How Is Atticus Finch’s Character Introduced and Developed in Part 1?

How is Atticus Finch’s Character Introduced and Developed in Part 1?

Atticus is introduced the reader when Scout wants to settle an argument between her and her brother. This immediately tells the reader that he is a person who the children can trust and know is wise and knowledgeable. The simple act of calling him "Atticus" and not "father" brings Scout and Jem to the same level as Atticus, showing their relationship with their father is very strong. At the beginning Atticus is presented to be a well-known, well respected and high up in society. Part of Atticus' role as a father is teacher. Most of Scout and Jem's knowledge comes from Atticus. He teaches them the important life lessons that they can't learn from books or blackboards. "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". This conversation between Atticus and Scout comes early in the novel, and helps the reader to appreciate the bond between Atticus and his children. They respect him as their father, and they value his opinions and advice. Atticus teaches through example, for example his lessons in morality and ethics come in the courtroom, when he's defending Tom Robinson.
Atticus is portrayed to be very open about his feelings and views with everyone especially his children; “Atticus said the Ewells had been the disgrace of Maycomb”. This again shows his trust in people and in his views in that he is not afraid to speak out and act out from the normal.
Atticus is shown to be always helping and teaching his children. He tries to get Jem and Scout to see things from other people's point of view. He explains to Scout why Mr Ewell poaches to feed his family and he makes the children think about Boo Radley's life. He is very honest. He tells Jem and Scout the truth about their relatives - rather than the gilded version Aunt Alexandra prefers. When he mistakenly believes that it was Jem who killed Mr Ewell, he is keen not to prevent Jem being punished. He has a dry sense of humour. For instance, when Jem is anxious about going to Mrs Dubose's to read because it is dark and spooky, Atticus tells him: "That should appeal to your imagination. Just imagine you're inside the Radley house".
At the introduction of the trial Atticus reveals a lot about his feelings and thoughts to his children. “’It’s different this time’, he said ‘this time we aren’t fighting the Yankees we’re fighting our friends’”. In this he’s comparing the trial to war and implying a sense of betrayal towards black people. Atticus has very strong morals. Throughout the play and more specifically the trial he sticks up for his values even though he knows the consequences that enforcing them will occur to him and his children. This in itself is another way he has taught his children in that they get ‘bullied’ because of the prejudice of the town yet he teaches them to remain vigilant.
Empathy is something we can see in Atticus the whole way through the play but we really see it when he addresses Jem about his incident with Mrs Dubose and teaches him to be “gentlemanly”, and that you don’t need the same views as someone to talk with them. He does this in spite of the views she has about him and what she says to his children.