Examples Of Atticus Finch A Good Father In To Kill A Mockingbird

The Thought Of Atticus Finch

A former governor of Arizona, Jane D. Hull stated, “At the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a child's success is the positive involvement of parents.” Harper Lee in To Kill A Mockingbird talks about this idea of good/bad parenting using Atticus Finch as an example. Atticus is a responsible dad because he respects his children by letting them express who they are. In addition he teaches them important lessons that they will use throughout their lives. In spite of this, some neighbors argue that Atticus is not a good parent because he is not strict enough with his children. However, this is actually part of what makes him a responsible parent. Some people believe that keeping tight control

Scout likes to hang out with boys and she does lots of boyish things. Atticus’s sister, Alexandra, hates this; she thinks that Scout should be doing girl things. Scout proclaimed, “Aunt Alexandra’s vision of my deportment involved playing with small stoves, tea sets, and wearing the Add-A-Pearl necklace she gave me when I was born” (Lee 108). Aunt Alexandra only feels it is right for Scout to be playing with girly toys inside instead of running around outside with the boys. On the other hand, Atticus feels like it is right to give his children a chance to express themselves as they wish. Scout overhears her dad and her Aunt in a very heated conversation. Scout states, “But the only time I heard Atticus speak sharply to anyone was when I once heard him say, “Sister, I do the best I can with them! It had something to do with my going around in overalls” (Lee 108). Even though Alexandra thinks that it is wrong for Scout to act like a boy and dress like one, Atticus defends here. Atticus is a responsible parent because he supports his kids decisions. He allows Scout to enjoy her childhood as she figures out who she

Scout, Jem and Dill sneak into the court to watch their father’s trial case even though they weren't supposed to. Atticus stated, “Well, you've heard it all, so you might as well hear the rest” (lee 277). If Aunt Alexandra was there she would have made them come home right away and she would not have let them come back to the trial. Atticus is responsible because he makes sure that they eat their supper, but at the same time he lets them come back after that. He wants them there so that they get his message which is “treat one how you want to be treated”. He conveys this through defending Tom Robbinson, because no one else wanted to defend because they knew they were not going to win all because of his skin color. Atticus shows that you should treat everyone fairly especially those who are colored. At the same time they also have lots of fun watching their dad during a court trial. Atticus also teaches his children another similar message when they go to the colored church. Scout and Jem go to Calpurnia's colored church that she goes to and they were the ones that wanted to got to cals and not Aunt Alexandra’s white church. Calpurnia muttered, “How’d you and Mister Jem like to come to church with me tomorrow” (Lee 156). Atticus let Scout and Jem go with Calpurnia to the First Purchase African M.E. Church even though Alexandra hated the idea. Atticus