Atticus as a Good Father

Atticus is one of the few people in Maycomb who is not prejudice. He does his job well as he is not afraid to stand up against what the society like. “I am simply defending a Negro-his name is Tom Robinson.” Atticus is saying this quite proudly, showing respect towards the Negros. This states to us, the role model that he is. Atticus is always teaching his kids good morals, moreover how to think. “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… until you climb in to his skin and walk around in it.” The word ‘consider’ represents Atticus’ actions and tells us that he is very fair and is not at all ignorant. Atticus has instilled in his children his strong sense of morality and justice. He is one of the few residents of Maycomb committed to racial equality. Although he allows his children freedom to play and explore, he is also a firm disciplinarian, always teaching his children to think of how their actions affect others and devising punishments to teach his children valuable lessons. For example, When Jem damages the camellia bushes of Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose, a neighbor who scolds and insults the children, Atticus sentences him to read to her each day.

It seems as though Atticus is a good father because he has struck a good balance between being supportive and being an authority figure. the way he teaches his children to treat all people with equality and respect. “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view – until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”What this quote means is that you have to look at and understand things from the way that other people do. This quote tells us that Atticus is a good father figure as he is trying to instil good moral values into his children; he is endorsing the value of equality.

This lesson of equality is important because Maycomb is a town that is full of social prejudices, specifically social prejudice towards the black community Atticus teaches his children to accept others no matter how the look or act Some people in Maycomb, the town where the Finch family lives, still dislike and abuse the blacks: “[Atticus Finch]’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for” (Lee 135). Atticus’s children know how to deal with this situation, because scout “pulled at [Jem’s] sleeve” to leave (Lee 136). This shows maturity by the children. Atticus teaches his children how to react due to the situation that has revolved around the Finch family. Any parent during this time period would beat their child, but instead atticus chooses a different route. Atticus makes Jem read to Mrs. Dubose as his punishment.