There are an infinite number of paths a person can take in this world, and every choice you make can change the world in some way. Some people inspirational leaders, some people have a knack for farming, some people have the minds to be scientists or doctors, and some can change the world case by case as lawyers. Over the course of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the character Atticus Finch makes a difference in the world in multiple different ways. Some of these include the way he raises his children, his dedication to doing his best and doing what he needs to do, and his morality and honor. There was a time where Atticus Finch was married and was leading a steady life with his children, but when his youngest child, Scout, was two, his wife died, leaving him to …show more content…
It falls to him alone to teach them the lessons that they’ll need to survive in life. One example of a lesson that he taught would be when after a particularly trying first day of school, Scout comes home complaining about her new teacher. Atticus sits her down and tells her that “you never really understand a person... until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (30). Atticus is an older man, and part of his job as a lawyer is seeing the world from all points of view. He understands the practical use of this lesson well, and so he passes it on to his children. This lesson will make Scout sympathise with the people around hers situations, even if she doesn’t like them or can’t relate, which will make her a more sympathetic person and will help her shape her life around her. Furthermore, Atticus had another chance to teach a lesson to one of his children when Jem, his son, in a fit of rage against Mrs.Dubose, a sour old woman who was a neighbor of the Finches, he cut off all of the buds on Mrs.Dubose’s camellias. In response to this, Atticus makes Jem read to her every night as both a lesson and a punishment. Eventually, after her death, he
However, he is still willing to do so out of his love. Moral education wise, Atticus passes on knowledge of many critical and beneficial ideals to Scout. For example, Atticus makes Scout and Jem read to Ms. Dubose as "punishment" for Jem smashing her flowers. During this period, the children learn a lot about Mrs. Dubose's situation, as well as her underlying character/persona; they realize she is a compassionate, brave, and tenacious woman. (In the end she give Jem the single White Camellia as token of her gratitude.) Afterwards, Atticus tells them "I wanted you to see something about her - I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that it’s a man with a gun in his hand." (Chapter 11, Page 112) Here, and throughout the whole experience he put them through, Atticus is teaching his children about the ideal of courage; it is not simply the use of violence, rather, it is the determination and persistence to succeed even against seemingly insurmountable odds. This is how Atticus shows his love for Scout by educating her in a variety of fields. (And through various methods)
As the predominant idol to Jem and Scout over the course of the novel, Atticus demonstrates that the ambitions people achieve deserve commemoration, even if their activities and stances are contentious. After vandalizing the entirety of Mrs. Dubose’s camellia bush garden, Jem attempts to justify his stunt to Atticus. Citing Mrs. Dubose’s appalling insults directed towards his father, Jem firmly believes that he is vindicated from any form of punishment. Consequently, Atticus makes it mandatory for Jem to read for Mrs. Dubose for over a month. After Jem finished his exercise, Atticus informs his children of Mrs. Dubose’s death roughly one month later. Revealing that Mrs. Dubose had an addiction to morphine, Atticus highlights that she retained
Jem learns from visiting Mrs. Dubose that not everything is how it seems at first glance. He also learns the value of courage and how it will later affect him as he matures into an adult. From what is described, the readers can draw a conclusion that Mrs. Dubose is impolite and bitter towards the children and is not afraid to speak her thoughts about Atticus defending Tom Robinson. As a result, Jem carries out his anger by destroying her flowers. He is later punished by Atticus by having to read to Mrs. Dubose certain days of the week for a period of time and work on her flowers. Through this process Jem is able to control his impulses and show kindness to those around him even if he does necessarily want to. This shows that Jem is becoming more of a young adult rather than a child. He also realizes that Mrs. Dubose is actually a woman of
Some of the most important people who influence or change society are willing to step outside the confines of their community and social values to express their individuality. For example, Jesus Christ, spiritual leader of Christianity and Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights activist, who were subject to hatred, rejection, ridicule, and risk their reputation and even their own lives. Lee’s book To Kill a Mockingbird, demonstrates that being an individual is more important than being a member of a community. Lee’s presents this through Atticus Finch’s role as an agent of change, who fights the injustice against the black community in the deep south in the late 1930’s, and the character of Scout, Atticus’s daughter, who longs for freedom against
Atticus Finch is a model father created by Harper Lee in the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird. He is an important figure in the Maycomb, Alabama Community. He raises his children, Jean Louise Finch (Scout) and Jeremy Atticus Finch (Jem) with wide sets of morals, disciplines them, and is a true role model. Atticus allows his children to be individuals and does not try to change who they are. He teaches them fairness and equality among many different types of people in Maycomb. He is always teaching his children about how their actions may affect others, then, as a result, devices punishments to teach Scout and Jem valued life lessons. In many situations, Atticus can chastise his children, but he allows them mature and notice their own mistakes
After the death of Mrs. Dubose, Atticus realizes that his son Jem is holding a grudge on Mrs. Dubose because she judged Atticus because of who he defends. Atticus Finch in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird teaches Jem the importance of not judging a person based off of their actions or words and other’s ideas. He makes his children realize that not everyone has the same ideas and beliefs as they do.
