In his essay "The Myth of Immortality," Clarence Darrow explains his belief that life after death is a hoax and backs up his logic with logical reasoning. Darrow finds it hard to believe that life exists after death simply because there are no facts to prove that it exists. He states that "if people really believed in a beautiful, happy, glorious land waiting after death why don't they hasten themselves to it." Darrow also shows his discern in his views for the soul questioning that if we do have a soul, when is it created in the natural process of reproduction? He also questions "If a man has a soul that persists after death, that goes to a heaven of the blessed or to a hell of the damned, where are those places?" Moreover, he goes into detail and explains his reasoning against the resurrection of the body. He states the mere thought of such ideas beggars reason, ignores facts, and enthrones blind faith, wild dreams, hopeless hopes, and cowardly fears as sovereign of the human mind, despite the fact the bible clearly states that Jesus has risen from the dead and ascended into heaven. Darrow moves on into the scientific reasoning stating that people take comfort in the law that matter and force cannot be destroyed, meaning their soul lives on forever. Darrow continues and says that there is no proof that memory and consciousness exists after death. Even more, Darrow continues with his statement "We are assured that without faith, life is only desolation and despair." Or in other words, Darrow says that people "create" a place that exists after death in order to ease the natural fears. In conclusion Darrow states "we should be more kind to each other and make our lives easier for we live a common life and die a common…
Joe Thomas Mrs. Ferry, pd.7 English 11, 5.0 21 March 2001 Atticus the Approved Parent To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee reflects back to the Great Depression in the South. Scout and Jem Finch are siblings who live with their father Atticus Finch in the fictional town of Maycomb. The actions and words of Atticus 's children reflect his morals and beliefs. Atticus 's personal integrity, good morality, and his reasoning ability make him an exceptionally, effective parent.…
Throughout the course of our lives, we learn valuable lessons that shape us into responsible young adults. In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Jean Louise Finch, better known as “Scout,” has many coming of age experiences. As the story progresses, Scout becomes more respectful, knowledgeable, and empathetic.…
In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, Scout receives valuable and helpful advice from her father. Scout’s behaviour shows that she doesn’t truly understand Atticus’s advice. As she wanders life mistrusting others, judging them and refusing to acknowledge their emotions and point of view.…
In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch is a small town lawyer and a single parent raising two children. Atticus is a strong, intelligent, white male in his forties. He was raised in a Christian home and believes in treaty people fairly and with respect. Even though Atticus is a lawyer, he does not make much money in the town that he lives. He is not necessarily poor but he does not have much money either. His life revolves around his children and he loves them dearly. Atticus teaches his children many valuable lessons by treating them with respect and talking to them in a stern yet loving voice. He speaks to his children as if they were adults. He will honestly answer any question his children have. Atticus teaches his children about life and how to deal with problems they face in their community.…
Jem and scout are young and have not experienced the world very much but they are not too young to be exposed to evil. Atticus, Jem and Scout’s dad, Tries his hardest to make sure Jem and Scout don’t have to ever experience evil but he knows that there is no way to not too. At the time, Atticus is defending a black man, Tom Robbinson, and a lot of the town disagrees with it. Since Atticus is defending Tom, A lot of the kids give Jem and Scout a hard time because of what their parents tell them. In the book, Atticus says, “What bothers me is that Scout and Jem will have to asorb some pretty ugly things soon.…
Atticus promised Scout that he would "go on reading with her every night" if she would "concede the necessity of going to school." Later on in the book, Lee infers that he kept his word. Uncle Jack promised Scout that he would not tell Atticus the real reason why Scout got into a fight with her cousin, Francis. Scout recalls, "I waited on tenderhooks, for Uncle Jack to tell Atticus my side of it" and she goes on to say that he was a "prince of a fellow not to let me down." One of the main ways Atticus and Uncle Jack differ is their views of fairness toward Scout and Jem. Uncle Jack's unfairness is indicated when he jumped to the wrong conclusion and just "lit right into" Scout without even giving her a chance to explain. Afterwards, Scout explains to Uncle Jack about Atticus's fairness when she says, "'when Jem and I fuss Atticus doesn't ever just listen to Jem's side of it, he hears mine too'". After hearing this, Uncle Jack realizes that he knows nothing about children and I think inside he admires Atticus. Through dialogue with Jack, Atticus also says, "'when a child asks you something, answer him, for goodness sake"¦children are children, but they can spot an evasion quicker than adults, an evasion simply muddles the'". This reveals how Atticus is not only fair with his children physically, but also in a knowledgeable…
While Atticus is worrying about the Tom Robinson trial, Scout asks why he is worrying and with Atticus’ response, Jem explains to Scout “‘it’s something you wouldn’t understand.’” (Lee 131). She is then provoked by this, leading to her yelling at Jem because she is embarrassed and angry that Jem has changed and he understands more than her since he actually does. Additionally, Scout seems very angry as Atticus treats Jem more adult like, therefore allowing him to comprehend situations better. To Scout, it feels to her as though “Jem had acquired an alien set of values overnight” because he is now developing the mindset of a man as he has almost evolved from his childish ways (154). Furthermore, Scout is not used to Jem acting more adult-like so she is incredibly confused about Jem’s new personality. During the second half of the novel, he frequently tells Scout she is younger so she is not able to grasp the true meaning of things because he has changed from his older age and Scout has not. While doing this, Jem also reminds Scout “‘[she] can’t hold something in [her] mind but a little while’” and this shows her and readers that he is different now (226). After Jem mentions that to her, he elaborates by telling her that because he is older, it is different for grown-ups as they can have many things on their mind…
