Throughout the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus' choices end up testing his respect, courage, and mental strength to their fullest extent. Atticus is widowed and is forced to raise his two kids, Scout and Jem, with the help of Calpurnia, the maid of the household. Atticus chooses to take the court case of Mr.Tom Robinson, a colored man, in Maycomb County. Maycomb happens to be a very prejudice town set during the Great Depression. He takes this case knowing that most of the towns people will resent him for it. This is where Atticus has to choose between what he thinks is right and what others will think of him throughout different situations in the book. Atticus shows the highest respect for everyone in Maycomb by not discriminating by …show more content…
His attitude towards Mrs.Dubose proves his characteristic. Even though Mrs.Dubose makes rude comments and harsh criticisms of Atticus and his children, he stil treats her in the kindest manner by complimenting her appearance and helping her into her chair. He also demonstrates respect when Mr.Ewell shows up at the post office and starts calling him harsh names. After Mr.Ewell had relieved himself of those words he spat into Atticus's face. Atticus did not do anything but wipe his face. He believes that, " ' you never really understand a person...until you climb into his skin and walk around in it' " (Lee 39). Believing in this Atticus respected Mr. Ewell because he knew he destroyed his pride. Atticus is a man with morals and respect is a big part of it. He proves this everyday through his teaching abilities to his children and his willingness to defend Tom Robinson. He respects everyone even if some people are undeserving of his
Atticus is an honorable man, kind and chivalrous to everyone he encounters. He is even polite to the people who call him a “nigger lover” and who spit at him. Mrs. Dubose calls Atticus a “nigger lover” and terrorizes his children, but he is still respectful to her. He even calls her a model and compliments her rose bushes. On a walk home from work Atticus says, “Good evening Mrs. Dubose! You look like a picture this evening”(115). Bob Ewell spat at Atticus on the post office corner, but Atticus does not retaliate. He keeps his head high and treats Ewell as an equal. Ewell threatens Atticus and his children, but Atticus is respectful to Bob Ewell. At a time where many people are prejudice against blacks, Atticus is caring to Calpurnia. He treats her as a member of the household, instead of an inferior.
Harper Lee's classic story, To Kill A Mockingbird, features an adventurous and compassionate main character, Scout, who is similar to a young boy named Louis. Throughout the novel, Scout continually finds herself in tricky situations that highlight these characteristics, which are some of her strongest traits. Although Louis is a ten-year-old boy from Pennsylvania, he exhibits the same spirit as a young Scout from Alabama.
He is politely displays to the people in the court how Tom Robinson is innocent. As well as, respectfully questioning the witnesses of their roles in the incident on November 21. Not to mention, the all-white jury are on Mayella Ewell’s side because she is white. And, no one believes Tom Robinson because of the fact that he is black. Clearly, Tom Robinson is innocent. During the trial, Mayella hesitates to answer questions and does not completely explain the situation. On the other hand, Tom Robinson does not hesitate to answer questions and explains everything in depth. In the novel, Atticus is fighting the community of Maycomb. For example, Mrs. Dubose's use of language towards him, Miss Stephanie Crawford's gossip, and even Walter Cunningham's threat on his life. However, Atticus is not affected by the community harassing him for defending Tom a black man, because he knows he is doing the right
Atticus’ client, Tom Robinson, is a black man accused of raping a white woman so there was no chance of him not being convicted. Scout, Jem, and their friend Dill spent their summers getting into trouble, playing together, and tormenting Boo Radley, their weird neighbor. Scout and her brother, Jem, grow up to be as reasonable and kind as their dad even though they are surrounded by racism and hatred in Maycomb, Alabama. Scout is
John 13: 15 says “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.” This verse clearly reveals that Christ has set the greatest example of what a life should look like. The many characteristics that Jesus exhibited while on earth should show in the life of any man or woman’s claiming to be a christian. Continually seen as a sort of God figure, Atticus Finch demonstrates strong character throughout To Kill a Mocking Bird. While he portrayal of Atticus’s perfection throughout the book may seem humanly impossible, but realizing that the characteristics he exhibits are Christ-like can greatly improve one’s understanding of living like Jesus Christ. Atticus Finch shows self-control and respect, forgiveness, and humbleness, all of which reflect the life of Christ.
However, to people who desire equality, Atticus was a hero inspiring change. Judge Taylor assigned the Tom Robinson case to Atticus due to his trust in him to fight for justice. “Whether Maycomb knows it or not, we’re paying the highest tribute we can pay a man. We trust him to do right. It’s that simple” (Lee 240). Even though most of the town treated Atticus fairly, they knew that Atticus is quite different. As Miss. Maudie explains to Aunt Alexandra why the town chose Atticus to defend Tom Robinson, it is clear that the case has taken a toll on all of the Finches. When a person is poor and convicted, especially a coloured man, their cases are given to new lawyers looking for experience. Usually, the verdict would be guilty due to the prejudice against coloured people and the lack of effort of lawyers. However, Atticus was the most open-minded lawyer in Maycomb and always strived for justice over prejudice or the perception of himself through others. No matter the situation, Atticus continued to fight for what is right. “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win” (Lee 78). Even though the chances of winning the case was slim, Atticus persevered and listened to his own conscience to be able to face Jem and Scout. Atticus was different from other lawyers as he believed that achieving justice and being true to oneself is more important than society’s prejudicial standards, which for a lawyer, is a vital quality for saving many innocent
Three character traits of Atticus are responsible, courageous and righteous. First of all Atticus is seen as a very responsible man in the novel. An example is that Atticus has brought up his children without a wife to support him. He has been responsible, to bring his children what they wanted, to provide them with the necessities they need, listen to them, answer their questions and mainly love them. This shows how responsible he is because he has brought up his kids in a fairly nice manner and let them fulfil their wishes, but with restrictions against wrong-doings. Another example that is connects to responsibility is that as a lawyer he has taken up Tom Robinson’s case even if he knew it would be difficult. He has showed the character trait f being responsible because he has supported his profession and even if it would cause
Atticus is one of the few people in Maycomb who are against prejudice, and Scout and Jem are lucky to have a father who does not agree with the mindset of racism. He guides them with his good morals and they listen to him: “’I just hope that Jem and Scout come to me for their answers instead of listening to the town.’” (117) The case of Tom Robinson showcases the extreme racism in Maycomb, but Scout and Jem were not satisfied with the verdict due to Atticus’ teachings. In addition, he has many good traits which Scout and Jem look up to.
