Atticus Finch is one of the most dynamic and well-developed characters in the story, To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus contributes to the meaning of the many themes in the story. Atticus’s characterization is formed by a number of situations. These situations include, how he handled the mad dog, how Atticus treats others, what kind of parent he is, the kind of lawyer, and why he defended Tom Robinson in his trial. Atticus Finch’s characterization appears in the book several ways during his confrontations and actions with others. There are several instances in the book that help shape Atticus Finch throughout the story, and this includes the mad dog. Starting on page 122, in Chapter Ten, Jem and Scout spot old Tim Johnson, “the pet of Maycomb”,
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He treats everyone he encounters with respect, even if they do not return it. When Bob Ewell spits in his face and hurls threats at Atticus right in front of him, Atticus is cool and collected. He walks away without even flinching, something most people would never do. Not once in the book does Atticus ever exert any of his anger on anybody, and rarely shows it. The only height of his negative emotions is somewhat shown with his interactions with his sister, Aunt Alexandra. She comes to live with the Finches before Atticus goes off to deal with Tom Robinson’s trial. The narrator, Scout, starts to notice a subtle change in her father one day at the breakfast table. Atticus mentions that Mr. Underwood despises Negroes in front of Calpurnia. Aunt Alexandra is bothered by this, and “scolds” Atticus for it. Scout says the following about it, “ It was a quiet digging in, never outright irritation. There was a faint starchiness in his voice…” (209). Atticus never really speaks towards anyone like he does his sister. It shows that he has started to get tired of her presence, constantly nagging and bothering him about how he raises the children and what he does in life. This instance also shows how he treats Calpurnia, who he states “‘Anything fit to say at the table’s fit to say in front of Calpurnia. She knows what she means to this family.’”(209) This shows that Calpurnia not only means a lot to him, but to the children as well. In another part of the book, the reader learns that Calpurnia has known Atticus since they were both children. Atticus obviously trusts her, because he leaves her alone with the children several times, along with asking her to come with him to break the bad news to Helen. “Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public streets” (46) This is something that Miss Maudie brings up in the beginning of the story, and is proven
He treats everyone he encounters with respect, even if they do not return it. When Bob Ewell spits in his face and hurls threats at Atticus right in front of him, Atticus is cool and collected. He walks away without even flinching, something most people would never do. Not once in the book does Atticus ever exert any of his anger on anybody, and rarely shows it. The only height of his negative emotions is somewhat shown with his interactions with his sister, Aunt Alexandra. She comes to live with the Finches before Atticus goes off to deal with Tom Robinson’s trial. The narrator, Scout, starts to notice a subtle change in her father one day at the breakfast table. Atticus mentions that Mr. Underwood despises Negroes in front of Calpurnia. Aunt Alexandra is bothered by this, and “scolds” Atticus for it. Scout says the following about it, “ It was a quiet digging in, never outright irritation. There was a faint starchiness in his voice…” (209). Atticus never really speaks towards anyone like he does his sister. It shows that he has started to get tired of her presence, constantly nagging and bothering him about how he raises the children and what he does in life. This instance also shows how he treats Calpurnia, who he states “‘Anything fit to say at the table’s fit to say in front of Calpurnia. She knows what she means to this family.’”(209) This shows that Calpurnia not only means a lot to him, but to the children as well. In another part of the book, the reader learns that Calpurnia has known Atticus since they were both children. Atticus obviously trusts her, because he leaves her alone with the children several times, along with asking her to come with him to break the bad news to Helen. “Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public streets” (46) This is something that Miss Maudie brings up in the beginning of the story, and is proven