Atticus Finch, the father of Jem and Scout in the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, is a magnificent character. He displays several qualities which makes him an interesting character. Atticus Finch is compassionate. This is evident when Atticus Finch, a lawyer is appointed by the local judge to defend Tom Robinson, a black man, who is accused of raping a white woman. Atticus discouraged violence, but strongly stands up for what he believed in. Atticus Finch is also courageous. .He taught his children to tolerate others, to act courageous, and to not judge people on what they look like. Atticus teaches Jem and Scout to act those ways by modelling those type of behaviour. Lastly, Atticus Finch is independent. He is exactly who everyone in Maycomb should admire and look up to. Atticus demonstrates by seeing people as equals when no one else can. This essay will show that Atticus Finch possesses the three qualities just mentioned. This essay will also show how the events/examples mentioned show Atticus unique qualities. Atticus FInch is compassionate. In the novel one sees this when he was defending Tom Robinson case. Atticus was a man who gratefully fought for what he believed in. For example, Atticus representing Tom Robinson in the courtroom, he knows he …show more content…
In the novel Atticus was the only white man in the town that would actually stand up for Tom Robinson, because he knew it was wrong to accuse him. He understood that taking the case would make him the enemy of the town. That no one would forgive him for believing in a negro rather than a white man. Atticus didn’t listen to anyone that was stubborn, even his sister disapprove about his decision, telling him he was bringing disgrace on the family. No matter how badly he represented himself, he did not change his mind. From these events the reader can infer that Atticus Finch has courage, he stood up for what was right, no matter what people thought about
Dr. Steve Maraboli, an author once stated, “The truth of your character is expressed through the choice of your actions. This refers to how important it is to develop good character and how it can be an example for others. In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch, the father of the protagonist Scout Finch, is man with with great character and example in the novel. Atticus is known as a good father to Jem and Scout, and his example to his children help them grow to be very intelligent young children. Furthermore, Atticus’s role as a very prominent lawyer, especially his will to defend black people like Tom Robinson, sets a great example to the people who are racist. Finally, Atticus, as a citizen of Maycomb uses his character
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.
Atticus Finch is a character from chapters 1-7 that demonstrates moral courage. Atticus shows moral courage. Atticus shows moral courage because he is an honest man. He often says to his kids to think of something from the others point of view, before someone judges them. “As Atticus had once advised me to do, I tried to climb into Jems skin and walk around in it.” (Page 64 paragraph 1) He always looked for and opportunity to make his children better people. Atticus told Scout to think about what Jem did and imagine herself in that situation. This shows that
Atticus is courageous, he is willing to do what need to be done, no matter what the outcome will be. He went and told Tom’s wife that he had been shot and killed, and nobody wants to hear that kind of news. He knew that if he defended Tom Robinson that he would be mocked
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view— until you climb in his skin and walk around in it,” says Atticus Finch. This iconic quote from Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird highlights the compassion for others that shows up several times in the story. Empathy is a prevalent theme in To Kill a Mockingbird and is displayed by several characters. Atticus Finch is one of the most compassionate characters. He sets an example for his kids, who also learn to empathize. Several other characters besides the Finch family show compassion for each other. The title of the novel itself symbolizes empathy for the innocent and accentuates the role of compassion in this novel.
