Who Is The Deadest Shot In To Kill A Mockingbird

Although Jem desperately wants to follow in Atticus’ footsteps, his innocence prevents him from being aware

a. Atticus is a wise man, committed to justice and equality, and his parenting style is based on fostering these virtues in his children—he even encourages Jem and Scout to call him “Atticus” so that they can interact on terms as equal as possible. Throughout the novel, Atticus works to develop Scout’s and Jem’s respective consciences, through both teaching, as when he tells Scout to put herself in a person’s shoes before she judges them.

‘She likes Jem better'n she likes me, anyway,' I concluded, and suggested that Atticus lose no time in packing her off. .. ‘Have you ever considered that Jem doesn't worry her half as much?' Atticus's voice was flinty. ‘I've no intention of getting rid of her, now or ever'" (27-30).

When Jem and Scout go running to Calpurnia because they see a mad dog down the street Atticus comes back to the house as soon as he can. The children soon discover that their father used to be the best shot in town and his old nickname was “One-shot Finch.” During this chapter the children truly separate and become more independent. Scout is always wanting to brag about how good her father is at shooting a gun while Jem interestingly enough, claims that his dad is "a gentleman, just like me!" because Atticus chose not to flaunt his gift with everyone that he saw.

In a display of quiet courage, Atticus Finch shoots down old Tim Johnson. Jeremy and Jean Louise Finch, children of Atticus Finch, spotted old Tim walking erratically, as if his right legs were shorter than his left legs. “He reminded me of a car stuck in a sandbed,” said Jeremy Finch, “He’d gone all lopsided.” “I thought mad dogs foamed at the mouth, galloped, leaped and lunged at throats, and I thought they did it in August. Had Tim Johnson behaved thus, I would have been less frightened,” stated young Jean Louise. Tim Johnson was headed right toward the Radley House, tried to turn around, but was having difficulty. Sheriff Heck Tate had to shoot him down but it was a one-shot job. “I tried telling Mr. Finch that if I shot and missed then

Atticus can’t do anything, according to Jem Finch. In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus is feeble, nearly blind, and too old to play tackle football. Atticus differs from most fathers in Maycomb, he never plays poker or goes fishing, doesn’t drink or smoke, and likes to read alone. Although Atticus might seem quite boring compared to other fathers in Maycomb, he is considered one of the most extraordinary father and human being in modern day literature. In a time where racism and unjust biased plagued the United States and the minds of it’s citizens, Atticus sees through society 's opinions, and listens to his core values. It is this reason that Atticus is role model not only for society but his children as well. Atticus Finch 's wisdom and insightful mindset about empathy,courage and race has left a truly positive impact on Jem and Scout.

Atticus is a wise father and helps his children accept people no matter how they look or act. This is evident when he says “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.” (Lee 33). Throughout the novel, Jem and Scout mature at different paces. Atticus guides his children as they begin to grow and mature. “It ain’t right, Atticus,” said Jem.” “No son, It’s not right.” (Lee 243). When Atticus lost the case, Jem expressed how he felt. He had tears on his face. Here was a turning point for Jem because he was old enough to understand the case. Atticus comforted him and agreed it was not right. Atticus shows affection towards his children when they saved him from trouble with “the mob”. “As they passed under a streetlight, Atticus reached out and massaged Jem’s hair, his one gesture of affection.” (Lee 176). At first, Atticus may have been frustrated with his children being at the office. Then, their innocence saved him. Atticus has many characteristics and is a loving father. Atticus displays a valuable lesson about equality and fairness for his children.

However, the kids are not quick to accepting people most of the time. Without Atticus being there to guide them along the path of righteousness, Jem and Scout would be just like any other kid in Maycomb. When the kids are confused as to why Atticus was trying to do the ethical thing and defend Tom, Miss Maudie has to explain to them that he was making "baby steps in the right direction" (183). When Jem is still absent minded about the ordeal, Miss Maudie says, "I simply want to tell you that there are some men in this world who were born to do our unpleasant jobs for us. Your father's one of them.' 'Oh,' said Jem. 'Well.' 'Don't you oh well me, sir,' Miss Maudie replied, recognizing Jem's fatalistic noises, 'you are not old enough to appreciate what I said'" (183). The kids are impetuous to judge people, like Boo Radley, and Atticus has to stand up for him against the children. Even if Scout and Jem do a good deed of exemplifying equality, they are following by Atticus' admirable example since he is their father and they live under his influence.

