Examples Of Atticus Doing What's Right In To Kill A Mockingbird
In “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, Jem Finch discovers that it’s essential to do what’s right even if it’s not a favored decision. Examples of this are shown throughout the book as Jem becomes exposed to more knowledge, and Atticus, his father, is a prime example of what’s just. It’s important to learn the lesson of doing what’s right because without it, you’ll lose self-esteem and respect. Not doing what’s right can lead to severe punishments both physically and mentally. Doing something wrong, and even just doing nothing can eat away at you, and doing the right thing will never be worse than that.
Throughout the book it shows how Jem uses Atticus as an example of what’s right. Atticus was a role model who helped Jem understand an
important lesson, the value of doing the right thing. When Jem learns of Atticus’ nickname “One-shot Finch”, he was surprised Atticus had never told him. In this way, he learns his first lesson in modesty, which goes hand and hand with doing the right thing and being selfless. One of the most substantial examples of where Jem does what’s right was when Jem stood by his father the night a lynch mob was at the jail. “Go home Jem,” Atticus ordered. “Take Scout and Dill home.” Jem refused to budge. “‘Son, I said go home.’ Jem shook his head.” He understood that Atticus was trying to do the right thing, and he would stand by his side. “I assumed that Atticus was giving him hell for not going home, but I was wrong. As they passed under a streetlight, Atticus reached out and massaged Jem’s hair, his one gesture of affection” (155).
About halfway through the book, Jem and Scout discovered Dill hiding under Scout’s bed. “‘You oughta let your mother know where you are,’ said Jem. ‘You oughta let her know you’re here….’”(141). This quote proves that even though Dill was his friend, Jem knew the right thing was to inform the adults about his arrival. “Atticus.” Jem called, “can you come here a minute, sir?” Jem was growing up, and he made the unpopular decision because he knew it was right. It was worth Scout and Dill avoiding him for a little while.
In the courtroom, Jem was intelligent enough to know that Tom Robinson’s case should’ve been ruled “not guilty”. When he was found guilty, Jem knew it was unjust and “his shoulders jerked as if each ‘guilty’ was a separate stab between them” (211). Jem later began to cry; “It ain’t right” (212).The racism in the court hurt Jem so tremendously because he’d finally figured out that people should always do the right thing, and when they didn’t it upset him.
Jem propelled his way through some serious events throughout the book like the mob, the courtroom, and other realities. These allowed him to better understand the world. Jem learned what decisions are moral; however, he realized that life isn’t always just, but that he can always, and will always, do the right thing.
Throughout the book it shows how Jem uses Atticus as an example of what’s right. Atticus was a role model who helped Jem understand an
important lesson, the value of doing the right thing. When Jem learns of Atticus’ nickname “One-shot Finch”, he was surprised Atticus had never told him. In this way, he learns his first lesson in modesty, which goes hand and hand with doing the right thing and being selfless. One of the most substantial examples of where Jem does what’s right was when Jem stood by his father the night a lynch mob was at the jail. “Go home Jem,” Atticus ordered. “Take Scout and Dill home.” Jem refused to budge. “‘Son, I said go home.’ Jem shook his head.” He understood that Atticus was trying to do the right thing, and he would stand by his side. “I assumed that Atticus was giving him hell for not going home, but I was wrong. As they passed under a streetlight, Atticus reached out and massaged Jem’s hair, his one gesture of affection” (155).
About halfway through the book, Jem and Scout discovered Dill hiding under Scout’s bed. “‘You oughta let your mother know where you are,’ said Jem. ‘You oughta let her know you’re here….’”(141). This quote proves that even though Dill was his friend, Jem knew the right thing was to inform the adults about his arrival. “Atticus.” Jem called, “can you come here a minute, sir?” Jem was growing up, and he made the unpopular decision because he knew it was right. It was worth Scout and Dill avoiding him for a little while.
In the courtroom, Jem was intelligent enough to know that Tom Robinson’s case should’ve been ruled “not guilty”. When he was found guilty, Jem knew it was unjust and “his shoulders jerked as if each ‘guilty’ was a separate stab between them” (211). Jem later began to cry; “It ain’t right” (212).The racism in the court hurt Jem so tremendously because he’d finally figured out that people should always do the right thing, and when they didn’t it upset him.
Jem propelled his way through some serious events throughout the book like the mob, the courtroom, and other realities. These allowed him to better understand the world. Jem learned what decisions are moral; however, he realized that life isn’t always just, but that he can always, and will always, do the right thing.