It took an unimaginable amount of courage for Atticus to take the Tom Robinson case knowing he and his children would be harassed by all the other townspeople. For instance, when “My folks said your daddy was a disgrace an' that nigger oughta hang from the water tank” (105). Also, Atticus knew he had a very low chance of succeeding in winning the case, but he took it anyways. He knows the town will think differently about him solely because he is defending a black man. He also knows that his children will be shown a lot of hatred. Even knowing this, Atticus takes the case and tries his best. Not only did he know he would take hatred, he also knew he would lose. But, he knew this case would define who he was “every lawyer gets at least one case in his lifetime that affects him personally”(96). While talking to the Judge he knows that he will most likely not win, but that does not change his mind. He knows just because Tom Robinson is black that he will not win. The Jury will see the white man who claims his white daughter was raped and believe him with no doubt. No matter what Atticus says to try to change the jury’s mind, he knows he can only try his best. To summarize, Atticus shows courage knowing not only that the town would hate him, but also that he would lose the
Atticus is one of the characters who proves that courage is about thinking long and hard about what's right instead of relying on personal prejudice or gut reaction, and then doing what's right whether you win or lose. 2Throughout the whole case Atticus supported Tom Robinson; he went against the whole town just to help an innocent man. 3Atticus did everything he could do to defend Tom Robinson, but when he failed it really hurts him. When Aunt Alexandra told Atticus that he would ruin the family name, he still refused to change his mind. Throughout the whole novel Atticus still fought for what he believed in. Atticus told Jem that "As you grow older, you'll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don't you forget it-whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash" (page 233). Atticus stood up to Aunt
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
Atticus Finch in “To Kill A Mockingbird” did no conforming to the town when he chose to defend a black man, which was obscene back then. Being a lawyer, Atticus felt it was his responsibility and duty to defend the man and would feel ashamed and remorseful if he didn’t. Even when his own children questioned his actions, ‘"If you shouldn't be defendin' him, then why are you doing' it?"’ He answered them with what he knew they would understand and respect. ‘"For a number of reasons," said Atticus. "The main one is, if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature, I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do something again. […] Scout, simply by the nature of the work, every lawyer gets at least one case in his lifetime that affects him personally. This one's mine, I guess."’ (p.100) Atticus fought for what he thought was right, but ended up losing the lawsuit in the end. Nevertheless, his actions and choices earned him respect from every African American in that little town. Filled with gratitude for what Atticus had tried to do for one of their own, they wanted to give all the respect they could. The whole court house stood as he passed, and Reverend Sykes even said “Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father’s passin’.” (p.283) to have her understand her father was a great and noble person.
“I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” This quote by Atticus Finch, a character in To Kill a Mockingbird highlights one of the reasons why Atticus is honorable. Atticus Finch possesses admirable qualities that can inspire the readers. Atticus has a cool-temper and he never gets angry. He always does his best to pick the right choice, no matter the circumstances. He is courageous in numerous manners as well. These are only a few of the countless, respectable characteristics that Atticus portrays in this novel.
First of all, Atticus Finch can be evaluated as compassionate. This is first proven because he takes the case of Tom Robinson. Tom is a black man, so many have chosen to look down upon Atticus because of his decision to support him. One example of this is shown when Mrs. Dubose yells, “’Your father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for’” (Lee 135).
Even though not everyone is always right, Atticus Finch is a genuine, moral literary character because he knows that you must understand a person and know them before you can judge them, instead of always trying to do what other people are doing or what they believe, he does what he believes is the right thing, and he teaches Scout and Jem important life lessons. To Kill a Mockingbird is a very compassionate and emotional book that explains important life lessons. In this book, the character Atticus Finch shows the reader different viewpoints of his life, which he teaches to his children.
Atticus was a lawyer in the south during The Great Depression era. It was also a time of segregation and a town in the south are proudly found of being separate. Jim, his son, was upset and attics shared his for wisdom by saying, “They’re entitled to think and they’re entitled to full respect for their opinions,’ said Atticus ‘ but before i can live with other folks. I’ve got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.” (139-140). During this time, to have respect for coloreds was highly looked down upon, but Atticus knew that he didn’t agree with that. That being the reason, he risked his profile in town to defend Tom Robinson, a colored man, at a trail. On the contrary, going against society can be dangerous and can be more harmful than
Atticus Finch shows many heroic traits through the course of the novel; he is empathetic and acts for the greater good,
Atticus is a shining beacon of courage throughout the novel in many ways. He won’t change his beliefs to please anyone else, and also believed in the thought that racism was a problem, stating “Whenever a white man [cheats] a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash.” (Lee, 223). Atticus Finch is a lawyer who was appointed Tom Robinson’s case by Judge Taylor. Tom being a man of colour, the town folk assumed Atticus would carelessly make his way through the trial. Atticus was courageous enough to put as much effort into Tom Robinson’s case as he would any other white folk, knowing full well the uproar it would cause. He sacrificed both his reputation and the reputation of his family in trying to preserve what little innocence the town still had. Atticus’ courage comes in doing what is right, and even with the right argumentative points in court, even knowing they would never let Tom Robinson go, Atticus did all in his power to show how unjust the racist town of Maycomb