Preview

The Character of Atticus Finch Essay Example

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1018 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Character of Atticus Finch Essay Example
The character of Atticus Finch

Aly Lalji

The state of Alabama in the 1930's was a place filled with racial discrimination and poverty. Atticus Finch was a lawyer of that time. He has two children and a hired house worker. Atticus believes that racial discrimination is wrong and tries to treat every individual equally in reference to his parenting skills. He also tries to alter the distorted perception of the community. Although he is a positive role model for his children, ho too has his strengths and weaknesses.

In Maycomb, Atticus Finch is a strong figure who firmly believes in equal rights for all men and women. After the death of his wife, Atticus hired Calpurnia, a black woman, because he needed help with the household affairs. Her duties not only entailed cooking and cleaning, but also taking care of Jem and Scout, Atticus' children. Every now and then, scout and Calpurnia would get into an argument and Atticus would side with Calpurnia. Instead of siding with his child, he would demand that Scout do as Calpurnia said. For example, when Scout would start a fight and then argue, Calpurnia would tell her to act like a girl. Atticus would agree with Calpurnia and tell Scout to do whatever Calpurnia gave as a punishment. As for his professional career as a lawyer, Atticus Finch was working on a very particular case. It involves a black man named Tom Robinson, who was accused of rape. Even though the odds of him winning the case are very slim, he chooses to defend Tom anyways. He states that one of many reasons for him doing so is that "if I didn't I couldn't hold my head up in town, I couldn't represent this county in legislature, I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to so something again."(P.75). By this he meant to say that it is his duty to protect Tom Robinson the same way it is his duty to protect his children. If he failed to do so, he could not expect his children to obey to his requests.

Atticus tries to educate his kids to

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    In “To Kill A Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch is a moral man because he sets good examples for his children because he portrays a leading figure by using his words, not fists, not judging a person until you get to understand who they are, and being able to get along with just about anyone. Atticus believed in fighting with words, not fists. “Hold your head high and keep those fists down”(Lee 76), as the story develops, Atticus reveals that he is a moral man by believing in the power of words, and that fists are not necessary in settling a feud/argument, I also envision that this applies especially to him because he is lawyer and uses words in his…

    • 304 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Based on perspective, Atticus Finch considers that Maycomb is a racist, yet an atrocious town; due to its racialist/intolerant behaviors that the citizens practice towards different skin complexions. For instance, an example of this bigotry can be demonstrated by Tom Robinson’s case; as this was clearly shown/said throughout the arguments during the court trial. As a single parent and a lawyer, Atticus Finch receives a lot of negative attention in Maycomb for representing Tom Robinson's case; which also, happens to have a negative impact on his children. They are talked about, made fun of, and their lives are even threatened at some points.…

    • 199 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus Finch is a smart man worthy of being lawyer. In the fictional novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee that tells the story of a young girl Scout Finch, who is coming of age. Scout in the beginning of the novel did not have much tolerance and soon as the novel progressed she came to decide that not everyone will agree with her. Scout who is always around Atticus makes up a part of that impact in her life. The advice given for Scout help to build her to be good well being. To being told that everyone is equal. Atticus is a brave, intelligent, and responsible man.…

    • 688 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Abraham Lincoln once said, “You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” Atticus Finch, in many ways, lives this quote everyday by understanding what has to be done today in order to avoid future consequences of today’s mistakes. Atticus is a kind-hearted, slow-tempered, wise man, who always knows the right thing to say.…

    • 487 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus Finch Quotes

    • 436 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In To Kill a Mockingbird, the protagonist is Atticus Finch, a father of two children named Jem and Jean Louis “Scout” Finch. His wife died when his children were very young. Atticus is quite an old, wise, white man. The book was set in the early 1930’s and it was very common for white men and women to be very racist towards others who aren’t the same race as them. But, Atticus was not like most of the white men and women. He was very kind to everyone not matter what their race was. It seemed as if he didn’t believe in racism. In the book, Atticus was a lawyer for a black man named, Tom Robinson, who was falsely accused of raping Mayella Ewell. He did everything he could to win that trial. But, deep down Atticus knew he would not win because Tom Robinson wasn’t a white man. After the trial ended, he still had to stay strong for his children even though he was worn out.…

    • 436 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Atticus Finch Research Paper

