Similarities Between Atticus And To Kill A Mockingbird

What would it be like to be a child in the 1930’s? What about having an abusive father during those times? What about having a father defending a black man? These the main points in Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird. There are major differences in Atticus and Bob Ewell’s parenting styles that affect their children’s lives. Unlike Bob Ewell, Atticus makes a favorable impression on his children as a result of his lessons.
To start off, Atticus doesn’t fight. “It was Miss Stephanie's pleasure to tell us: this morning Bob Ewell stopped Atticus on in the post office corner, spat in his face, and told him he’d get him if it took the rest of his life.” (Lee 290) Bob Ewell attacks atticus by threatening to kill him and spitting on him. This is unlike what Atticus would do. Atticus teaches his children. “But do one thing for me if you will: you just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don’t you let’em get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change…” (Lee 101) Atticus teaches his children that they should not do anything physical, no matter how upset they get.

“‘Atticus doesn't drink whiskey,’ I said. ‘He never drunk a drop in his life- nome, yes he did. He said he drank some one time and didn't like it.’" This quote from scout proves my point. During the trial, Atticus asked what Mayella thought about her father. “‘He does tollable, ‘cept when-...’ ‘Except when he’s drinking?’ asked Atticus so gently that Mayella nodded.” (Lee 245) Mayella doesn’t like her father when he is drinking. What he does while drinking is mainly what makes Bob Ewell a bad father. An example of what he does when drunk is when he tried to kill Scout and Jem. “A Prickly stubble on the face told me it was not Jem’s. I smelled stale whiskey.” (Lee 352) This shows that when he is under the influence of alcohol he does awful