A time in which racism was still prevalent. One of the characters, Atticus Finch, is an Alabama lawyer who defends African Americans in the prejudiced legal system. Jean Louise also known as Scout and Jem are Atticus’s children in which he raises with the help of Calpurnia, an African American housekeeper. When Atticus is appointed as the defense attorney for Tom Robinson, an African American accused of raping a white women named, Mayella Ewell, his children are taunted because of their father’s defense of a black man. The townspeople of Maycomb believed Tom was guilty while Atticus and the children believed in Tom's innocence. Critics had mixed responses on the book. Thomas DiPiero stated, “It relieves us of the responsibility of examining our own attitudes and beliefs about others, and it allows us the illusion that everyone is just like us”. DiPiero describes the novel as a way to help understand prejudice and how to avoid it. Stephen Metcalf on the other hand stated, “The confusion over whether this is a children's or an adult's book; the confusion over whether Scout is a child or an adult; to this we can add a third confusion, over what decade lays proper claim to “To Kill a Mockingbird”.
The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is one of the most widely recognized and influential classics of all time. Addressing the racial issues that took place in the South during 1930’s, the book is about a white lawyer Atticus, who is defending an African American man, Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson had been put on trial for the raping of a white woman, Mayella Ewell, despite him being innocent. During the trial, despite Atticus’s convincing evidence, Tom loses the case and later loses his life due to actions of him trying to reclaim his innocence. Atticus had two children whom he had been raising as a single father, Jeremy (Jem) and Jean Louise (Scout). Jem was the older brother of Scout and had played a major role within her life. As
In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, there are a wide variety of characters throughout the story. There is a father named Atticus Finch. He is a father of two children named Jem and Scout. Atticus wants to set a good example for his children and make sure that they make the right decisions as they grow up. He is an attorney defending a black man named Tom Robinson. This was tough for Atticus because during this case he lived in a majority white county in Maycomb, Alabama. Atticus believes that he should stand up for what is right even if the whole county disagrees with him.
“There’s nothing more sickening to me than a low-grade white man who’ll take advantage of a Negro’s ignorance” (Lee 296). In the book To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses many different conflicts to prove the point that overcoming obstacles is tough to do alone. The narrator of this book is Scout Finch, who takes us through her childhood in a city called Maycomb in Alabama in the 1930s. Maycomb is like every other city in the south, most people being racist. Scout and her brother, Jem, are the children of Atticus Finch, who tries to teach them many lessons about growing up and about life. Atticus is the lawyer for a black man named Tom Robinson in a trial where he is being trialed for raping a white woman named Mayella Ewell. It is a detriment that Tom is black because there is a lot of racism. Mayella’s family is a dirty and disrespectful family in that town. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses conflict to show that overcoming obstacles cannot be done by a single person.
Atticus Finch teaches the children in Maycomb county about the Negro’s and tell them all he knows, he loves everyone and accepts them into the town, Atticus believes the Negro’s should live in the town with all the people and even go to school with them, Atticus Finch gave a Black woman Calpurnia a job as a house made in his family home. Calpurnia is seen as a mother to Jem and Scout as their mother died when Jem was three. Atticus Finch has always accepted the Negro’s into Maycomb County even though not all his family does. When Aunt Alexandra comes to stay in the Finch household, she instantly wants Calpurnia gone. After a while, Atticus has showed Aunt Alexandra the good in Calpurnia. Aunt Alexandra eventually creates a relationship with Calpurnia and she soon accepts them. Atticus Finch is a great father and a good example for the children in Maycomb County he is a lawyer who will try his hardest to help the Negro’s win a case. In the book, he helps Tom Robinson but unfortunately looses the
However, although the cause was unpopular, Atticus felt compelled to protect not only Tom Robinson’s life, but to protect his honor. Truly selfless, Atticus represented Robinson despite the disapproval of his neighbors and some members of his family. As a result of Atticus’ involvement in the case, Atticus and his family are persecuted by racist villagers. Atticus’ moral compass compelled him to stand by a man whom he believed was innocent. Fueled by his convictions, Atticus demonstrated moral courage at great personal expense. By standing up for the rights of one black man, Atticus vindicated the rights of all of the blacks in Maycomb.
In the book To Kill a Mockingbird one of the most significant character is Atticus Finch. Atticus Finch is the father of two children, Scout who is the protagonist of To Kill a Mockingbird and Jem, who is the brother of Scout. But Atticus is also an important character within the book, as well as being a father, he is also the most outstanding lawyer in the town of Maycomb. As the story progresses, the reader learns more about the residents of Maycomb, and understands the ideal standards that are set, as well as how people within the story dealt, or accepted the ideal standards . Atticus is affected by the standards of Maycomb, but he responds to each of Maycomb’s standards in various ways.