Atticus Conflict

It is through Uncle Jack the conflict of Jean’s character, presented in her argument with Atticus, is offered a resolution. Initially, when Jean confronts Jack over Atticus’s involvement in the council, she is unable to understand Jack’s explanation of why Atticus is the way he is. Jack attempts to explain that for the South, the Civil War was a war to preserve the Southern political and personal identity which consists of white communities. Hence, as a Southerner who attempts to preserve states’ rights, racial equality may not always be favorable, however that does not indicate that Southerners absolutely do not favor racial equality. The implication Jack makes is that the South’s ways do not only define Atticus’s character but also Jean’s

For a while, her moral beliefs had been contingent upon her father’s behavior. Nonetheless, as an adult, Jean will have to decide where she stands on the lines of racial equality that essentially define her personal character. After the major argument between her father and her, Jack tries to aid in resolving the conflicts of her character by pointing out three aspects: 1) every person’s conscience is his/ her own watchman, 2) it’s important to compromise among a society with different views, 3) everyone is flawed. Jean always had a strong conscience however, before her conscience seems dependent on Atticus’ actions while as in chapter eighteen, Jacks asks Jean to become independent from her father and rely and take responsibility for her own conscience. Similarly, one person’s conscience may be different from others

Moreover, Jean finally comes to term with how Atticus is flawed just as every other person on earth including herself, which highlights an earlier misperception and its resolution: Atticus is not Jean’s watchman.
In addition, Jean’s personal conflicts, growth, and identity embodies the development of the United States. Jean’s experience in the South, and especially with her father, shows the immense implications the change for desegregation brought as it essentially can polarize families and communities. However, in the latter chapters with the aid of Uncle Jack, Jean’s maturity makes it evident that racism within the United States is not simply defined upon strict lines but rather blurred lines. For the elder generation, it was an aspect of tradition in keeping the old ways that America grew upon such as white superiority, that made them firm in their beliefs. In contrast, the newer generation of the era such as Jean, saw the reflection of equality within the Constitution. However, that is not to conclude that civil rights was changing America rapidly but rather the effect of World War 2, in which the country focused completely on total war concept and did not spare time for racial inequality, kindled a fire