What Makes Atticus a Good Father? Essay

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Atticus Finch is a model father created by Harper Lee in the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird. He is an important figure in the Maycomb, Alabama Community. He raises his children, Jean Louise Finch (Scout) and Jeremy Atticus Finch (Jem) with wide sets of morals, disciplines them, and is a true role model. Atticus allows his children to be individuals and does not try to change who they are. He teaches them fairness and equality among many different types of people in Maycomb. He is always teaching his children about how their actions may affect others, then, as a result, devices punishments to teach Scout and Jem valued life lessons. In many situations, Atticus can chastise his children, but he allows them mature and notice their own mistakes …show more content…
He is extremely fair to all sorts of people. For instance, Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose was an elderly neighbor of the Finches. She was a vicious, old woman and nothing could please her. Atticus told his children “She’s an old lady and she’s ill. You just hold your head high and be a gentleman. Whatever she says to you, it’s your job not to let her make you mad.” (Lee 115). However, Mrs. Dubose would ridicule and insult the children until Jem snapped. He cut down her camellia bushes. Atticus, being the authority figure he is, sentenced Jem to read to her every day. Jem learned the lesson of respecting his elders from Atticus’ sentence. From reading to Mrs. Dubose, Jem learned the true meaning of courage as he watched her struggle to end her morphine addiction. Through the novel, a reader can view Atticus’ level of support. “It’s not time to worry yet.” (Lee, 120). He would say this to assure the children and the reader that the worse has not yet to come. He has a strong sense of mortality in the novel. It is admirable how Atticus accepts the African American class. Aunt Alexandra wanted Atticus to dismiss Cal from working in the household. Atticus came to her defense and said “Alexandra, Calpurnia’s not leaving this house until she wants to. You may think otherwise, but I couldn’t have got along without her all these years. She’s a faithful member of this family and you’ll have to accept things the way they are.” (Lee 155). Atticus
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