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In the 1960 novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee explores the concept of racism in the legal system and the upbringing of children. These notions are shown as one of the main patriarchs, Atticus Finch. He shows his children a principled path through life, and through his court case, he reinforces these philosophies. He also shows the small southern town of Maycomb what it really feels like to be a Negro. Atticus did not fail at either of these responsibilities: as a lawyer, he did not fail, and as a father, he didnt fail either.
He succeeded what he set out to do, with flying colours, and taught everybody a lesson or two on how to behave. Atticus Finch is a success as a father because he has raised, with the help of Calpurnia, two healthy young children. He has helped them deal with their own emotions, and in turn, helped them stand in another persons shoes. Atticus teaches Scout (the narrator) how to be more reflective. On page 33 of the novel Atticus says: First of all, he said, if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you " ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.
In this quote, Atticus is trying to tell Scout to be more reflective in the way she acts. When Jem and Scout have finished reading to Mrs Dubose, and have just found out that she is dead, Atticus tells them what true courage is. (Page 124): 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. Mrs Dubose won, all ninety-eight pounds of her. According to her views, she died beholden to nothing and nobody.
She was the bravest person I ever knew. Atticus powerful words helped the children come to terms with the many levels of meaning in the world. He explains that things are not just in black and white, that things can be in many tints and shades. Atticus lecture helped the children to create a more complete picture of the world surrounding them. Atticus Finch, as well as being a good father, is also an excellent lawyer. Although he lost the Tom Robinson case, he still made a very persuasive speech on the ways of the townspeople.
He did the best job he could, and compelled the jury to discuss Toms fate for over two hours. His influential address is on page 224: The state has not produced one iota of medical evidence to the effect that the crime Tom Robinson is charged with ever took place. It has relied instead upon the testimony of two witnesses whose evidence has not only been called into serious question on cross-examination, but has been flatly contradicted by the defendant. The defendant is not guilty, but somebody in this courtroom is. These are not the words of a failed lawyer. Again, on page 225, he tells the court: The witnesses for the state have presented themselves to you gentlemen, to this court, in the cynical confidence that their testimony would not be doubted, confident that you gentlemen would go along with them on the assumption - the evil assumption - that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women, an assumption one associates with minds of their calibre.
Which, gentlemen, we know is in itself a lie as black as Tom Robinson's skin, a lie I do not have to point out to you. You know the truth, the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral; some Negro men cannot be trusted around women, black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men. Even his daughter, Scout, thinks that he is trying his hardest on the doomed case. Page 266: Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men's hearts Atticus had no case.
Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed. Atticus seriously swayed the towns views and beliefs on Negroes and their role in society. He was respected so much by the towns Negro population that they all stood up when he left the courtroom. This is not the kind of reaction that a failed lawyer would receive. As a father and as a lawyer, Atticus Finch uses similar techniques.
He is honest, speaks the whole truth, listens to the response, is confident and uses language very proficiently. When speaking to his children he is warm and friendly; but when speaking to a court, he is very formal and curt, using the truth to his advantage. He tells the jury not to blame Tom Robinson, and he tells the children not to make fun of Arthur Radley in their games. In both situations, Atticus exudes a strong sense of power.
He makes the scene his, illustrating the whole picture in very fine detail. Earlier on in the book, Scout is embarrassed of her father because he appears to have no talents. Atticus talents are more adult, and Scout discovers them first hand as she grows up. Despite Scouts ignorance, his language and public speaking abilities really shine throughout the book. These talents are what make Atticus Finch unique as a parent and as a lawyer. As you grow older, you " ll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don't you forget it - whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash.
This quote (page 243) is one of the most meaningful in the entire book. It sums up everything the book is trying to teach, and brings the underlying message into the spotlight. Atticus tells both the court and the children that, quite simply, racism is bad and that to kill a mockingbird is a sin. The mockingbirds of this story are Tom Robinson, who did nothing but help Mayella Ewell, and Arthur Boo Radley, who did nothing but stay in his house. Page 99: Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncrib's, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us.
That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.
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Research essay sample on Kill A Mockingbird Atticus Finch
