In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch exemplifies open-mindedness because of his attempts to understand others. A primary example of Atticus’s open-mindedness is seen when he is sitting on the porch with Scout after her first day of school. As the two discuss Scout’s first day at school, Scout tells Atticus that she disapproves of her teacher, Ms.Caroline. Scout tells Atticus that Ms.Caroline told her that Atticus should stop teaching her. After a long pause, Atticus offers Scout a piece of advice.“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view until you climb into his skin and walk around in it,” Atticus confidently assured.Atticus constantly tries to understand situations from both perspectives …show more content…
Scout then recalls Atticus’s opinion on the matter. “I have to defend Tom Robinson because it’s the right thing to do. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t do the right thing. Even though other people might think I’m wrong for defending a black man, I know that it’s right,” proudly acknowledges Atticus. Finally, the most significant example of Atticus’s impartial nature occurs when Jem finds out the news that Ms.Dubose has died. Jem reads to Ms.Dubose every day as a punishment for destroying her flowers. Jem feels upset after hearing the news so, Atticus tells him the purpose of his punishment. “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do,” Atticus quietly implies.Atticus is trying to show Jem not look at someone and suppose they need to look like a warrior to be brave. It is the battles fought within one’s self which show true courage. In short, Atticus has a consistent belief in man’s good nature despite all of the criticism direct toward