How Does Atticus Represent The Truth In To Kill A Mockingbird

In the book To Kill a Mockingbird the author, Harper Lee, uses the character of Atticus to represent Moral and Truth. In many situations, Atticus's actions differ from the rest of the prejudice society of the 1930s south and represents how the south would change in the next 30 years. The reason why Atticus’s actions were unusual in this time period was because anyone who publicly challenged the system of segregation was in danger of being killed. When the book was written in the 1960s, many anti-segregation movements had happened since the 30s, changing laws and making it much more common for people to act out against segregation like Atticus.

One major example of this was during Tom Robinson’s trial where Tom was convicted of a crime he

Atticus also treats his kids like adults, honestly answering all their questions. Scout says that “'Do you really think so?’ ...was Atticus' dangerous question" because he likes helping people see every situation from a different perspective. Atticus does not use this method only with his kids, but with everyone in Maycomb. One of the things that Miss Maudie admires about him is that "'Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public streets.'" The only time he seriously lectures Jem and Scout is on taking advantage of those less fortunate or educated. Even though most of Maycomb county pins the label "trash" on other people, Atticus reserves that for those people who unfairly exploit

For example, when Jem destroys all of Mrs. Dubose’s camellia bushes Atticus punishes him by having him talk to Mrs. Dubose. She decides having Jem read to her was a good punishment, he says: “She wants me to come every afternoon after school and Saturdays and read her out loud for two hours.” (pg.121) Eventually, Jem learns Mrs. Dubose’s behavior was due to her morphine addiction. Atticus explains to him, “I wanted you to see something about her- 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.”(pg.128) Atticus quickly changed a bad situation into a good life lesson for Jem about courage. One time when walking back home with Jem and Scout Atticus says to Mrs. Dubose. “Good evening Mrs. Dubose you look like a picture this evening” (pg.100) He said this in front of them because he wanted to show them to be respectful to everyone no matter their situation. Like Atticus respects Mrs. Dubose despite her calling him a nigger