To Kill a Mockingbird
Whether good or bad, parents are the most important people in a child's life. In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, the parent-child relationships the author shows is the effect of different parenting. The book takes place in Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression. This little town comprises many tight knit families, each looking out for one another. To Kill a Mockingbird exploits the relationships between Scout and Atticus, Mayella and Bob Ewell, and Dill and his father. There is a considerable different shown between each family and there parenting style.
Atticus is dedicated to his children. His parenting style is of good moral guidance, strong sense of morality and justice. Atticus knows right from wrong and tries to teach scout the same. Scout looks to her father for advice when Jem hits puberty and acts stern towards her. He tells her "consider things from his point of view" (39). Atticus realises that Scout is young. But he teaches her that people should not judge. Be compassionate towards others by stepping in their shoes. Scout calls her father
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Unlike the relationship between Atticus and Scout, Mayella and her father's relationship took a turn for the worst. Throughout Maycomb the Ewells are one of the least appreciated family. The Ewells comprised of around 10 children, and live behind a dump. During Tom Robinson’s trial, Atticus questions him. Mr Robinson tells Atticus "she never kissed a grown man before an' what her papa do to her don't count" (260). After this is said the Ewells’ family is revealed to the whole town. Bob and Mayellas relationship is abusive and sexual. Because Tom says “what her papa do to her” reveals that Bob is still abusing Mayella. Mayella cannot trust her father as he is constantly getting drunk and wandering around town. Since the trail, the Ewells social status falls even further and Mayella’s future is ruined because of her father’s actions towards
a. Atticus is a wise man, committed to justice and equality, and his parenting style is based on fostering these virtues in his children—he even encourages Jem and Scout to call him “Atticus” so that they can interact on terms as equal as possible. Throughout the novel, Atticus works to develop Scout’s and Jem’s respective consciences, through both teaching, as when he tells Scout to put herself in a person’s shoes before she judges them.
For centuries, a controversy as to which parenting style works best, has crossed every parent’s mind. However, not all parents have the same style, in fact, most parents don’t. Atticus Finch from the acclaimed novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee proves no different. Like many parents, his style differentiates from others too. While psychologists have identified many parenting styles, the four main ones include authoritarian, permissive, uninvolved, and authoritative.
Atticus is doing this so he can make sure Scout is safe and will help her later in life because she might learn to stay and ignore bullies of she listens to Atticus. Not every father can be perfect all the time, but Scout and Jem
Atticus is a wise father and helps his children accept people no matter how they look or act. This is evident when he says “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.” (Lee 33). Throughout the novel, Jem and Scout mature at different paces. Atticus guides his children as they begin to grow and mature. “It ain’t right, Atticus,” said Jem.” “No son, It’s not right.” (Lee 243). When Atticus lost the case, Jem expressed how he felt. He had tears on his face. Here was a turning point for Jem because he was old enough to understand the case. Atticus comforted him and agreed it was not right. Atticus shows affection towards his children when they saved him from trouble with “the mob”. “As they passed under a streetlight, Atticus reached out and massaged Jem’s hair, his one gesture of affection.” (Lee 176). At first, Atticus may have been frustrated with his children being at the office. Then, their innocence saved him. Atticus has many characteristics and is a loving father. Atticus displays a valuable lesson about equality and fairness for his children.
This also shows that, Atticus gives Jem and Scout encouragement and advice, which all parents should do for their children. Another reason why Atticus Finch is a good father is because of his willingness to not keep things from Jem and Scout, no matter what it is. One example of Atticus doing this is when he said, “Jack! When a child asks you something, answer him, for goodness sake. But don’t make a production of
In the case of to Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee crafts a clear idea of family dynamic between the main characters, using the parent-child relationship between Atticus, Jem, and Scout as the main example. Atticus, who raised Scout and Jem as a single parent, passes his morals to his children in order to help them see the world in a more productive and open minded way. While talking to Scout about how to better get along with people, Atticus explains to her that “ ‘[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’ “ (Lee 39). This advice from Atticus affects Scout and her outlook on how she has dealt with others, and this change is how her family, mainly Atticus, impacts her and makes her a better person. This family influence also applied to Jem. For Example, when Bob Ewell dies and Heck Tate is trying to explain to Atticus why Jem should not come forward as guilty, Atticus tells Heck Tate that he needs Jem to be treated fairly: “ ‘If this things hushed up, it would be a simple denial to Jem of the way I've raised him. Sometimes I think I’m a total failure of a parent, but I’m all they've got. Before Jem looks at anyone else he looks at me, and I’ve tried to live so that I can look squarely back at him…” (Lee 366). Atticus wants Jem to be treated like an adult because Atticus raised Jem to take responsibility for his actions, and although he questions how he raised Jem and Scout, he wants to stay committed to what he is trying to teach them. This family relationship shows how Atticus taught his children, but also
Scout and Jem being close in age were very close as siblings, since they only had a father to rely on in life. Atticus displayed how difficult it was to be a single father, especially dealing with the Great Depression and racism issues. Throughout his children’s lives he often finds teaching point in every thing they go through. “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” (Lee 31). This applies to the issue of judging and Atticus wants his children to know that one does not know what someone experiences in their life.
