Third Period
Mrs. Olsen
Honors English 9
September 25, 2008
Atticus
Atticus is illustrated as a man of courage through his actions and life lessons he taught his
children. Atticus believed courage was the act of fighting for what was right, peacefully and
respectfully, yet never wavering in one’s own beliefs or values when facing adversity. Atticus
taught Jem and Scout the meaning of bravery through Mrs. Dubose, after she passed. Atticus
said, “I wanted you to see something about her-I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead
of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re
licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely
win, but sometimes you do. She was the bravest person I ever knew.” Atticus’ definition of
courage reveals that Atticus fights for what he believes in, yet never makes another man’s
mediaocracy his standards. Atticus also believes to carry out what you are fighting for no matter
what and attempt to stop whatever madness there might be. Atticus demonstrates his courage
when he makes two attempts to stop madness and succeeds at one. Scout made an important
observation, “I saw something only a lawyer’s child could be expected to see, could be expected
to watch for, and it was like watching Atticus walk into the street, raise his rifle to his shoulder
and pull the trigger, but watching all the time knowing that the gun was empty.” Atticus defends
Tom Robinson knowing that he is going against all odds or after knowing he has been “licked.”
Atticus never wavered in his support for Tom Robinson and in his belief for justice despite Tom
Robinson’s race. Although it was a failed attempt Atticus was courageous, never letting other’s
frighten or break him down. Atticus succeeded when he stopped the mad dog. Atticus’ doubt in
his own abilities forced him to be brave. Formerly known has “One shot Finch,” Atticus ceased
the madness and danger with one bullet and a rifle. Atticus revealed the meaning of courage and
demonstrated the qualities of a courageous man throughout his life.
Atticus, the father of the main character in the book To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper
Lee, proves himself a steadfast character who shows everyone he meets great respect and
Christian love. This shows throughout many quotes in the story. First, he illustrates this idea of
“Christian love” and respect towards everyone. All throughout the story he tells the kids not to
hate. Atticus tells Scout that he “is a nigger lover” and that she should be, too (Ch.11). Miss
Maudie, Atticus’ neighbor, says that some people were “born to do our unpleasant jobs for us,”
and that job is fulfilled by Atticus (Ch. 22). This unpleasant job is defending Tom Robinson, a
black man, which Atticus does to the best of his ability. Second, he shows great respect towards
Boo Radley, an odd person who has stayed inside his house his whole life. He tells his kids,
Scout and Jem, that they should mind their own business and leave Boo alone (Ch.1). He also
corrects Scout throughout the book about her assumptions about Boo Radley. She learns to put
herself in his shoes from Atticus and stops patronizing him. Third, Atticus always shows respect
towards his kids. Scout tells Miss Maudie that Atticus never treats her differently inside his
house than outside it (Ch.6). He also shows throughout the book that he puts his kids first
constantly. For example, he wants to read his newspaper after a long, hard day, but his kids want
to talk, so he talks to them (Ch.23) Atticus constantly shows throughout To Kill a Mockingbird
that he respects people enough to try to see things through their points of view.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch stands for justice by treating people fairly. He
displays righteousness when saying Calpurnia raised his children right. He also stood up for Mr.
Cunningham by realizing that even with his “blind spots”, Mr. Cunningham was a good man. By
punishing Jem, Scout, and Dill, for mocking Boo Radley, Atticus stands up against [example of
what type of justice he is defending], rather then ignoring it or supporting the injustice like the
rest of Maycomb County. Atticus treats everyone very fairly and with equal amounts of respect.
Even when racism is happening around him, Atticus still remains reasonable and fair minded. By
defending Tom Robinson, an innocent African American man, Atticus is displaying his belief in
fair treatment, regardless of race, ethnicity, or wealth. [add information about the justice in the
decision regarding Mr. Ewell, Jem, and Scout at the end of the book]
The temperament of Atticus Finch helps him to teach his children and accept everyone
for the way they are. Atticus can stay calm and be polite even in upsetting and uncomfortable
situations. Atticus doesn’t “thunder” (Ch. 20) when he finds out the result of the trial, instead he
consoles Tom Robinson, and remains calm, cool, and collected. He acts polite even when Bob
Ewell rudely spits on Atticus’ face. Atticus tells Jem and Scout that Mr. Cunningham’s “blind
spot” (Ch. 16) when it comes to African-Americans. Atticus told Scout that since she walked in
Cunningham’s shoes, he didn’t attack Atticus. Atticus teaches his children to understand other’s
opinions by stepping into other people’s skin and shoes. Scout tries to “climb into Jem’s skin”
(Ch. 7) to understand how scary it must have been to go to the Radley’s house at night. Atticus
believes “you never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view”
(Ch. 4). Atticus is “very grateful” (Ch. 22) for all the gifts he has received for defending Tom
Robinson. Atticus realizes that the Great Depression is such a difficult time that the gift givers
truly must have appreciated him. Atticus appeases everyone by letting Scout read at home and
learn at school. Atticus’ temperament shaped the moral ideas and characters.
Atticus shows his bravery through his actions and life lessons he taught his children. Atticus
taught Jem and Scout the meaning of bravery through Mrs. Dubose, after she passed. Atticus was
always very polite to Mrs. Dubose, who was one of the most unpleasant citizens of Maycomb.
She never seemed to say anything nice about anyone. But Atticus never ceased to act
gentlemanly toward her. Scout recognizes how much strength this took and believes with all her
heart that her father, “who hated guns and had never been to any wars, was the bravest man who
ever lived.” Later, he defines courage for Jem. He says, “It’s when you know you’re licked
before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win,
but sometimes you do.” (ch.11). To the absolute shock of Jem and Scout, Atticus says that the
bravest person he knew was Mrs. Dubose. By knowing Atticus’s definition of bravery, readers
know what he aims to emulate throughout the book. Atticus demonstrates his courage when he
makes two attempts to stop the madness in Maycomb. At the beginning of the story, Atticus
succeeded in stopping the mad dog. Defending Tom Robinson “was like watching Atticus walk
into the street, raise his rifle to his shoulder and pull the trigger, but watching all the time
knowing that the gun was empty.” Ch. 21 Atticus never wavered in his support for Tom
Robinson and in his belief for justice despite Tom Robinson’s race. He hinted his reasoning for
defending Tom earlier in the book by saying that when a person starts something, he must carry
his actions through no matter what, even if he has a small chance of winning. Atticus is living up
to his definition of courage by making the best case he can for Tom Robinson.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Atticus accepts others options, beliefs, and
values, while defending his own. He is a loving, understanding, and open-minded person who
tries his best to “consider things from his point of view and climb inside of his skin and walk
around in it” (Ch. 3). When Atticus says to --- [quotes] he expresses his thought that Mayella
and Mr. Ewell’s judgmental actions against Tom Robinson were wrong and immoral; he still
listened and gave them the benefit of the doubt. He understood that Mr. Ewell and Mayella try to
maintain Macomb’s status quo, but he refused to bend his beliefs and defends Tom properly.
Atticus does not only act with respect in the courtroom, but acts just as he would “on his front
lawn,” or “at home.”