He was threatened, argued with, blamed, and attacked, but he never gave up the fatherly role he owed to his children. Atticus Finch, a lawyer and single father of Jem, ten and Scout, six, is considered by many readers to be a model parent. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, reveals Atticus’ use of his career to teach his children to be mature and respectful, as shown through his involvement in Tom Robinson’s case, the Cunninghams, and his virtuous actions against society.
By choosing to defend Tom Robinson, Atticus Finch teaches his children to be brave enough to stand up for what they believe in, no matter the circumstance. Atticus tells Scout to “try fighting with [her] head for a change”, instead of physically beating them up (Lee 101). …show more content…
Cunningham at the jail, teaches Jem and Scout to always treat others with respect no matter how unfairly they act in return. While standing outside the jail, Scout begins to tell “Mr. Cunningham that entailments are bad”, but that he should not worry because “[Atticus would] ride it out [with him]” (Lee 205-206). Atticus has been helping Mr. Cunningham with all his legal issues for multiple years, yet he still shows up to the jail threatening a man who has done nothing but help him. Atticus has been successful when helping Mr. Cunningham, so by being a part of a group that is trying to hurt both Atticus and Tom, another man he is trying to help proves Mr. Cunningham’s disrespectful and immature characteristics. Mr. Cunningham is unable to pay Atticus with cash, so he brings “hickory nuts” and other foods to pay off his debt (Lee 205). Again, Atticus helped Mr. Cunningham even though he would not be paid, he helped him because he knows it is always right to help people. Therefore, Atticus should be able to help Tom even if he is black. Mr. Cunningham adapts the qualities of a hypocrite by acting as if Atticus should not help Tom because he is black, if that is true, Atticus should not help him because he is poor. Jem and Scout learn from Atticus kindness and forgiveness he shows to Mr. Cunningham, even without money, with disrespect and with …show more content…
Miss Stephanie explains to Jem and Scout, how Mr. Ewell walked up and spit in Atticus’s face, but Attics did not flinch, just “stood there and let Mr. Ewell call him names” that Miss Stephanie would never repeat (Lee 291). Even though Atticus could have engaged in similar immature, argumentative behavior, he chose to stay calm and dignified. Even when Atticus is not directly influencing Jem and Scout, he maintains behavior that would be acceptable if he were around his children. Atticus even stays calm around Mrs. Dubose, a lady who only yells rude comments at the Finches when they pass by. She once told Jem and Scout that “’[their] father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for!”’ but Atticus still treated her with kindness telling Mrs. Dubose she “’[looked] like a picture”’ (Lee 135 & 136). No matter how many times Mrs. Dubose insulted Atticus, he never said anything negative to her and never avoided her. Atticus learned how to let Mrs. Dubose’s comments go in one ear and out the other, never letting her affect her mood or attitude. Atticus’s ability to act calm and respectful around all people, no matter how negatively they act to him, shows his effectiveness as a role model for Jem and
By choosing to defend Tom Robinson, Atticus Finch teaches his children to be brave enough to stand up for what they believe in, no matter the circumstance. Atticus tells Scout to “try fighting with [her] head for a change”, instead of physically beating them up (Lee 101). …show more content…
Cunningham at the jail, teaches Jem and Scout to always treat others with respect no matter how unfairly they act in return. While standing outside the jail, Scout begins to tell “Mr. Cunningham that entailments are bad”, but that he should not worry because “[Atticus would] ride it out [with him]” (Lee 205-206). Atticus has been helping Mr. Cunningham with all his legal issues for multiple years, yet he still shows up to the jail threatening a man who has done nothing but help him. Atticus has been successful when helping Mr. Cunningham, so by being a part of a group that is trying to hurt both Atticus and Tom, another man he is trying to help proves Mr. Cunningham’s disrespectful and immature characteristics. Mr. Cunningham is unable to pay Atticus with cash, so he brings “hickory nuts” and other foods to pay off his debt (Lee 205). Again, Atticus helped Mr. Cunningham even though he would not be paid, he helped him because he knows it is always right to help people. Therefore, Atticus should be able to help Tom even if he is black. Mr. Cunningham adapts the qualities of a hypocrite by acting as if Atticus should not help Tom because he is black, if that is true, Atticus should not help him because he is poor. Jem and Scout learn from Atticus kindness and forgiveness he shows to Mr. Cunningham, even without money, with disrespect and with …show more content…
Miss Stephanie explains to Jem and Scout, how Mr. Ewell walked up and spit in Atticus’s face, but Attics did not flinch, just “stood there and let Mr. Ewell call him names” that Miss Stephanie would never repeat (Lee 291). Even though Atticus could have engaged in similar immature, argumentative behavior, he chose to stay calm and dignified. Even when Atticus is not directly influencing Jem and Scout, he maintains behavior that would be acceptable if he were around his children. Atticus even stays calm around Mrs. Dubose, a lady who only yells rude comments at the Finches when they pass by. She once told Jem and Scout that “’[their] father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for!”’ but Atticus still treated her with kindness telling Mrs. Dubose she “’[looked] like a picture”’ (Lee 135 & 136). No matter how many times Mrs. Dubose insulted Atticus, he never said anything negative to her and never avoided her. Atticus learned how to let Mrs. Dubose’s comments go in one ear and out the other, never letting her affect her mood or attitude. Atticus’s ability to act calm and respectful around all people, no matter how negatively they act to him, shows his effectiveness as a role model for Jem and