Harper Lee and Rudyard Kipling show character traits that everyone in society should have. Kipling’s poem “if” shows many traits that Lee’s character Atticus Finch has. In To Kill A Mockingbird, it tells a story about how Scout’s older brother broke his arm. During the story Scout, and the reader, learn many life lessons. Lee teaches many character traits everyone should have. Atticus, the father of Scout, has many of the positive traits described in the poem, “If”. Virtue is a character trait that is illustrated in both the poem by Kipling and Harper Lee’s descriptions of Atticus. Most of the main characters in To Kill A Mockingbird show virtue, but Mr. Atticus Finch stands out most to the reader. In the story, Finch has to defend a man, …show more content…
Atticus shows confidence in a good way all throughout the book. His kids, Scout and Jem, look up to him because he has gained confidence in himself. After losing the Tom Robinson case, Atticus walks out of the courtroom with much confidence. Scout describes this, “I looked around. They were standing. All around us and in the balcony on the opposite wall, [they] were getting to their feet” (283). After Mr. Finch gave his closing remarks and lost the trial he still knew he did his best and walked out confidently, and believing in himself. Although the community knew Atticus’s claim was right they still cheered for him as he walked out which helped boost his confidence even more. In the “If” poem the author also shows how someone can show confidence. In the text it describes self worth and finding yourself without becoming too self conceited or prideful, “If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you/but make allowance for their doubting too”. Kipling describes confidence spectacularly in his text. He tells that even when people doubt you, you need to believe in yourself and have and show self confidence no matter what others say. Both Lee and Kipling show readers how to have confidence, and why it is important to have it especially in today's