Atticus Is A Good Father

“For me, the most important thing that I have to accomplish is to be a good father. That’s the most difficult challenge of my life.” What makes a fine father? What is required in order to become wise at parenting? The ideal parent looks after his or her children. They promote good morals and values to their children. They help them lead and shape their future. The novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, shows us how a compassionate father acts and influences his children. Atticus Finch is a person of high respect and high values. He cares for his children, wants them to stand up for what is right, and teaches them crucial ethics.

Atticus is very caring. He has a close relationship with his children and understands them very well. Both Jem

He wants his children to retain their integrity and justice. Atticus’s calm wisdom and exemplary behavior guides them through their mistakes. Through discussion with Atticus, Scout and Jem can see what they have done wrong and why. He teaches by example and sets an example for impeccable behavior and honesty. For instance, since Atticus reads everyday, Scout and Jem also read everyday. Atticus wants his children to be educated and exposed to the world. Atticus tells Scout that she had to go to school. “In your case, the law remains rigid. So to school you must go”(30). Moreover, since Atticus wants his children to mature, he does not shield his children. To illustrate, when Atticus believes that Jem killed Bob Ewell, he tries to talk Heck Tate, Maycomb’s sheriff, out of calling the death an accident. “If this thing’s hushed up it’ll be a simple denial to Jem of the way I’ve tried to raise him”(273). Atticus’s standards are firm. Therefore, he does not want his son to have unfair protection from the law and get the easy way out. Atticus is committed to his strong sense of morality and justice, fostering his virtues in his children. He gives strong examples of what is right and clearly shows what he expects of his children. Atticus not only wants to instill good habits and values into his children, but he also wants them to learn good morals and ethics by giving them messages of great