Scout comes home, frustrated about her first day at school. Scout’s positive expectations of school were crushed when Miss Caroline tells her to stop reading because she has been taught incorrectly. After school Scout explains her day at school to Atticus, and her teacher’s cluelessness and unreasonability. Scouts most valuable lesson from her first day of school comes from her father, where she learns to try to see situations from the others point of view. Ironically, Atticus teaches more to Scout and Jem, than their teacher, Miss Caroline,
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.
He then holds them responsible for what they do and say. Although his ways are different than the societal standards, Atticus’s involvement with his children is effective for discipline. He does not always discipline them in the same manner, but does so in ways fitting to the circumstances. Atticus chooses particular words to express exactly what his children need to hear in order to mend their ways. Often, he simply expresses his disappointment. Sometimes, he uses firm reprimanding. Once, we see Atticus use his keen intellect, employing what Scout calls “the oldest lawyer’s trick on record” (50) so that Jem admits to “putting [Mr. Radley’s] life’s history on display for the edification of the neighborhood” (49), as Atticus describes it. Scout’s father teaches by example countless times when he reminds her that “it ain’t time to worry yet” (70), even when a fire threatens to sweep away all of their belongings. In addition to his honest discussions with Scout and Jem, Atticus gives them many profound lessons through his intentional interactions with others.
He makes sure that the kids follow through with their punishment and always apologize for the trouble they caused. Atticus respects his children and help them with their education. Atticus reads to Scout every night. Atticus is the one who taught Scout to read. Atticus is still improving his relationship with the kids every day.
As a result of Atticus's decision, Jem and Scout get into a number of fights with classmates and their cousin when they taunt them and call Atticus a "nigger lover." Life seems to be full of lesson for Scout and Jem. For example, when a rabid dog chases Scout, she discovers that her father, whom she previously thought too old to do anything, does possess some talents. Atticus turns out be a crack shot, killing the dog in one shot at a great distance. Another time the children learn to be tolerant of people who have problems even though they say mean things. A neighbor, Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose, derides Atticus and spreads lies about him, and screams insults at the children when they pass by. Jem gets very angry at her and cuts off her flowers from her bushes. Instead of siding with Jem, Atticus feels that what he did is wrong and as punishment, Jem has to read out loud to her every day to take her mind off her predicament. Atticus holds this old woman up as an example of true courage as she
The relationships established by Atticus Finch with his children, the Ewells, and the rest of the town, including the black community, are a large reason why he is known as the moral center, and why it seems all immoral conflict revolves around him. The reader sees it play out in the plainest terms with his children. He is their father, and they respect him as such, but their respect for him surpasses their paternal relationship with him, demonstrated by how they refer to him as Atticus instead of “Father”. We see him teach Scout how to read, and the amount of time he spends with his children, even though the majority of the novel takes place during an important court case in his career. Along the way, he teaches them lessons, like how it’s
Dubose. Jem and Scout hated Mrs. Dubose, she was always disrespectful when they passed by her house. She would yell at them about many different things like their behavior, their father, what they would be when they grew up, them walking to town, and them not having their mother around anymore. Most of her comments were about how Atticus was defending a man of color in court. One day Jem went mad, he grabbed Scout’s baton and ran into the front yard and cut the tops off every camellia bush in sight, he didn't begin to calm down until the ground has green buds and leaves everywhere. Once he was finished trashing Mrs. Dubose’ yard he snapped the baton in half, threw it down, when Scout saw she started screaming. Jem pulled her hair, and kicked her down. When Atticus got home he was disappointed that Jem would do something like that, he told him to go to Mrs. Dubose’ house and talk to her. When Jem came back he said he cleaned for her, said sorry, and said that he would help them grow back. Mrs. Dubose told Jem to come to her house everyday after school and on Saturdays and read to her out loud for two hours for a whole month. On the first day they weren't there for a long time because about half way through it was time for Mrs. Dubose’s medicine, Jessie kicked them out because she had to get the
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.
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.