symbolism of fire
Tyler Webb
Mrs. Jones
9th Honors Literature
12 November 2013
To Kill a Mockingbird
In Harper Lee’s book, To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch shows many reasons as to why he is an excellent father. Atticus serves not only as a dad to his children, but also a teacher and a friend. He perfectly balances discipline and understanding for all of his kid’s problems. Atticus teaches his kids valuable lessons throughout the novel and shows great compassion toward Jem and Scout. For example, he taught his kids the true meaning of courage, he was there for Scout when she was upset, and he made a compromise with Scout when she did not want to go to school anymore.
Atticus taught Jem the true meaning of courage using Mrs. Dubose: “I wanted you to see
what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s
when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no
matter what ” (Lee 149). Atticus was a outstanding father in that circumstance because he was not only disciplining Jem, but he was also teaching him a very meaningful lesson. Scout was upset one night after school because she had a bad day and Atticus was there for her: “ Something wrong, Scout? ” (Lee 39) Atticus displayed the most common father-figure trait of all, love for his daughter. He could tell she was upset from her body language and decided to talk it out with her. He learned it was because Scout’s teacher at school told her to stop reading with Atticus. He knew that it meant a lot to Scout to read with him at night so he made a compromise with her: “If you’ll concede the necessity of going to school, we’ll go on reading every night just as we always have.” (Lee 41) He always reasoned with his kids to solve their problems and also make them happy. Atticus shot Tim Johnson with one shot, revealing his talent with a gun. Heck Tate began bragging on his ability, but Atticus cut him off: “Didn’t you
Mrs. Jones
9th Honors Literature
12 November 2013
To Kill a Mockingbird
In Harper Lee’s book, To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch shows many reasons as to why he is an excellent father. Atticus serves not only as a dad to his children, but also a teacher and a friend. He perfectly balances discipline and understanding for all of his kid’s problems. Atticus teaches his kids valuable lessons throughout the novel and shows great compassion toward Jem and Scout. For example, he taught his kids the true meaning of courage, he was there for Scout when she was upset, and he made a compromise with Scout when she did not want to go to school anymore.
Atticus taught Jem the true meaning of courage using Mrs. Dubose: “I wanted you to see
what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s
when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no
matter what ” (Lee 149). Atticus was a outstanding father in that circumstance because he was not only disciplining Jem, but he was also teaching him a very meaningful lesson. Scout was upset one night after school because she had a bad day and Atticus was there for her: “ Something wrong, Scout? ” (Lee 39) Atticus displayed the most common father-figure trait of all, love for his daughter. He could tell she was upset from her body language and decided to talk it out with her. He learned it was because Scout’s teacher at school told her to stop reading with Atticus. He knew that it meant a lot to Scout to read with him at night so he made a compromise with her: “If you’ll concede the necessity of going to school, we’ll go on reading every night just as we always have.” (Lee 41) He always reasoned with his kids to solve their problems and also make them happy. Atticus shot Tim Johnson with one shot, revealing his talent with a gun. Heck Tate began bragging on his ability, but Atticus cut him off: “Didn’t you