Atticus is guarding the jailhouse to make sure no one hurts Tom Robinson before his trial, when he is approached by Walter Cunningham and his fellow goons. Atticus shows his bravery by standing his ground for what he believes is right in front of his son. When Scout lashes out to her father’s side, Jem holds onto her and tries to stop her from interfering. Then Jem refuses to go home and stands up for his father’s side although the odds were against them, while trying to protect his sister from harm. In page 152, chapter 15, Scout says, “... but from the way he stood, Jem was not thinking of budging.” This shows us that Jem has matured from the boy who would do anything if dared, to a young man who can barricade his emotions and proceed with reason in difficult situations.

Although they beg and plead Atticus to teach them how to shoot, every time Jem or Scout asks Atticus tells them no. Jem and Scout do not understand why he says no and Scout starts to think Atticus is kind of boring. Atticus also being much older than most parents of kids in her age group does not help. After Scout and Jem see “One Shot Atticus” kill the Robinsons dog however, Scout changes her mind on her father being lame. Scout says "It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived." This quote shows Scout realizes that not everything is quite how it seems. Her boring father actually has an interesting past but he chooses to never shows off to his children. The neighbors told Scout that Atticus had put down his gun unless he was in an emergency, because Atticus felt that it was unfair of him to have an unfair advantage over killing animals. It can be implied that Scout respects her father even more than she did before because it no longer matters that Atticus is not like the other fathers, Scout thinks he is the best father she could ever

Jem is young and carefree in the beginning of the novel. He is just starting to take on the responsibilities of an older brother: “Jem condescended to take me to school the first day, a job usually done by one’s parents, but Atticus said Jem would be delighted to show me where my room was.” (p.20). Atticus is trusting Jem to safely get Scout to school, and help her

Scout and Jem were given air-rifles by their uncle Jack. With these new toys Jem started to have an interest in guns but Atticus wanted no part in the whole ordeal. Atticus says, “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird”(90). Lee uses this to point out the symbolic mockingbird and its deeper meaning of true innocence. When Atticus tells the children that it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird because they do no harm it can be traced to Tom. Tom had been falsely accused of rapping a woman and when a mocking bird dies so does its its innocence. As time swifts buy the children still have dirt on them because of the trial, this dirt causes both Jem and Scout to get attacked but luckily they are saved by a man known as Arthur “boo” Radley. This man had been cooped up in his house his whole life so when Atticus finds out what he killed the children's attacker he didn’t know what to do. Scout says, “Well it’d be sort of of like shooting a mockingbird”(276). Scout was replying to the ideas of not telling the town what Mr.Radley had done. When Scout says this it shows that she understands the depth behind this issue and the fact that she understood shows that this childhood blindness and innocence she had once had was now gone in a

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

Anti death of the author substantiates a reader's understanding of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. It is clear after reading “Big Bird” by Thomas Mallon that Nelle Harper Lee based many characters from her book off of people she knew in her lifetime. Some of these characters include Dill, whose inspiration came from Lee’s good friend Truman Capote, and Atticus, who was loosely based off of Lee’s actual father. Perhaps the most obvious example of knitting real people into the story is Harper Lee making herself Jean Louise “Scout” Finch. Lee was like Scout in many ways, including how she “shunned the standard cardigan-and-pearls of the all-female institution for a bomber jacket she’d been given by her brother,” just like how Scout

Since Jem enjoys doing "manly" things, Scout does them as well for she does not know any better and she wants to gain Jem's respect for her. As time goes by, Jem starts to mature himself, from an irresponsible boy to a sensitive, gentlemen, Mister Jem; he is always Scout's adored older brother. As Scout gets older, her Aunt Alexandra decides to try and get Scout to act more like the Jean Louise that she wants her be. The only time that Aunt Alexandra was around for a long period of time was during the trial when she came to live with the Finches when Atticus was the lawyer for Tom. Even though she disagrees with her brother, Atticus, with his way of raising his children, especially Scout, who should be taught to be a lady believes that in time, she will "come around"