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How Is Atticus Mature In To Kill A Mockingbird

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In her award-winning novel “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Harper Lee attempted to convey an idea of maturity and integrity through her usage of allusions and explicit characterizations in relations to Atticus; specifically, Lee utilized the fatherly personality in the novel to include traits of passion, charisma, wisdom, acceptance, kindness. After evaluating these characteristics, the reader is able to effectively connect Atticus to Rudyard Kipling's poem “If” which, in the end, enables the reader to acknowledge the growth of the “minor” protagonist in connection to his maturity and integrity. One thing the Atticus has an obvious appreciation for is honesty. He consistently encourages Jem and Scout to tell the truth and embrace their punishment …show more content…

Maturity is about acceptance: acceptance of the truth, personal downfalls, character flaws, failed relationships, all the negative aspects of life- and all the positive, missed opportunities, hate. Many people hated Atticus Finch because he was defending a negro man named Tom Robinson who was being accused of raping a youthful girl on account of the child's father. Although the townspeople openly shared their dislike of Atticus’s position, he never once swayed to the opposing opinions side to please his self-esteem; instead, he accepted the hate and stayed honest and loyal to himself and the people/things he cherished the most. Rudyard Kipling touched on the topic of hate, saying “or being hated, don’t give way to hating” as an example of a true man’s character traits. Atticus, even after hearing his own daughter exclaim “then why did Cecil say you defended niggers? He made it sound like you were runnin’ a still,” embraced the comment of loathe and simply replied with “Scout, you aren’t old enough to understand some things yet, but there’s been some high talk around town about defending this man.” His simple response shows his dignified spirit- if Lee’s development of his character was elementary, the maturity and integrity exhibited by Atticus would not thoroughly parallel Kipling’s poem

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