Atticus Finch – To Kill a Mockingbird
Examine Atticus in the following ways:
Relationships with others:
Jem / Scout
Calpurnia
Boo Radley
Aunt Alexandra
Miss Maudie
Mrs Dubose
Mr Ewell
What do others say about him?
Compare the things Bob Ewell says and does to Atticus to that of Stephanie Crawford or
the more harsh Mrs. Dubose. Look at Aunt Alexandra – she critises Atticus, but does so in
a mild and mostly well-meant way.
Miss Maudie gives us the most comments on Atticus’ character, mostly because Scout
and Jem go to her with questions about him:
He’s the same in the courtroom as he is in the public streets (ch 19)
“There are some men in the world who were born to do our unpleasant jobs for us.
Your father’s one of them” (ch 22)
“Did it ever strike you that Judge Taylor naming Atticus to defend that boy was no
accident? (ch 22)
Atticus as a father:
- He treats his children as intelligent young adults - He speaks to them in a clear,
matter of fact way and answers their questions directly (including technical points of
law and matters of rape)
- He is always fair – he tries to hear both sides of an argument
- He doesn’t hit the children but is very firm in some matters – for example, when he
makes Jem read to Mrs. Dubose, or makes the children listen to both Calpurnia and
Aunt Alexandra.
- He doesn’t stereotype people- he is happy for Scout to continue being a tomboy
- He recognises the fact that the childen need a mother figure and is more than
happy to let Calpurnia do the job as he sees that she is far more capable than he is.
Atticus as a diplomat:
- Although Atticus is frequently critised by others, he never reacts to their comments.
He never takes advantage of his social standing to correct them.
- He remains calm when directly provoked – for example, when Bob Ewell charges
him with a fight and says ‘What, too proud to fight?”, Atticus says ‘No, too old’. On
this surface this looks like Atticus is saying that he is too feeble to fight, but
underneath it really means that fighting is something that shouldn’t be done as
adults.
- He understands the need for other people to pay him for his services, even if they
can’t afford to – he realises the sense of pride that comes with this.
Atticus and sympathy
- He shows an interest in Walter Cunningham’s home life and asks him about farming
– he allows Walter to talk on a topic as expert, despite the fact that he doesn’t
attend school.
- He shows admiration for Mrs. Dubose, despite her racism and abuse of him.
- He understands Arthur (Boo) – he doesn’t ask him to sit in the light and he
addresses him as Arthur.
- When learning of Bob Ewell’s attack on the children he thinks it must be caused by
a lack of sanity – he is reluctant to see what Heck Tate and other ssee – that Ewell
is essentially an evil man
Atticus and integrity
- Atticus always tries to do what is right – he doesn’t want to take Tom’s case
especially, but sees it as the right thing to do.
- He doesn’t try to wrongly protect his family from their own actions – he is adament
that Jem faces up to his actions.
Atticus and lack of prejudice
- Today this may not seem so remarkable, but he lives in a sexist and racist society
yet shares neither prejudice.
- He respects all people
- He respects people of colour – he allows Calpurnia free reign in his home to take
care of his children
- He rrespects women – extending this courtesy to Mayella Ewell when she is on the
stand
Atticus and courage
- shows physical courage in facing the Mad Dog but doesn’t value this highly
- he shows courage by sitting with Tom outside of the jail and remains calm when the
mob arrives, only showing some fear at the arrival of his children.
- He shows moral courage by being willing to take on the town’s hatred of him by
defending Tom
- He praises Mrs. Dubose and her courage in attempting to give up morphine, even
though she is in great pain
Errors in judgement
- he makes TWO mistakes:
- Trusting the mob not to lynch Tom Robinson (ch 15)
- Trusting Bob Ewell not to carry out his trehate of revenge (ch 23)