atticus does not

Even though not everyone is always right, 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, instead of always trying to do what other people are doing or what they believe, he does what he believes is the right thing, and he teaches Scout and Jem important life lessons. To Kill a Mockingbird is a very compassionate and emotional book that explains important life lessons. In this book, the character Atticus Finch shows the reader different viewpoints of his life, which he teaches to his children.

In the past century, there have been many great novels written. One of which is Harper Lee's, 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. In the novel it introduces a prominent character who not only was a good father but also a well respected, and compassionate man. This person is Atticus Finch. Through all the struggles and pressures, he stands strong as a very positive father figure, making sure to educate his children with important values including equality, bravery, and knowledge.

As we were reading to kill a mockingbird I realized that Atticus Finch Is a really great father and lawyer. What really caught my eye in the book was when they accused Tom Robinson of allegedly raping Mayella Ewell. The fact that Tom Robinson only has one good arm and is left handed when Mayella Ewell had punch marks on her along with her neck being choked, all the evidence that Atticus presented showed that Tom Robinson was innocent. And then Tom Robinson ends up being guilty and what happened to him at the kind of end wasn't right and all Atticus wanted was justice and what end up happening to Tom Robinson was very unfair, just because of his skin color. If I was in Atticus position I would be disappointed because you would think people would see all the injustice happening at this time. And would see that what was happening ruined his life and they wouldn't like if that happen to them.

What is being a role model? Being a good role model is showing people how to be a good example by sticking to your own rules and standards yourself. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus shows this many times throughout the story. To Atticus, not following his own values means he cannot tell his children Scout and Jem to do anything anymore. There are three examples of when Scout and Jem learn to admire their father, when Tim Johnson had rabies, when he was a lawyer during a court session, and what happened after the court session.