To Kill a Mockingbird- Is Atticus Finch a Good Father?
Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird depicts Atticus Finch as a good father to his children due to his sense of fairness, his teaching, and his honesty. Atticus depicts fairness by treating his children and all others with respect and understanding. He teaches his children important life lessons and prepares them for when they go out into the world, and he sets a good example by always being honest. To be a good father, these are three very important qualities to possess.
Atticus Finch’s fairness shows that he is a good father to Jem and Scout because instead of simply denying his children’s of everything they ask him, he allows them a chance to explain and offers a compromise. For example, in the scene where Scout informs Atticus that she does not want to go to school anymore, he says to her, “Do you know what a compromise is?” Scout asks him if it is bending the law. He replies, “No, an agreement of mutual concessions. If you’ll concede the necessity of going to school, we’ll go on reading every night just as we always have. Is it a bargain?” (Lee 31). This quote from To Kill a Mockingbird adds to the reader’s sense of Atticus’ fairness because rather than forcing Scout, he gives her the choice on whether or not to accede. Atticus knows that there is really no question of Scout going to school, but lets her express her opinion anyways so that he can fully understand her reasoning. This demonstrates him being a good father because he is reasoning with her and treating her like an adult. Another way that Atticus’ fairness depicts him as being a good father is that Atticus always includes his children in important decisions. For example, when Atticus comes home the night that Aunt Alexandra arrives, he asks Scout, “How’d you like for her to come live with us?” (Lee 128). By Atticus asking this question, he takes a decision involving Scout and gives her the option to speak her mind. This shows that Atticus is being fair because he is giving Scout the chance to tell
Atticus Finch’s fairness shows that he is a good father to Jem and Scout because instead of simply denying his children’s of everything they ask him, he allows them a chance to explain and offers a compromise. For example, in the scene where Scout informs Atticus that she does not want to go to school anymore, he says to her, “Do you know what a compromise is?” Scout asks him if it is bending the law. He replies, “No, an agreement of mutual concessions. If you’ll concede the necessity of going to school, we’ll go on reading every night just as we always have. Is it a bargain?” (Lee 31). This quote from To Kill a Mockingbird adds to the reader’s sense of Atticus’ fairness because rather than forcing Scout, he gives her the choice on whether or not to accede. Atticus knows that there is really no question of Scout going to school, but lets her express her opinion anyways so that he can fully understand her reasoning. This demonstrates him being a good father because he is reasoning with her and treating her like an adult. Another way that Atticus’ fairness depicts him as being a good father is that Atticus always includes his children in important decisions. For example, when Atticus comes home the night that Aunt Alexandra arrives, he asks Scout, “How’d you like for her to come live with us?” (Lee 128). By Atticus asking this question, he takes a decision involving Scout and gives her the option to speak her mind. This shows that Atticus is being fair because he is giving Scout the chance to tell