Explore the ways the relationship between Atticus and Scot is presented in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Explore the ways the relationship between Atticus and Scot is presented in To Kill a Mockingbird.
To begin, Scout is a lively five year old child. Unlike other people her age, she can read well, is very clever and is eager to learn. She is innocent and often doesn’t fully understand situations she is placed in. At the begging Scout is a tomboy (possibly write about symbolism in name) who enjoys playing outside with her brother Jem, however as the story continues her character develops and changes as she begins to turn into a woman.
Atticus is Scout and Jem’s father. He is a lawyer ad very well respected in the town of Maycomb. Throughout the story he receives a lot of criticism and some abuse for what he does in his job, however he overcomes and manages to stay calm and authoritative. Atticus is fifty, and considered to be quite old, fathering children so young, he brings Jem and Scout up without their mother as she died when they were very little.
Scout lives with Atticus, Jem and their house maid Calpurnia and goes to school in her local village. In the first half of the book Scout is very reliant on Atticus. They are fond of each other and share a loving and caring relationship. As the story continues, Atticus becomes more trusting and respectful of Scout and there are times where they seem more like friends than father and daughter. They seem to genuinely enjoy each other’s company and feel comfortable with their relationship. In part one Atticus acts very much as a teacher towards Scout as he communicates his ideas of how to act, in a way which she will understand. He also gives her a lot of help and guidance as Atticus is the first person Scout goes to when she needs something.
Atticus is always there when Scout is upset. In chapter three, Scout has had an awful day at school. Before she has even told Atticus that anything is wrong, he can already tell that she is upset. This implies that he has a good understanding of how Scouts actions show how she is feeling it also suggests he has been with her many times when she has been upset before. From this we can interpret that Atticus is always there to help Scout, and he is the first person she goes to. The first thing Atticus does when Scout presents her problem is sit down and cross his legs on the swing. This not only reveals to Scout that he is going to really listen and think about what she says but he uses his body language to show he is equal. By getting down to her level he indicates that he will talk to her on a one-to-one level and really wants to help her. As Scout finished telling Atticus what was wrong he gives hers some advice: ‘If you can learn a simple trick Scout, you’ll get along better with all kinds of folks. 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.’ Firstly Atticus uses some Finch idiolect, by using phrases such as a ‘a simple trick’ and ‘all kinds of folks’ he is using words Scout understands so he is able to help her. Finally Atticus uses a metaphor outlining how to relate to people. He knows that Scout will be able to understand this explanation because she will be able to picture what he is saying, indicating further understanding of his daughter.
Scout listens to her father, and respects what he says. In chapter five, Atticus has warned his children about playing the Boo Radley game, however, Jem is still insisting on getting around Atticus’ words and playing it and Scout describes her brothers views: ‘He still maintained, however that Atticus hadn’t said we couldn’t, therefore we could; and if Atticus ever said we couldn’t, Jem had thought of a way around it…’ Here Scout repeats ‘we couldn’t’ and this use of a rhetorical device clearly displays that Scout is thinking about what Atticus has said and is reluctant to go against his word. This demonstrates that Atticus has authority over Scout, which is key for a positive father and daughter relationship. Finally, it’s clear that Scout really cares about Atticus’ views on her as she doesn’t want to let him down or disappoint him by playing the game.
Atticus is protective of Scout and proud to have her as a daughter. In chapter eleven, Mrs Dubose is negative about Atticus’ children, and as Atticus and they walk past, Scout describes his actions: ‘He would return his hat to his head, swing me onto his shoulders in her very presence, and we would go home in twilight’. This not only displays to Mrs Dubose that Atticus loves his children but also conveys the message to Scout not to listen to what other people say. This act of love shows that Atticus is proud of his children the way they are and also reinforces the lesson Atticus taught Scout about standing in another person’s shoes and thinking about their point of view before retaliating.
In the second half of the book, there is more of a strain on Scout an Atticus’ relationship as the court case means he is under more pressure, and is less able to spend time with Scout. Atticus has to trust Scout as she will be under much abuse from his court case.
Scout and Atticus hold a stronger parent and child relationship from others featured in the book. Dill is quite a prominent character, and he comes to Maycomb in the holidays to play with Scout and Jem. He symbolises freedom, summer, fun but above all a broken home as he is shifted from house to house. At the beginning of part two Dill runs away from home, and explains to Scout why: ‘the thing is, what I’m tryin’ to say is – they do get on a lot better without me. I can’t help them any. They ain’t mean. They buy me everything I want, but it’s now-you’ve-got-it-go-play-with-it.’ This triggers Scout to think about what she would do if Atticus didn’t want her, and Dills story highlights through comparison how close Scout and Atticus are. He doesn’t brush her off with toys, or constantly leave her alone and this indicates that he really cares for her and that she is valuable in his life.
There other parent and child relationship which is revealed as the story goes on is that of Mayella Ewell and Bob Ewell. Not only is it hinted at in the court case that Bobs beats Mayella, but he also shouts an gets very heated, which is something Atticus never does. Again through comparison it becomes clear how Atticus and Scout have mutual respect and genuinely care for each other’s feelings and wellbeing.
The last chapter two chapters reveal a lot how Atticus and Scouts’ relationship has progressed throughout the story. One aspect of the internal narrative is the events of night time. There is a pattern throughout the book, that night time brings unfortunate events. At the beginning this was the fire, and then came the mob outside the jail, and finally the attack. This connection between night and terrible events warns the reader that something I going to happen. After the attack from Bob Ewell, Scout looks after Atticus. ‘Atticus looked like he needed cheering up. I ran to him and hugged him and kissed him with all my might’. This implies that Scout can read Atticus and knows when he is upset. She is also knows how to cheer him up and reassures him when he is down. It also shows an understanding of what he does for her and that Scout is there for him just as much as he is there for her.
Arthur Radley features very strongly in the final chapter of the story. Harper Lee uses suspense to keep the reader gripped and it takes virtually the whole story to fully unravel the mystery. Arthur is a symbol of mystery and unknown and in the mind of Scout he provokes fear and uncertainty due to past events. However when Scout meets him for the first time she shows respect and kindness and realises that she shouldn’t have judged him before she knew him. This reinforced Atticus’ words and enabled her to see exactly where her father was coming from.
Through the relationship of Scout and Atticus, Harper Lee’s views and opinions become clear, she present Atticus as a hero suggesting she agrees with his qualities of being non-prejudice equal and fair and fights for justice in society.