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Character Analysis on Atticus Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird Abraham Lincoln once said, You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today. Atticus Finch, a character in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, must keep this quote in his mind day by day. Atticus is a lawyer who was born and raised in Maycomb County. He still lives there with his children, Jeremy (also known as Jem) and Jean Louise (also known as Scout). His sister Alexandra lives with him, and a Negro cook named Calpurnia comes to his house everyday. Atticus is a very wise, courageous, and helpful person; he shows these traits not just in special cases, but in his everyday life.
Firstly, Atticus is helpful person in his everyday life. Even though Aunt Alexandra moves in Atticus keeps Calpurnia, and I think he is being very helpful in this act. Aunt Alexandra can do all of the things Calpurnia can do, but if he were to dismiss Calpurnia she wouldnt have an income and it would be very difficult for her. Atticus is also very helpful by sending Jem to read to Mrs. Dubose.
If Jem wouldnt have had read to her she might have died a morphine addict, but because of Atticus making Jem go she dies free. Another helpful act of Atticus is going to the county jail and staying there to help protect Tom. If Atticus hadnt have done this then the angry group from Old Serum may have threatened Tom or even killed him. With this help Atticus lets Tom survive. Secondly, Atticus is very wise in the decisions he makes. On Scouts first day of school her teacher tells her to stop reading.
I think it is very wise of Atticus to let her keep reading because she will get ahead in life if she does so. This bargain Atticus makes with his daughter shows his wisdom through his parenting skills also. Being a single parent, he has to teach his kids what is right from wrong, and he knows if he subjects his daughter to not being able to read it is wrong. I think it is very wise of Atticus to tell Jem and Scout not to bother Boo Radley. It is wise not only because he is trying to stop the harassment of a grown man, but because he is looking out for the safety of his children. It is obvious that they can get hurt, because Nathan Radley has shot his shotgun when he didnt even know what was in his yard!
Another time Atticus shows wisdom is when he points out to Judge Taylor and the rest of the jury that Bob Ewell is left handed. I think this is brilliant because Mayella Ewells right eye is the one that got beaten up, and usually a left-handed person punches to the right eye. Another time during this trial that Atticus is wise is when he cross-examines Mayella and Tom. It is very peculiar that Mayella's story doesnt match Toms at all, and even though this is a town that will believe whites over blacks, Tom is a lot more believable.
Lastly, Atticus has a heart of courage, he will never give up. Atticus shows his courage just in the fact that he kept his children when his wife died. Many working men in this condition would just send their children to their sister or mother, but Atticus isnt like many other men. I find it very courageous that he keeps his children. Another time Atticus shows his courage is when he shoots the mad dog. Even though this is a very hard thing for him to do because it is against his morals and values, he knows he has to do it to protect the town of Maycomb, and that shows courage.
I think when Atticus decides to defend Tom Robinson he is showing the most amount of courage than any other time in his life. To go against something that your whole life you have been told is right, might be the hardest thing in the world. Atticus must take advice from Gandhi by being the change he wants to see in the world. Atticus has a great influence on the county of Maycomb, I believe he keeps the townsfolk in balance, and without doing so I feel that Maycomb would be corrupt and very different than what it is right now. All of the qualities that Atticus brings -- helpfulness, wisdom, and courage -- lets him be a good person, the person that he wants to be. Atticus isnt fake or cheesy, he is real, and that is what makes him who he is.
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Research essay sample on Kill A Mockingbird Atticus Finch
