The Morality of Atticus Finch
In recent literary history, perhaps the strongest contender for the one character that has had the greatest influence on a generation is Atticus Finch, father of the protagonist in “To Kill A Mockingbird”. Both as a father, and a lawyer, he has served, and still today serves as a pillar of righteousness and morality. The ability for his morality to translate to all people, across ages, races, and cultures, is a feat preformed by Harper Lee in her masterpiece, “To Kill A Mockingbird”. She establishes Atticus Finch as the moral center of the novel by juxtaposing his actions and the relationships with those of the majority of Maycomb. In doing so, she has made him a cultural, and oftentimes personal icon. 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
When people think of heroes, they will likely think of Superman, Spiderman, or the Hulk, but Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird, has created a new hero. His name is Atticus Finch. Scout, Atticus’s daughter, says, “Our father didn’t do anything. He worked in an office, not a drug store. Atticus did not drive a dump truck for the county, he was not the sheriff, he did not farm, work in a garage, or do anything that could possibly arouse the admiration of anyone” (Lee 118). Although Scout does not consider her father to be neither youthful nor energetic, he does what all heroes do- he protects the innocent. The main theme of To Kill a Mockingbird is destroyed and preserved innocence, and without Atticus protecting the innocent, all innocence would be destroyed. Atticus embodies the theme of To Kill a Mockingbird and shows heroism by setting a good example for the children and the townspeople, giving insightful advice to his children, and protecting an innocent African American man before the civil rights era had even begun.
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.
Caring and noticeable is Harper Lee's, To Kill a Mockingbird take readers to the source of humans action, through faults and experiment, kindness and trouble, hatred and love, and the struggle between blacks and whites. Atticus Finch is a lawyer and a single parent at Maycomb town in the 1930’s. He was set by the judge to defend the guy who was charged with raping a white woman: Tom Robinson(Black man). Friends and neighbors of Atticus Finch were not happy with the fight Atticus was putting up to defend the man who was charged for raping a white woman. Not only does Atticus enjoy being a lawyer, Atticus even enjoy being a father of Jem and Scout. Atticus Finch is a excellent character who is known for certain accomplishment and superior. He is known for many stuff. Atticus Finch has remained a hero in modern days for american literature for decades and an honorable figure due to his honesty as a parent, a lawyer, and a respectable community members.
Being at the top of the social hierarchy has been a must for every American of past generations, but can lead to fatal damages for some trying to obtain that goal and a cause to ruin people’s lives. In a remarkably triumphant story on compassion, Harper Lee explored the horrors of racial prejudice in the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Set in the 1930’s, the poor town of Maycomb, Alabama has been hit by the depression hard, which created a vast, complex social pyramid, with distinct families and lifestyles. At the Finch household, composed of a little nine year old girl, Scout, a twelve year old boy Jem, and their father Atticus, proceed through a whirlwind of events throughout the next few years. Atticus, a lawyer who is a hardworking, honest man at the top of the social hierarchy of Maycomb, has to defend a colored man by the name of Tom Robinson. This happened to be very unusual for the time period, as the family has to transcend through the struggles in a racial prejudice town and learn the raw nature of the worst in humans, thus trying to overcome these events through compassion. The author utilizes metaphor, characterization, and mood to describe the situation of Maycomb, it soon then becomes very clear that the dangers of ruining innocence can lead to a vast road of horrors and evils.
It is rare to find a courageous and sympathetic person who is willing to stand against social injustice. In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus represents this rare hero. He is a lawyer and a single parent to his kids Jem and Scout. He understands that society should not be black and white and helps those who are mistreated. Not only does Atticus demonstrate acts of courage and empathy, he is also an excellent role model to his children. Atticus represents the qualities of a true hero by exposing injustice, and through courageous and sympathetic activities, teaching his children moral values.
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
If you were a parent would you want the best for your kids? Would you want to teach them to search out for the true meaning of dignity and respect? This was the goal of one father, Atticus Finch. Being a nearly fifty-year-old man with extremely young children he wanted to share his wisdom and firsthand experiences with his children to shape them into a respectable young man and woman. Throughout his life, Atticus is taught many experiences himself about not judging someone, and to stand up for the helpless and defenseless. Some important morals that he carried through to teach his children in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird is to never judge someone by their social class or race, and to fight for the justice of all the people of Maycomb.
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.
As Harper Lee indirectly characterizes him, Atticus Finch is a man of prevalent intelligence, serene wisdom, progressive politics, and admirable behavior. He guides his children with these qualities as they face the harsh realities of racism in the people they have grown to know and trust. When Atticus gives Scout crucial moral advice concerning her fellow classmates, he tells her, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view … until you climb into his skin and walk in it.” (Chapter 3). Atticus’ moral teachings such as this one not only governs the development of Scout’s character but it clearly stipulates his wisdom and reflects the straightforward manner in which he leads by his principles. His
Throughout Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, the reader surveys multiple personalities of different characters mentioned. These personalities vary greatly in meaning. In the novel, Lee has emphasized the importance of Atticus. The reader can deduce Atticus’ significance from the emphasis of his loyalty to his work and his family. Furthermore, with evidence of Atticus’ perseverance and experience, the audience can come to the conclusion that Atticus plays a crucial role in clarifying the meaning of the novel.
Atticus Finch, the father of Scout and Jem and a lawyer in Maycomb, is a compelling character in To Kill a Mockingbird. He catches the eye of many readers because of his honesty, courage, and his ability to be a outstanding father. We witness these qualities when Atticus defends Tom Robinson, helps his children grow, and the way he conducts himself with the angry white folks of Maycomb, AL. Atticus Finch is one of the main characters in this book portraying a role of a lawyer defending a black man, in a small-town with a majority of white supremacists. This essay will provide examples of the previous three traits to display how Atticus is a compelling character.
What are the influences a father has on his children? How about his community? The novel To Kill a Mockingbird involves many themes and symbolism of racism in the life of an average southern community taking place in the 1930´s. The reader sees this through the character Atticus Finch, the novel is able to teach and show these components in the book using Atticus´ perspective of being a lawyer, having to work for the racist and unjust legal system, and having to raise his kids to be open minded in these times. Not only does the character reflect to his children on how we have to stick with our integrity and do what is right, but he also shows the community that as a lawyer he will not use societies standards to determine his ability to see all as one. Atticus shows his view on racism and its place in the community today. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses the character Atticus Finch as a unifying device for the novel’s
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.
“To Kill a Mockingbird”, an acclaimed novel by Harper Lee, is recognized throughout the world. The novel follows a lawyer and his children prior to and during a legal case to defend a black male. That lawyers name is Atticus Finch. Atticus Finch is not just an ordinary father. He teaches his children things no parent of the 1930s, or even the modern time period, would think of doing. His style parenting, compared to modern day parenting and parenting in the 1930s, is unique and is not traditionally the way a parent wants to raise their child.
Perhaps the greatest hint of Atticus Finch’s moral constitution comes from Finch’s relationship with his two children. Uncommonly, the children are on a first-name basis with their father, yet by no means is this a gesture of contempt. In fact, Finch’s relationship with his children is predicated upon the highest order of respect—the respect that one shows another person by listening to and respecting their reasons, even