Go Set A Watchman Atticus Character Analysis

The overall theme of Go Set a Watchman, “Don’t be afraid to stand up for your own beliefs, no matter the cost,” is supported by the character analyses and conflicts in the story. One character who initially stands up for his beliefs is Atticus, Jean Louise’s father. In the story, Jean Louise looks back on her childhood and includes a statement that “Even his enemies loved him, because Atticus never acknowledged that they were his enemies” (Lee 114). He was not afraid to show that he felt that everyone should be treated equally and with respect, so as a result, he never treated anyone as his adversary. It was radical in this time period to treat everyone equally and with respect since the story took place during widespread segregation, so that …show more content…
It helps Jean Louise defend her beliefs; ironically, she must stand up to him after he always stood up for his beliefs. She finally gets the courage to stand up to Atticus and declares, “I’m upset about something. That citizens’ coucilin’ you’re doing. I think it’s disgusting and I’ll tell you that right now” (238). By standing up to Atticus, she risks losing her relationship with her beloved father, but she also builds up her self-confidence and fortifies her beliefs. She not only has to stand up to her father; she must also stand up to other citizens of Maycomb. During a conversation with one of the women in Maycomb about the issue of race, the woman remarks, “I wouldn’t want to get mixed up with all those Italians and Puerto Ricans. In a drugstore one day I looked around and there was a Negro woman eating her dinner right next to me, right next to me” (Lee 181). Since the beliefs of almost everyone in Maycomb are different than hers, Jean Louise gets stronger while learning how to defend her point of view. From the characterization of Atticus to the conflicts Jean Louise faces, the story revolves around standing up for what you