Preview

Why Is Atticus Finch Important In To Kill A Mockingbird

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
655 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Why Is Atticus Finch Important In To Kill A Mockingbird
the Man, the Lawyer, the Father, Atticus Finch. Lawyers are people who have many traits- people expect them to be cunning, deceiving, and intimidating. In to kill a mockingbird written by Harper Lee there is an exception to this rule. His name is Atticus Finch, a lawyer who constantly shows the type of man he really is. He does not judge people by their skin color, age, or appearance. He takes care of his two kid— Jem and Scout—without a wife. Atticus defends what is right to him and does not get caught in what others think is right. The main traits that Atticus displaces throughout this novel are inelegance, amiability, and kindness, which all help to make him an excellent man. The first trait of Atticus has that should be stated is intelligence. He shows his intelligence throughout the novel. The first example …show more content…
149). Atticus uses his intelligence throughout this novel his intelligence throughout this novel. The second trait that Atticus displays in this novel is admiralty. One of the many times that Atticus shows that he is amiable in To Kill a Mocking Bird is when he thought that Jem killed Bob Ewell-- the mean racist town drunk who has a grudge against Atticus because he defended Tom Robertson against the rape charges that he was facing —he did not try to hide it or cover it up. Another reason why Atticus is an easterly admirable person is the fact that he is the same in his house as he is in public. Ms. Maudie said “’Gracious child I was raveling a thread wasn’t even thinking about your father, but know that I am, I’ll say this: Atticus Finch is the same in his home as he is on public streets”’ (Lee. 61) the amiability that Atticus has shown throughout this novel only goes to show people what a wonderful man he

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus is the father of two children, Jem, and Scout. In the novel Atticus is a lawyer who is representing a colored man. The idea of a white man representing a colored man causes a lot of controversy between him and his children throughout the town. Through all the rumors, and arguments Atticus continues to keep a good mindset and continues to be a good example to Jem and Scout. Atticus appears to try to be a role model to his children.…

    • 428 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In the book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch is a lawyer defending a African American man who was falsely accused of rape. The story is set in the South during the Great Depression. Atticus Finch has been very well known for three main traits being bold, being fearful, being able to think outside the box. These traits caused others to be effected by him and his actions. Atticus is considered a good role model by the way he carries himself ,by the way he treats his kids and by the way he treats other people that he encounters.…

    • 451 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus Finch is a lawyer and Scout and Jem’s father. “... when my father, Atticus Finch, went to Montgomery to read law” (Lee 5). When the book said “To read law,” that means he is going to law school. He is a widower as Scout told us on page seven. “Our mother died when I was two,” is what she said exactly. He wears glasses, but they sometimes get in his way. “Atticus pushed his glasses…

    • 784 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the book To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee, one of the main characters is Atticus Finch. He is a highly looked upon lawyer in the small town of Maycomb county. He has two children, Jem and Jean Louise Finch. Atticus has a unique way of parenting his kids that some people do not approve of. He often gets criticized on how he raises his kids. Atticus Finch has flaws but, he is a respectable character within the book.…

    • 878 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    she has to remember to judge people on their intentions rather than their actions, and put herself into the other person's shoes in order to understand them best. The chapter establishes that Atticus can relate to all kinds of people, including poor farm children. The last sentence of the chapter, "Atticus was right," applies not only to his prediction that Jem will come down from his tree house if left alone, but also to most issues of character judgment. Atticus's opinions can usually be trusted, and he is convinced of the importance of dealing fairly and reasonably with all people, no matter what the…

    • 105 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Finally, Atticus reveals he makes the best choices whenever he can by saying, “[I]f you stand in Bob Ewell’s shoes for a minute. I destroyed his last shred of credibility”(Lee 292). When Atticus tells his children this, he is saying that it is not a good choice to judge someone without knowing what is going on in their life, and his children need to do the same. He is showing the right, and poise way to be, by showing his true colors, the mockingbird never tries to hide by whistling a different tune, it jumps in and goes with what the other birds are doing, Atticus expects what people do. Lee shows that Atticus is the mockingbird by displaying the characteristics; confidence and courage, purity, and…

    • 406 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch is the definition of a non-discriminatory and rebellious person, who single-handedly allows for Harper Lee’s purpose to be revealed. Atticus Finch violates the law of his community by believing that everyone is equal in life. This societal law is also defied by Atticus in treating an African American as a white person. Atticus also differs from the rest of his society by not conforming to accepted beliefs, even if his life and reputation would disappear. Atticus Finch defiance is found when he disregards the race and mental state of those he meets, and judges them based upon the validity of their beliefs. Atticus endures backlash towards these beliefs, which consequently reveals the author’s purpose as a statement on the awful inequality of discrimination of all people.…

    • 883 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “‘You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... until you climb into his skin and walk around in it,’” (39) said by Atticus Finch. Atticus, who appears in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird is widely considered one of the most outstanding characters in American literature. This is because he is fearless, self-sufficient, and a wise character. You can see all of these characteristics show through in his job, his fatherly figure, and his individual self.…