    • 2579 Words
    • 11 Pages

    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.…

    • 2579 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus Finch has multiple conflicts in To Kill a Mockingbird. But the major one was him defending Tom Robinson. The judge specifically chose Atticus because he knows he isn’t prejudice, and nobody else would be willing to defend Tom in the trial. He was a bit hesitant to accept the task at first, be he knew he had to do it whether people would hate him or not. Atticus has a lot going on in his life. He’s attempting to defend Tom and try to win the trial, but at the same time he’s raising Jem and Scout. He decides he can’t do it alone se he…

    • 635 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    As of today, we still have problem with prejudice and racism towards blacks. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a novel illustrating the struggles of a racist town in Alabama. Characters are at a struggle to comprehend the way people act. Knowing this, they have to learn what is right and act accordingly. Throughout Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, characters discover and begin to emphasize each other’s lives in large portions and in doing so, many characters develop and mature to understand the world they live in.…

    • 1086 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Being a parent involves lots of responsibility. Managing a job, a house, and two kids all without a mother seems quite a difficult job. Well, Atticus Finch, in Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, sets an inordinate example of a wonderful father. Atticus went to law school to become a lawyer. He settled in Maycomb County with his two children, Jem and Scout. His wife had died previously, so the responsibility of total provision fell on his shoulders and their servant, Calpurnia. Atticus was a very patient, protective, and passionate father.…

    • 585 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Atticus Finch lived in a time in Southern Alabama when a system of segregation and bitter racism was enforced by law kept African Americans from achieving equality or improving themselves. White people were told that they were above black people. Atticus had no such prejudice which was unrealistic for this time. Atticus is a lawyer in Maycomb, a typical southern town where racial discrimination is the normal behaviour. "Blacks" went to different churches, there was segregated seating in the courts, where all men are meant to be equal and in every aspect of their lives they were treated as inferiors.…

    • 1073 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus Finch shows this by teaching Scout that sometimes, to realize what the actions of an individual is to think about what they could have been exposed to in life. This is how Atticus says to scout when she ask why the actions of people are different for everyone, this quote is Atticus explains it so that Scout can understand, “ until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” (Lee, pg. 39). Atticus may not show this physically but mainly through the way he speaks to others which is shown through the text, in which the reader would be able to paint a picture in there mind to see…

    • 113 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience” (Lee 108). There are many admirable characters in To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus Finch is one of these characters that we see. He is very true to who he is and has very good character. He is likely the best character in the entire novel.…

    • 485 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “I speak to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the president of the university” - (Albert Einstein). These words reflect the way Atticus Finch, protagonist, attorney, and father in Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, lives his life. There is no difference to him in regards to race, social status, or gender. Atticus Finch is an admirable gentleman who demonstrates intelligence and respectfulness throughout the Tom Robinson trial and his interactions with people who despised the fact that he was taking the case. He strongly believes in respect for people of color and passes his belief down to his children by taking the Tom Robinson case. Although he is at times too trusting of people, his words and actions continue to prove to his children and community how a real gentleman behaves.…

    • 667 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus Finch Hero Essay

    • 622 Words
    • 3 Pages

    A hero encompasses many qualities, not just bravery or strength, but more importantly, the ability to inspire others. To Kill A Mockingbird, by Nelle Harper Lee, explores themes such as racism, innocence, and the morality of youth in Southern America in the 1930s. Topping the list of the American Film Institute’s 100 years...100 Heroes and Villains is a main character of the story, Atticus Finch. The American Film Institute defines a hero as “a character who prevails in extreme circumstances and dramatizes a strong sense of morality, courage, and purpose. Though they may be ambiguous or flawed, they often sacrifice themselves to show humanity at its best”(American Film Institute para.…

    • 622 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus Finch Hero

    • 736 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Atticus always tries to instill bravery and a sense of right and wrong in his children. This was partly why he took up Tom Robinson’s case because even though he knew it was a losing battle, he fought vigorously in court for him because he believed it to be an honorable cause. According to him, “ This case, Tom Robinson’s case, is something that goes to the essence of a man’s conscience--Scout, I couldn't go to a church and worship god if I didn't try to help out that man….but before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself” (104, 105). This is him saying that if he didn’t accept that case and fight for Tom Robinson, he would feel like a hypocrite. In the world of Atticus Finch, he cannot just ignore his morals when they did not suite him. Atticus in Maycomb was known as “...the same in his house as he is on the public streets” (46). Atticus did not have one set of morals for business, and another for family. He did not have one set of morals towards blacks and another towards whites. What he did have was one universal “code of conduct” in which he treated everyone equally and did not stereotype or bias anybody based on their looks, but rather on the content of their character. This disagreed with…

    • 736 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays