TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

How does Harper Lee bring out different aspects of Atticus Finch to the reader?

During the novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ (1960), The author, Harper Lee, was able to successfully bring
out different aspects of Atticus Finch; a well-mannered and respected father, lawyer and Maycomb
citizen. By introducing him as a brave, excellent role model and fighter for justice, Lee successfully
gives the message to the reader.

Harper Lee shows the reader that although he is not always present around his children due to his job
as a lawyer, he cares for his children, and he is admired by them. In the beginning of the novel, Scout
is starting school, in chapter 3, Scout gets in a fight with Walter Cunningham because he did not have
any food and could not afford any. Atticus confronts Scout and gives her a lesson she will not forget,
“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.” Atticus wants his children to look at life from a Negro’s
perspective, Boo’s perspective and from their friend’s perspectives throughout the story. However,
normally it would be easier to walk around in someone’s shoes and feel if they’re a little too tight or
loose and give them back. To walk around in someone’s skin would mean absorbing their life traits,
the things they are praised for, expected of and stuck with.
Another example is at the very end of Chapter 11, when Atticus explains to Jem about why he asked
him to read to Mrs. Dubose every afternoon, “Courage is not a man with a gun in his hand. It’s
knowing 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.” Atticus is solely trying to teach his children the meaning of
courage, a man with his morals is better than a man with a gun in his hand. Lee presents Atticus as a
loving father that is a role model to his children.

Harper Lee also brings out different aspects of Atticus by showing how empathetic he is. In a quote
that has been used to support my previous point, Atticus was explaining to Scout on why you should
not judge a person by its cover. Atticus has worked with the Cunninghams and understands their
situation, he empathizes with them and tries to pass on the message to scout, “You never really
understand a person, until you consider things from his point of view... until you climb inside his skin
and walk around in it”. This quote is very deep, and really expresses the cold blood definition of what
it means to be empathetic, and Harper Lee uses this quote to foreshadow the climax of the novel and
to show how wise Atticus is. Scout, even at this young, tender age is given advice that will guide her
and help her in tough situations through the novel. In chapter 9, Atticus is talking about how Scout
and Jem should avoid any name calling and get out of any trouble. Atticus says: “Scout, simply by the
nature of the work, every lawyer gets at least one case in his lifetime that affects him personally. This
one’s mine, I guess. You might hear some ugly talk about it at school 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.” Atticus knows that by agreeing to defend Tom Robinson, he has put
himself and his family in line for some unpleasant experiences. Atticus is particularly interested in
protecting his children from the ugliness around the trial, and here, he tries to convince Scout to
ignore whatever abuse comes her way. Atticus shows empathy and bravery in different events by
making everyone feel loved and included but also by protecting his family.

Lee presents Atticus as a very understand man. An example is when Atticus empathizes the Ewells
situation. In chapter 23, Atticus says “Jem, see if you can stand in Bob Ewell’s shoes a minute. I
destroyed his last shred of credibility at that trial, if he had any to begin with. The man had to have
comeback; his kind always does. So, if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell
one extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take.” In this quote, Atticus says he would rather Bob
Ewell focus his rage on Atticus than on one of Bob’s children. He is trying to get Jem to consider the
situation from Bob’s point of view and understand the humiliation and rage Bob must feel as a result
of the trial. While Atticus is empathetic to Bob’s experience, he underestimates the depth of Bob’s
rage, which will affect his children more than it affects Atticus directly. Atticus is shown as empathetic
and understanding person towards Bob Ewell

Lastly, Lee presents Atticus as a fighter for justice and equality through his job as a lawyer. In
Chapter 20, Atticus states in his closing remarks to the jury that, in the U.S., “Our courts have our
faults, as does any human institution, but in this country our courts are the great levelers, and in our
courts all men are created equal.” He appeals to the jury’s nationalism by suggesting that American
courts ensure equality, which is one of the country’s foundational principles. However, after this
closing argument, Tom Robinson is wrongly convicted, which shows the deep bias in the court system
and disproves Atticus’s point. This line reveals the instance between the ideal of American courts and
the reality. Also in chapter 20, Atticus is giving his closing statement. Atticus has proven that there is
no way Tom Robinson is guilty of the crime Mayella has accused him of, yet he also knows that in a
town like Maycomb, the chances of Tom being found innocent are very slim. ticus says that Mayella
feels guilty for breaking this "rigid and time-honored code" by attempting to have sexual intercourse
with Tom. Having been caught in violation of the code, she responds by lashing out at Tom, blaming
him for all that has happened, and accusing him of rape. It's an enormous injustice to have Tom on
trial and pre-convicted for something he didn't do. But Mayella is also a victim of injustice: dirt poor,
kept ignorant, raped by her father, and forbidden to seek companionship from the one person who
was ever nice to her. Harper Lee successfully presents Atticus as a fighter of equality and justice.

Harper Lee successfully presented Atticus as a man of many attributes. His ability to empathize is
shown within his relationship with his children, his bravery within the encounter with Tom Johnson,
and his strong sense of right and wrong within his willingness to defend a Negro. He inspires
admiration and respect from readers.