Atticus greatly impacts Scout's life throughout the story by being an outstanding single parent. Atticus has a great mind and is very intelligent. He regularly shares valuable advice with Scout. Scout, being a young lady, does not listen to Atticus the first time. Growing older each and everyday, she treasures his advice and uses it anytime she feels it is necessary. According to the novel, “I
What defines a good parent? Who defines a good parenting style? Society, through parenting books and magazines, has discussed this at length, and there are obviously varied opinions. There are certain attributes that are generally used consistently to define a good parenting style. It is not discipline or respect, but the characteristics that stand out for a good parent are trust, love, listening and understanding. Love gives confidence and makes people what they want to be. In Harper Lee’s book “To Kill a Mockingbird”, these key attributes are used to define the parenting style of Atticus, the father of the 2 children, Jem and Scout. I believe that the author has defined a good parent as someone who loves his/her children unconditionally, communicates openly with them, someone who is there for them, some one who teaches good morals and values, and someone who shows them right from wrong. Harper Lee has intelligently demonstrated these characteristics by contrasting the parenting styles of Atticus (the good parent) vs. Bob Ewell, who plays the role of the antagonist in the book, and is portrayed as a bad parent. Both of these men are single parents, and the book therefore does not have much opportunity to view the role of the mother in the upbringing of the children. To illustrate this, the author has cleverly used the examples of 2 women, Calpurnia and Aunt Alexandra, to share her thoughts on the importance of a woman’s role in a child’s life. Though these women
Atticus’s parental style and the way he carries himself is the best you can possibly get from a father figure. From birth to their adolescent ages Atticus has grown them up the proper way and teaching them how to be a respectful human being. The three most important things that Atticus has done is teaching the kids to read,be a respectful person, and to not be racist or support racism. These three examples of Atticus being a role model can be found in numerous part of the story To Kill A Mockingbird.
Atticus is a good father who shows his children love and support. When Jem and Scout have problems, Atticus helps and gives the children advice and life lessons. For instance in To Kill a Mockingbird
Parenting, lauded as one of the most difficult jobs in the world, means constantly being under the scrutiny of others, including your children’s friends. This is no different for the parenting styles of Atticus Finch, Bob Ewell, and Walter Cunningham, three parents from Harper Lee’s critically acclaimed novel To Kill A Mockingbird. Three different parentings styles led to three different types of children: the curious minded, the rascals, and the respectable, showing that how a parent treats their child and others in their lives does matter.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee was by far the best book we read in the first semester. As the story progresses, Atticus, Jem and Scout’s father, educates them with heaps of significant life lessons. Atticus taught others that race does not define a person, and people should not judge one another simply because of the pigment of their skin. Along with this, the children also become enlightened that people do not always turn out to be what they seem. Additionally, the book provided a different kind of parenting style, presented by Atticus, for the reader to grasp and truly understand. All in all, the book withheld an abundance of valuable parenting traits, that taught about the shame involved in judgment and racism.
Throughout our lives we're influenced by many. It can have an effect on the way we view issues within societal boundaries. One of the major influences children have in their lives comes from their parents. The parents of a child can have both a positive and a negative influence on their lives. In the novel "To Kill A Mockingbird", there are two excellent examples of how parents can be a major influence on their children. Atticus Finch, father of Jem and Scout Finch, plays the loving, kind and knowledgeable father. He is an example of how parents can have a positive influence on their children. Bob Ewell, father of Mayella Ewell, plays the drunken, abusive, and neglectful father. He is an example of how a parent can be a negative influence
When reading “To Kill A Mockingbird”, Atticus the father in the story has always raised his children to fight for what they believe in, even if other people tried to bring you down. In our story The father, Atticus, is a lawyer who is defending a black man, the period was the 1930’s. As everyone called Atticus a disgrace, he still did what he believed in, Justice. I believe in “To Kill a Mockingbird” the three things you need to raise a child properly is respect towards elders and guests, Realizing that you will not always be right, and lastly being a role model by doing the right thing, by doing what you believe.