    • 705 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “I speak to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the president of the university” - (Albert Einstein). These words reflect the way Atticus Finch, protagonist, attorney, and father in Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, lives his life. There is no difference to him in regards to race, social status, or gender. Atticus Finch is an admirable gentleman who demonstrates intelligence and respectfulness throughout the Tom Robinson trial and his interactions with people who despised the fact that he was taking the case. He strongly believes in respect for people of color and passes his belief down to his children by taking the Tom Robinson case. Although he is at times too trusting of people, his words and actions continue to prove to his children and community how a real gentleman behaves.…

    • 667 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus Finch, a character in the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee questions the values of society. Atticus expresses the right for equality among all races. Atticus is the lawyer for Tom Robinson and this story focuses on the conflict within the trial he defends in order to support equality.…

    • 444 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Who Is Atticus Finch

    • 287 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Atticus Finch, a respected lawyer and the main character's father, is an exceptionally likeable character in the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. He will always stand up for what is right, which is an important factor in his representation of justice.…

    • 287 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Unlike his brother, Atticus is an expert in dealing with little children. His wise and firm opinions and deeds have had great influence on the characters of Jem and Scout as the novel proceeds. Miss Maudie says that “Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public streets”. He deals with Scout and Jem as if they are adults. For instance, he does not hesitate to answer Scout's question about the meaning of "rape", and he makes deals with his children and is committed to them. At the same time, Atticus understands that Jem and Scout are still children and they are bound to make childish mistakes. He finds excuses for their bad deeds and that makes him more patient with them than his sister Alexandra. For example, he says to her when she criticizes the language Scout uses that "bad language is a stage all children go through, and it dies with time when they learn they're not attracting attention with it." Atticus is eager to teach his children good values and practices through people’s mistakes and poor behaviour and their own mistakes in real life situations rather than by giving them instructions. He does not rebuke or punish Jem and Scout for attending the trial of Robison or for secretly following him to the jail where Robinson was kept. He is always aware of what his children secretly do. For example, he has known that it was Jem at whom Mr. Radely once shot his gun. Yet, he frequently draws their…

    • 1410 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus Finch Classic

    • 797 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Aunt Alexandra tells Jem and Scout they have to act like Finches. Initially, Atticus agrees with her, but says differently while he puts his children to bed, that “I don’t want you to remember it. Forget it.” (178). Atticus doesn’t want himself or his kids to act like the rest of their family. He likes everyone to think for themselves and be their own person. Again, Atticus is genuine when Heck is telling Atticus that Jem did not kill Bob Ewell, but in his shock, Atticus doesn’t believe him and thinks Tate is trying to cover up what Jem did. Atticus tells Mr. Tate that, “I don’t live that way.” (365). Atticus is an honest person, and he always tries to be honest and outright. He doesn’t act different around certain people or in certain social settings. As the Finches’ neighbor Miss Maudie Atkinson says, “Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public streets.” (61).…

    • 797 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    To kill a mockingbird

    • 398 Words
    • 1 Page

    Even though Atticus is just seen as a lawyer in the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird", Jem and Scout, his kids, come to realize what kind of a great father he is. Many people think a gun is used to kill innocent people or animals. Atticus shot this mad dog because if he had not, the dog would have been danger towards others. Miss Maudie tells Scout and Jem "forgot to tell you the other day that besides playing the Jew’s harp, Atticus Finch was the deadest shot in Maycomb County in his time" (Lee 98). This demonstrates that Scout and Jem come to understand and value Atticus when they see him come and kill the dog. Before this innocent happened they thought that Atticus was just a man who solved cases, but they never knew about the other side of their father. Atticus in this story is a lawyer who defends a black male named Tom Robinson. One of Atticus’s reason to defend Tom Robinson was that if he didn’t then he couldn’t be able to hold up his head in town and couldn’t represent this county in the legislature. He also couldn’t even tell Scout or Jem not to do something again. Jem and Scout come to admire Atticus when they figure out that Atticus is standing up for what he believes in even though most of the whole county doesn’t. Finally Atticus speaks to Jem about courage. He tries to develop that relationship with Jem by making him see things the way he does. For instance he talks about Mrs. Dubose to Jem and says “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” (112). This proves that Jem comes to admire Atticus through his speech because Atticus is using another person as an example then himself. He is using Mrs. Dubose as an example and tried to make him understand that she died beholden to nothing and no one. The reason Atticus explained it this way was because, he wanted Jem to understand…

    • 398 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Atticus Finch is a single father of two children, Jeremy Finch, also known as Jem Finch, and Jean Louise Finch, also known as Scout Finch. Atticus raises his kids by trying to instill good qualities and virtues, such as justice and equality. He also worked to develop a respective conscience in Jem and Scout. Atticus has a very kind and loving relationship with his kids. The parenting style of Atticus can’t be criticized, because he’s a single father and a lawyer. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus Finch has a good approach to parenting, a kind and loving relationship with his children, and his style of parenting can’t be criticized either.…

    • 708 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays