Mocking Bird Essay

Blake Eastman

A father is one who raises and nourishes his children. Kind, understanding, strict but fair, Atticus Finch is everything a father should be. Atticus is a great father to both of his children, Scout and Jem. A father's behavior influences a child's character. Scout and Jem show the tolerance and respect that Atticus has situated in them. They become curious, polite, intelligent, and giving. Atticus is a wise and intelligent man who teaches his children about life, and plays a principle role in affecting his children's futures. Atticus' role as a father is similar to one of a teacher. His children learn more things from him than anyone else in their lives. Atticus believes that it is more effective to teach his kids through example, first hand. Atticus, whom is the teacher of life to his children, emphasizes on teaching his children the importance of education, doing what is right according to one's self,with justice and equality.

Atticus' relationship with his children is very close and he demonstrates sincere interest. In their futures. Atticus endures that his children are educated because he is wise and he knows what is necessary to make them successful in every aspect of their life in the future. Atticus makes a very important compromise with Scout to ensure that she continues to attend and enjoy school. He agrees with Scout that they will continue to read in bed before bedtime as they've done for a while, and her schoolteacher doesn't have to know about it. Atticus knows that knowledge is power because he needed a good education to become a lawyer. The children in Maycomb are taught to move from innocence to adulthood however Atticus wants his children to be more sophisticated. Atticus accomplishes this because his teachings are more advanced that those at school.

Atticus teaches a great lesson of "self" to his children when he decided to take the Robinson case. Atticus has proven to be an honorable man because he could have easily been a coward and refused to defend a "nigger". Atticus replies to Scout's question of why he took the case by saying that he wouldn't be able to live with himself if he didn't take it. He was determined to defend this innocent black man, Tom Robinson. He did a great thing and wasn't influenced by the other whites in the community. Atticus took on this case to feel good about himself, and to understand that whether he wins or loses he did the right thing. Doing the right thing is Atticus' principle teaching to his children. Whether the right thing to do is the norm or not it must be done. Scout shows that she has learned this value when she was outside the prison with Atticus, Jem, and Dill.

(pg.154) Scout " He's a good boy, a real nice boy, we brought him home for dinner one time. Maybe he told you about me, I beat him up one time but he was real nice about it, tell him hey for me wont you?"...Mr. Cunningham "I'll tell him you said hey, little lady... let's get going, boys."

Scout does the natural and right thing by asking Mr. Cunningham to say "hey" to his son Walter. At the moment she might not have noticed that she was calming down the crowd and sending them off. Scout wasn't afraid of doing something different or not normal. She just was herself and asked this question to minimize tension. Scouts words could have possibly saved Tom Robinson's life at the time. Jem asked his father about getting a gun for himself and Atticus refuses to let Jem have one. In Maycomb it was not unusual for a young boy to own a gun, it was quite normal. Atticus didn't want Jem owning a gun because Atticus has done this at an early age. He shows Jem how guns bring death. Atticus doesn't want Jem to get a rifle even though his friends own them. He doesn't have to follow this trend he can do what is right, and just.

Atticus shows great examples of treating others with equality. He teaches both Jem and Scout