Dynamic Character Quotes

“But before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself. The one thing that does not abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.” (Lee, pg. 140) Throughout the novel: To Kill A Mockingbird Atticus tries to stay even-handed about everyone. He never wants to assume the worst of anyone, not even in his own home would he ever talk poorly of someone. He wants to stay the same in his own home as he does on the town. He feels that the only way for people around him to see him as a fair, moral man, he must first feel that way about himself. To make himself feel this way about himself he must always see the best in all people.

This family member feels ashamed because of Atticus’ choice. He is labeled in his family for doing his job, thus making him a mockingbird. Atticus was also attacked through his children. Bob Ewell attacked Atticus’ children to get back at Atticus for being a lawyer to protect a black man. “Heck, Atticus Finch. Someone’s been after my children” (Lee 263). This tells us that Bob is attacking Atticus’ children, from the anger he has for Atticus. Atticus did nothing to receive this pain, which proves he is an innocent man. As well is Atticus being a victim of unfair violence and judgment, Boo Radley is treated unfair in this same society.

"Never be Afraid to Stand Up for what's Right." This statement is very powerful. Throughout the book To Kill a Mockingbird, this theme has been portrayed many times. Atticus is a main example for this theme. In every circumstance, or problem that he faced he fought for what was right, even if it was against the crowd. In the court room the setting of the theme was portrayed because Atticus was standing up for Tom and equality. Not only was he not afraid, he stood up for what was right even knowing he'd be called things like "a disgrace to the family" (chapter 13) and "a N- lover"(chapter 9). Throughout the plot we see Atticus standing up for what he believed in. Not only with Tom, but at the end of the book he even wanted to take

resist learning.” (Chapter nine) Atticus was a fair lawyer, his promise to always defend everyone equally is shown greatly in how he could never hold his head high if he had treated Tom Robinson differently and did not give him a fair chance. Most lawyers then would not have supported colored people, because a lot people could not see them as normal people or equals.

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.

This single quote is the most meaningful passage in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and in turn has a major impact to the content of the novel and to the emotions of the reader.

The quote is vital to life because empathy and compassion are vital to being a good human being in every sense. In the same fashion Atticus is again talking to Scout about why he is defending Tom Robinson, “The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience.” This quote means that an individual person is the master of their own mind and they are responsible for it too. This quote supports the topic sentence because someone with a morale code bound by empathy and compassion would feel this way. They would take responsibility for themselves through a morale code as opposed to following the crowd and not questioning hate. It is important to the book because it explains Atticus's motivation. Corresponding with the last two quotes It is late at night and Atticus is sitting in front of the jailhouse with Tom Robinson inside when a mob of hooded men arrive demanding justice at the expense of Mr. Robinson. The three kids show up and cool things down by their presence but not completely until Scout recognizes Mr. Cunningham: "'What's the matter?' I asked. Atticus said nothing. I looked up at Mr. Cunningham, whose face was equally impassive. Then he did a peculiar thing. He squatted down and took me by both

After the trial, Atticus explains how his kind gesture impacted others. He tells Jem, “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. You understand?” (Lee 180). This quotation shows the direct result of how compassion can affect other people. When faced with the same situation, many people would choose to use unkind words or even physical violence to get revenge on Bob Ewell. This would lead to further conflict and perhaps some regrets as well. Atticus’ actions in this situation prove furthermore how kindness always wins. Although hate and anger are directed at him, he chooses to see the bigger picture and realizes that by not fighting back, he is saving Mayella and the Ewell children from a possible beating. He understands that Bob Ewell needs to take his frustration out on someone and he would rather it be him than the children. In the long run, this makes Atticus a hero, as he chooses compassion over

Initially, Atticus Finch was compared to a mockingbird because it was a sin to mutilate him. Atticus Finch was a inclusive man, and Atticus always taught his children to treat people with regard. Atticus once said, "If you ever see a white man being rude to a colored man, it don't matter how rich he is. "It is wrong." Atticus also had some tough times; for example, he stood up for a colored man who was accused of rape and he took steps against prejudice behavior. Atticus also got verbally and physically abused for standing up, when he defended a colored man who was falsely accused of rape. Atticus worked hard on the case, He never gave up even though it harmed his reputation in the community. Bob Ewell felling Atticus made him look unwise and guilty in the situation. Bob Retaliated by threatening, and spitting in Atticus face. Atticus was a good sport and ended up making

This can be shown in multiple instances throughout the novel. Although Bob is a father, he does not carry out his responsibilities when it comes to caring for his children. For example, he doesn’t make his children attend school so they do not have the proper education. In addition, he is an alcoholic and spends all of the money he has, which is not a lot, on alcohol instead of food, clothes, and other necessities. When he is drunk, he beats his children as well. Failing to carry out his duties as a father is not the only example that proves he has no integrity or moral goodness. Bob also lied under oath about Tom Robinson raping Mayella, when he was the one who actually beat and raped. If he did have moral values, he would have told the truth and took responsibility for his actions. His actions and behavior are shown best when he spits on Atticus and threatens him as a sign of disrespect and hatred for representing a black man in court. In the story, he doesn’t show guilt at all after making the immoral choice to accuse Tom Robinson of rape and beating Mayella. Overall, Bob Ewell does not stand for any morals and therefore is not person of

Well, the basic message is that this quote lies in life lessons and responsibilities. Atticus wants to teach this lesson to younger audiences. The quote has the fact that people can't live with himself or herself. So, a person who doesn't live by their own beliefs will be taken over by their own mind or consciousness.

When Atticus is explaining to Scout and Jem, Bob Ewell’s disgusting behavior, he tells them, “‘the man had to have some kind of comeback, his kind always does. So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella one extra beating, that’s something i’ll gladly take.”’(292-293). Atticus would want Bob Ewell to hurt him rather than his own children. Furthermore, when people speak poorly of Atticus, he also understands why they are disrespecting him. Atticus is explaining to his children that you have your own mind and you are entitled to think whatever you want and people can not change what people think about other things and other people, “‘ they’re certainly entitled to think that, and they’re entitled to full respect on their opinions”’(139). Just because other people do not like someone's opinion they can not control it. So, when Atticus tries to fight for justice for Tom Robinson there is always going to be consequences, even when he is trying to do something that is

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 the third chapter of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus proclaims 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” (P. 39). By including this statement Lee presents to us the idea of empathy and that, in the words of author Madeleine L’Engle in her book A Wrinkle in Time, ‘people are more than just the way they look’. Applying this concept to some of Lee’s characters in the book can teach us invaluable

Lastly, Atticus emphasizes how vital inner peace and making the moral decision in a given situation is to maturation. For instance, in a conversation with his children, Atticus comments, “Before I can live with other folks I got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn’t abide by a majority rule is a man’s conscience.” (Lee 105) By emphasizing the importance of having personal integrity and doing the ethical thing in any circumstance, Atticus provides his children with wisdom that will carry them through life. Therefore, through unremittingly reiterating the importance of moral decisions, proving the need for pacifism and establishing the importance of multiple perspectives, Atticus verifies himself as a major contributor in Jem and Scout’s development into adolescence.