How Does Atticus Show Violence In To Kill A Mockingbird

Published in 1960, To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, is a timeless novel that is narrated by young Jean Louise “Scout” Finch. The novel takes place in a small Alabama town called Maycomb during the 1930s, a period when racism and segregation were heavily prominent in society. Although Scout is young, she is already exposed to the presences of discrimination and inequalities within her small town. Scout’s father, Atticus Finch, is an esteemed lawyer with beliefs that differ from others and a strong desire to do the right thing. Atticus teaches his children valuable lessons, such as the other means of handling conflicts, the importance of equality, and the deception of outer appearances in hopes that they learn to feel compassion

Throughout the story, violence is a recurring method of dealing with problems. Scout resorts to physical force and threats when others upset her. Her violent tendencies are evident in Chapter 3, when Scout corners and buries Walter Cunningham’s face into the ground, as well as in Chapter 9, when she threatens Cecil Jacobs and attacks her cousin, Francis, for insulting her father. Scout tells Atticus about the awful things her classmates say about him, but he advises her, “[K]eep those fists down… Try fighting with your head for a change” (101), teaching Scout to ignore insults and control her emotions instead of reciprocating with physical force. Although Atticus teaches his children that violence is not the answer, he shoots a rabid dog in Chapter 10. Others are amazed by his skills, but he does not take pride in his actions. Miss Maudie tells Scout and her older brother,

A person’s exterior does not reflect their true personality, and rumours are not always true. In Chapter 3, Atticus tells Scout, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view” (39). To Jem and Scout, Mrs. Dubose is merely a grumpy old lady who does nothing but insult them. However, it is only after she dies does Jem discover she suffers from a morphine addiction, allowing him to realize that her hurtful words are caused by her pain. Similarly, Robinson is perceived as a vile person due to all the negative beliefs circulating around his ethnicity. It is only during his trial do people discover that he is honourable and willing to do tasks for others without expecting anything in return, proving that not all African-Americans are malicious. Furthermore, Boo Radley is a person who is drowned by false rumours, causing people to believe he is a psychopath and forcing him to stay inside his house to avoid unwanted attention. Despite this, Boo always looks out for others, specifically Jem and Scout. When Jem tears his pants escaping from the Radley property, Boo mends them for him. Additionally, when Bob Ewell attempts to kill the children on Halloween night, it is Boo who saves Jem and Scout from further harm. By telling them to consider the world from others’ perspectives, Atticus shows Jem and Scout to dig past people’s exteriors in order to understand their