Mr. Atticus: My Father In To Kill A Mockingbird

Everyone has a parent in their lives. Or someone who resembles a parent at least. My own Dad is a God-loving guy, a loving husband, and a good role model. Amidst all of those great qualities of his, there are a few quirks. My Dad can be somewhat anti-social and reclusive at times. In a way, my father sounds a lot like Mr. Atticus from the timeless book To Kill A Mockingbird. Atticus, like my dad, is also slightly distant from his family and a true gentleman at heart. However, unlike my old man, Atticus seemed to have is own agenda. In this paper, I plan to touch on whether or not Mr. Atticus was an acceptable parent, whether or not Mr. Atticus had a hidden agenda, and whether or not Mr. Atticus has a good moral compass. Whether or nor Atticus

He is a true gentleman who has an exceptional sense of justice and a positive reputation among the citizens of Maycomb. There is a section of chapter 10 that validates everything said about Atticus’ character thus far. “When he gave us our air-rifles Atticus wouldn’t teach us to shoot. Uncle Jack instructed in the rudiments thereof; he said Atticus wasn’t interested in guns. Atticus said to Jem one day, ‘I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.’ That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something, and I asked Miss Maudie about it. ‘Your father’s right,’ she said. ‘Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird,’”(Lee 119). The statement ‘to kill a mockingbird’ symbolizes innocence, so it really means the death of innocence. This shows not only Atticus’ sense of justice but also his overall moral value as well. This is not the only instance of this happening in To Kill A Mockingbird though. Atticus also took on the Tom Robinson case even though he was given a chance to say no. He also, as mentioned in the second paragraph, treated his elders with