Atticus Father Analysis

A father plays a crucial role in the life of his children. One modern adage expresses a touching thought about fathers, stating, “Dad, a son’s first hero and a daughter’s first love.” This quote embraces the relationship of Atticus Finch and his children, Jem and Scout, in Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Jeremy, the older of the Finch kids, holds his father in extremely high regard and depends on his guidance in life while his younger sister, Jean Louise, trusts Atticus whole-heartedly and adores him despite her occasional indifference toward him. During the three years in which To Kill a Mockingbird takes place, the author grants a glimpse of Atticus’ method of upbringing. Like so many exceptional fathers, Atticus proves his love,

With his ample and persuasive demeanor, he teaches his children to love everyone, especially those who treat them with disdain and indifference. He demonstrates his striving love toward even the hardest of folk in his statement about Mrs. Dubose, “I certainly am [a nigger-lover]. I do my best to love everybody . . . I’m hard to put, sometimes--baby, it’s never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn’t hurt you. So don’t let Mrs. Dubose get you down. She has enough troubles of her own” (pg. 124). Consequently, this short sentiment displays Atticus’ unfailing desire to find everyone agreeable despite the circumstances and does well as an example for his growing children. Furthermore, he presents his unconditional love by following, possibly unconsciously, the commandments of the Bible where it lies said, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). Not once in the pages of the To Kill a Mockingbird novel does Atticus result into severe and unfair disciple toward Jem and Scout, rather he determinedly instructs them in the ways of tenderness. Relentlessly, he seeks to find good in everyone, proving his pure character to his children who considerably look up to

Their love for gossip and eagerness to voice their opinion about everything proves hard for the Finch family while they deal with the negativity on the Robinson’s trial. His perseverance surely displays itself in the instance of Mrs. Dubose when Atticus proclaimed, “Easy does it, son,” he [Atticus] would say. “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 make her mad” (pg. 115). With this short sentiment, Harper Lee demonstrates Atticus’ poise and politeness to Mrs. Dubose through his instruction to his son. Seemingly, Atticus desires to grow his children with the same patience toward others that he himself possesses because, after all, patience is a virtue. Agreeably, Mr. Finch’s kind mindset precisely aligns with David G. Allen’s words, “Patience is the calm acceptance that things can happen in a different order than the one you have in mind.” The predicament originating from the upcoming trial pushes Atticus to teach his children patience because he knows that his children will face hate due to their father’s decisions to stand for those of lower society. Continually, he showers his children with enduring devotion by bringing them up in the ways of patience and humility whilst facing the trials of