atticus finch essay

Mike Steele
Period 5
16 December 2011
English I
Mr. Johnson
Atticus Finch In the novel To Kill a Mocking Bird, by Harper Lee, is a story about innocence, knowledge, prejudice and courage. The main characters, Scout and Jem, starts out to be very immature children not knowing the prejudice around them. As the story goes on they gain knowledge of these times by fellow friends around them. Atticus Finch is respectable, honorable, and wise man who plays a very important role in this novel.
Atticus Finch is a very respectable gentleman. For example, when he says “Miss Mayella”(182). Atticus says as a sign of respect towards Mayella. When he speaks to her, they are in the court room where Atticus is questioning her about how she ‘claims’ she has been raped by a black man. However, he is asking her about her personal life and friends. This quote demonstrates the personality trait of respect, because he uses manners. Through the use of manners Atticus demonstrates the high respect he holds for people. Another trait of Atticus is his honor. When Scout is concluding the trial at her house, Scout thinks “There was one odd thing, though, that I never understood: in spite of Atticus’s shortcomings as a parent, people were content to re-elect him to the state legislature that year as usual, without opposition”(243). When scout was thinking this to herself she realized the trial’s significance. This illustrates the trait of honor by the state legislature voting him unanimously, this shows how much they trust and honor him. Lastly, Atticus is wise “Son,” he said to Jem, “I’m going to tell you something and tell you one time: stop tormenting that man. That goes for the other two of you”(49). Atticus finds Jem, Scout, and Dill trying to give Boo Radely a note, telling Boo to come out of his house. Atticus didn’t want the kids to bother Boo knowing that he was a shy man. Using his wisdom, he told the kids to stop because Atticus knew one day they would understand Boo. Over all, Atticus had an important role in that he was respectful, honorable, and without a doubt, wise. These traits relate to people and help them in everyday lives when people have to make a hard decision, they honor their decision. Also, having respect for your elder and being wise in school and out of school making the right decisions.