Atticus Respect

Throughout the novel atticus demonstrates through his words and actions that it is important to treat everyone equally and with respect. Whether it is making someone feel comfortable or respecting other people's boundaries he teaches his children to follow his example. Atticus shows he treats everyone with respect when Walter cunningham comes to his house. After school Jem invited Walter to eat with them after Scout had beaten him up. At first he was unsure but he quickly warmed up. He became more comfortable especially when he was with Atticus. As Walter Ate “he and Atticus talked together like two men, to the wonderment of Jem and me. Atticus was expounding upon farm problems.”. (Lee 24 ) Atticus is showing respect to Walter Cunningham. He
is treating him like just an ordinary person not a boy out of a poor family that struggles everyday. Atticus makes sure that walter feels comfortable and makes conversation that Walter would enjoy. As Jem and Scout sit and watch Atticus, it teaches them how they should be mindful of others. How it is important to treat everyone equally no matter what race, what gender, how poor, how rich. Everyone was to be treated equally and with respect. Atticus also shows this when he realizes that Jem, Scout and Dill are playing a game about Boo Radley. Boo Radley is a hidden figure in the novel. There are many tales about him that are not all true. The children are fascinated with the mystery of what he looks like and what his true storys are. Although they have not been able to spot Boo Radley, they make up different pictures in their imagination. One day Jem came up with a game called the Boo Radley game. This game was Jem, Scout, and Dill reenacting the different stories of Boos life. They know that Atticus does not want them playing this game so they do not give him any information about it. Instead they use simple answers that give no real details. As they played the game atticus became suspicious, he knew that it must have to do with the Radleys. He confronted the children and said, ‘I’m going to tell you something and tell you one time: stop tormenting that man. … putting his life’s history on display for the edification of the neighborhood.’ … You stop this nonsense right now, every one of you.’” (Lee 49) Atticus believes that everyone should have equal advantages that everyone should be treated equally. Although Boo Radley is a mystery Atticus tells them that it is not right to reenact his life. They were reenacting stories that may not even be true and everyone could see them. Even though they didn't mean to, in a way they were making fun of Boo Radley. Atticus strictly tells them to not play anymore because it could be taken the wrong way and it was rude. If he did not treat people equally and with respect he would not have thought that it was rude and disrespectful. Instead he told the children that it was wrong. Even though Boo was different Atticus teaches Jem and Scout that they still have to treat him equally as if they would treat anyone else. They were to treat him with respect and not as someone who is different. Atticus teaches Jem and Scout through his words and actions that it is important to treat everyone equally and with respect. Not only does atticus treat everyone equally and with respect he also is unselfish.
He shows that he is unselfish when he takes the job of defending Tom Robinson. When Scout comes home from school she is upset that people were calling Atticus mean names. Such as a “nigger lover”. When she talks to Atticus about it with Atticus it is his response that truly shows that he is unselfish. Scout asked atticus why he was defending Tom Robinson, his reply was, “‘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. … I could never ask you to mind me again. Scout, simply by the nature of the work, every lawyer gets at least one case in his lifetime that affects him personally. ‘“ (lee 75,76). If Atticus denied the job of defending Tom he is saying that he would not be able to tell Scout and Jem what and what not to do. He couldn't tell them things that are right and wrong after he had done something so wrong. He wouldn't be able to walk in town without having a strait conscience of doing what was right. So he chose the right thing to do something that would be the best for everyone around him. The best option was to take the case and show Jem and Scout that even though you may know you can't succeed you have to at least try to help the person. By taking the case he would be doing what is best for his children, his neighbors and his county. Atticus not only shows he is unselfish
when he defends tom Robinson in his case but also when he protects Tom Robinson. After Atticus is told that Tom will be changing jails and that he will be in the county jail. HE takes it in his own hands to make sure that he stays safe.As the mob of men stand in front of Atticus at the jail they say, “‘You know what we want,’ another man said. “Get aside from the door, Mr. Finch.’ ‘You can turn around and go home again, Walter,’ Atticus said pleasantly’” (lee 151). Atticus sticks with his gut and stays to protect Tom. By protecting Tom he is putting his life at risk. But if he were to not protect tom he would be putting Tom's life at risk. He chose to put his life at risk to protect tom's life. That shows that he is being unselfish. Later that evening Scout and Jem are able to see him at the jailhouse protecting Tom. This teaches them that it is good to be unselfish and out others before yourself. In conclusion, Scout and Jem are able to watch their father lead by example. They see how he is unselfish and by watching him be unselfish they learn to do it to.
Through words and actions, Atticus demonstrates that he is empathetic to everyone, and by doing so he teaches his children to do the same.
Atticus demonstrates being empathetic when he is spit on and doesn't get angry. Bob Ewell stopped atticus at the post office and spit on him. Atticus simply did not get angry about it, instead he ignored it. When Atticus is explaining Jem why he didn't do anything when Bob spit on him he said, “Jem, see if you can stand in Bob Ewell’s shoes a minute. I destroyed his last shred of credibility at that trial, if he had any to begin with. The man had to have some kind of comeback, his kind always does. So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take. He had to take it out on somebody and I’d rather it be me than that houseful of children out there. “(lee 218). Atticus could have retaliated when being spit on, instead he thinks about his actions and does what is best. After he was spit on, Atticus quickly shifts his mind to thinking of what was going through Bob's mind. He was able to step into his shoes and understand his reasoning for spitting on him. Atticus treats Bob Ewell the way he would want to be treated, with empathy. Atticus is example of a person who has self control and is able to think about his actions.. He exhibits empathy and good character by saying nothing in return to Bob Ewell's actions. By saying nothing it prevented further harm to those around him. It
is shown that Atticus cares more about the Ewell's children than Bob Ewell does himself. Any day Atticus would rather have Bob Ewell take his anger out on him than Mayella and the other children. Atticus is a great example of an empathetic person who is able show empathy to everyone.. Through his example of empathy even when spit on, Atticus teaches his own children to be good citizens and show empathy just as he does. . Scout and Jem watch and learn and become better people in doing so. Atticus also shows empathy to not only white people but also black people. The morning after the trial Atticus receives many food and gifts from the black community. Even though they lost they still showed atticus appreciation for trying. When Atticus finds out that the black community gave him all of the food and gifts his, “eyes filled with tears. He did not speak for a moment. "Tell them I'm very grateful," he said. "Tell them--tell them they must never do it again. Times are too hard..." (Lee 213). Atticus is showing sympathy and is putting himself in the place of the black community. He understands how hard they work and how hard their lives are. He knows that they struggle and that is why he does not want them to send anymore food or gifts. He is showing empathy by stepping into their shoes and understanding their struggles. He understands that they are being very kind and generous but cares about their well being and shows empathy towards them. he is showing empathy to not only the white community but also the black community. This teaches his children how to be empathetic towards everyone because in his mind everyone should be treated equal. Atticus is mindful of everyone and he takes into consideration how they are feeling and what they are going through. He shows empathy throughout the book and along the way teaches his children to show empathy, not only to whites but to blacks too. No matter who they are, what race, what gender, how poor or how rich everyone should be shown empathy.