To show that he wants his children to stand up for what’s right, he leads by example. After finding out that Atticus is going to defend Tom Robinson; a black man, a ruckus is caused in the neighbourhood. Almost everyone is against Atticus standing up for Tom Robinson and a lot of the white community calls him a “nigger-lover.” (83) When Scout questions her father about why he has to defend a black man when the whole county is against it, he says that it was his ethical duty to defend Tom Robinson. It was the right thing to do because Atticus knew that Tom Robinson was wrongly convicted and even though it was almost certain that he would lose the case, it was important to try. “…If I didn’t I couldn’t hold my head up in town (…) or represent this county in the legislature. I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something…
Unlike his brother, Atticus is an expert in dealing with little children. His wise and firm opinions and deeds have had great influence on the characters of Jem and Scout as the novel proceeds. Miss Maudie says that “Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public streets”. He deals with Scout and Jem as if they are adults. For instance, he does not hesitate to answer Scout's question about the meaning of "rape", and he makes deals with his children and is committed to them. At the same time, Atticus understands that Jem and Scout are still children and they are bound to make childish mistakes. He finds excuses for their bad deeds and that makes him more patient with them than his sister Alexandra. For example, he says to her when she criticizes the language Scout uses that "bad language is a stage all children go through, and it dies with time when they learn they're not attracting attention with it." Atticus is eager to teach his children good values and practices through people’s mistakes and poor behaviour and their own mistakes in real life situations rather than by giving them instructions. He does not rebuke or punish Jem and Scout for attending the trial of Robison or for secretly following him to the jail where Robinson was kept. He is always aware of what his children secretly do. For example, he has known that it was Jem at whom Mr. Radely once shot his gun. Yet, he frequently draws their…
Atticus Finch’s influence on his daughter Scout is made clear through the importance he places on education. After Scouts first day of school, she complained to Atticus of how the teacher argued that the both of them should no longer read together, so then she no longer would need to go to school. Atticus decided to change Scouts thinking by encouraging her and saying "If you'll concede the necessity of going to school, we'll go on reading every night just as we always have.” Atticus perspective of this was to prove to Scout that no one should interfere of what you want to do or have been doing, as long as you feel it is right. During the course of the case proceedings of Tom Robinson, it was a difficult time period for the Finches but Atticus warned Scout that if even if she hears anything about it in school, she should do him a favor and “You just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don't you let 'em get your goat? An educational view on this would be that as Scout being a student she must be determined in order to achieve her goals. While at the trial , during Atticus closing argument he pointed out that “The most ridiculous example I can…
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.…
This third of the prison population that was placed in solitary confinement, one day may be released into society and asked to be socialized, when they were never rehabilitated, but rather segregated. The correctional facility is furthering the damage to inmate’s that are already psychologically unstable and furthering dissocializing these inmates, then releasing them. We would not even put animals in a situation where they would be isolated from others, because we understand the importance of socializing, but we do it to inmates and define it as humane and are confused why recidivism is so high. Solitary confinement without rehabilitation will lead to more issues, rather than solutions. Caging what society defines as animals, then isolating…
As the father of Jem and Scout, Atticus is a very understanding man. He attempts to teach Jem and Scout as they progress through life and through different events, and is the pillar of support for both children. Atticus is a very wise person, who respects all people around him regardless of what they think of him. He understands that people have their own views and opinions, and while they may be different from his or what he thinks is right, they still deserve to be respected and treated equally. He understands the value of empathy, and how it can be used to understand a person and how the person acts. This can be seen when he attempts to teach Scout about this value, "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." p33. Atticus, as a father, teaches Jem and Scout about moral values, and to respect other people no matter the circumstances. Atticus can be continually seen throughout the book attempting to divert Scout from her violent ways, and to never react to another person's actions or words. He displays this quality later in the book when Bob Ewell spits on Atticus' face, yet he calmly walks away from him. These qualities about Atticus develop the reader into feeling respect and admiration for Atticus himself, and tends to focus the reader more upon the words and…
Atticus does, however, prove to be a very good father. Whenever someone talks badly about her father, Scout will stand up to them and sometimes even do it violently. Everyone in the town, it seems, makes fun of Atticus because of the black American he is defending. They feel that he is a disgrace to his family and to the rest of the town. However, Atticus never lets that get to him, and he doesn’t want it to get to Scout either. When Scout asks her father about all of the bad things people are saying about him and the trial, he says “You might hear some ugly talk about it at school, but do one thing for me if you will: you just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don’t let ‘em get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change… it’s a good one, even if it does resist learning.” (101)…