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How Does Atticus Finch Change

714 Words3 Pages

Changing the world is something everyone has the capability to do. Just not a lot of people do it. There are many things that could be stopping them, whether it's fear, pride, or arrogance. Harper Lee, the author of “To Kill a Mockingbird”, uses Atticus Finch to demonstrate the ideas of creating change. He models these ideas, and uses them to teach his children life lessons. Atticus’ parenting style is focused on teaching and making sure the children know right from wrong. Harper Lee shows that an individual can make change by using Bryan Stevenson’s four steps of change: change the narrative, get proximate, and stand up for what is right. The idea of changing the narrative is to change the misguided norms that have been set in place. In Maycomb …show more content…

In our courts, when it's a white man’s world against a black man’s, the white man always wins.” (253) Atticus is trying to get the kids to better understand that the court will never be fair, the white man will always be in favor. He tries to change the narrative by giving a different perspective to the younger generation. Atticus teaching his kids this will help them understand why they need to be able to change the narrative and understand different people better. The idea of getting proximate is to get close to those that are different, to understand them and their story. Atticus does this by accepting the Tom Robinson case, and by understanding Robinson’s side of the story. Earlier in the book, Atticus and Scout had a discussion about the Cunningham family. Scout brings up her concerns about Walter Cunningham, and the way he lives. Atticus responds to Scout by stating “You never really understand a person’s point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” (33) Atticus making such a statement shows that he truly understands that you never know someone's truth until you put yourself in their situation. This is what Atticus does, by putting up a good fight for Tom Robinson. He puts himself in the shoes of Tom Robinson to help him try to win the case, and get justice for Robinson. Atticus teaches the kids that everyone deserves a chance at justice, he teaches his kids how to stand up for what is

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Atticus not only tells Scout and Jem what real courage is, but shows by defending Tom Robinson. Even though Atticus will probably lose the case, he “sees it though” anyway. Atticus attempts to teach his children the proper way to treat people as well. Atticus says, “cheatin’ a

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Even though Atticus Finch doesn 't discipline his kids, so they sometimes disrespect people, he makes his kids accept people no matter what, Atticus cares about his kids, but Atticus does not change who they are as a person. because, and he teaches his kids right from wrong. He was a great father because he guided on the morally correct behaviour which was difficult in their time. Atticus Finch makes his kids Scout and Jem accept people no matter what they do.

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Atticus passes his wisdom through Scout and Dill and tells them “you never understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (Lee, 85-87). Atticus took a stand against the racism of Maycomb when he defended the Tom Robinson case and experienced the adversity that Maycomb community brought which only strengthened his personal values of justification for Tom Robinson because “the only thing that doesn’t abide

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“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.” (Chapter 3) You never really understand what Atticus, a white father with a creditable job as a lawyer but defends for the black, was trying to teach his children if you are not trying hard to play his role in the novel. Widespread poverty, as it was during the Great Depression, had brought neither good nor wealthy life to people in old Maycomb. It could be no less normal than any other town during that dark period of time — racial discrimination, class division, gender roles, prejudice, none of them were left.

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Words of truth are not always positive in fortifying a child 's self-esteem, nor for seeing the world in a positive light. Atticus’ children have lost their innocence earlier than they should have, as their eyes have been opened up (by Atticus and his truths) to the macabre and inherently racist world that surrounds them. Additionally, Atticus imprints his version of the truth into his children and their principles. Whereas, hearing multiples and different recantations could promote a more objective view of the world. Furthermore, Atticus actions can have fatal repercussions on the lives of his children, exemplified in the following quotation: "Scout," said Atticus, "when summer comes you 'll have to keep your head about far worse things...

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Atticus responds by stating, “if I didn’t [defend Tom Robinson], I couldn’t hold my head up in town” (Lee 86). Atticus is instilling in Scout at a young age that he is morally obliged to advocate for the justice of the vulnerable. Atticus is defending Tom Robinson because he knows that declining the case is the equivalent of succumbing to the corruption of Maycomb. Scout and Jem learn through the example of their father that they must adhere strongly to their own convictions, regardless of whether it diverges from popular belief. Therefore, Atticus’s audacious gesture of defending Tom Robinson teaches Scout and Jem the importance of persisting to represent justice in a prejudiced society.

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Even if they refused to accept it, Atticus Finch still made a difference in people’s perspectives through the convincing arguments in his speech. Atticus does not only do this for his community, though - he does the same for his children. There are several occasions in which Atticus teaches his children how to rise against the world’s

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He is not only doing it for Tom Robinson, he is doing it for himself as well. Secondly, Atticus stands up for what is right because the moment he is asked to take Tom Robinson’s case he doesn’t think twice. He knew that someone who is innocent should not have to go to trial for something they did not do. He thinks racism should have an end. By taking this case he not only opens the eyes for his children, he opens the eyes of his peers and community members.

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