Atticus Finch Sympathetic To Others

As a parent, what values would you want to teach your children? In the novel ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee, you read about the Finch family. The story is told from the perspective of the youngest Finch child, Scout Finch. This story revolves around Atticus Finch and the case he takes on as a lawyer, defending a black man. Scout and Jem Finch, Atticus’ children, grow as people and you read about them develop into individuals, and have their own individual thoughts on the reality of the issues in their society. Atticus wants to teach his children how to be sympathetic to others, how violence is not the solution to issues, and how everyone is equal.

Atticus wants Jem and Scout to acquire the value of being sympathetic to others. Atticus makes Jem help an elderly neighbor named Ms.Dubose and read to her because Jem was disrespectful to her. By doing this, you can see Atticus wants Jem to learn how to feel for others, and later on Jem realizes how sick Ms.Dubose truly was. Atticus wants Jem to be sympathetic and help others before thinking of himself. In another part of the novel, Atticus tells Scout about walking in someone else’s skin when Scout is curious about why Boo and other kids at school, and why they aren’t the same as her and her family. Atticus says, “You never really understand a person
Atticus wants his kids to know that everyone is equal so he welcomes Walter Cunningham in for lunch even though Walter is less wealthy than he. By doing this, Atticus shows his kids that no matter your “social class” your attitude defines who you are, not the amount of money you have. Atticus also shows his kids that everyone is equal by taking on the case on Tom Robinson. Atticus says, “I do my best to love everyone” (Lee). Therefore, after taking on the case, Atticus’ children see that no matter your skin color we are all human. His kids also find out the issue of racism in their