To Kill A Mockingbird Atticus Character Traits

One central character in Atticus is Atticus Cody. Atticus is a sixty-seven year old white male with blue eyes. He always talked pleasantly with everybody and cares dearly for his family. He hopes for the best of Scott, one of the two sons he has and wishes that he stays happy. All Atticus wanted was for Scott to be happy and know he was loved by him.

Atticus shows true courage by trying every way to help others who were in the need of it. First of all, it is courageous of Atticus to take the Tom Robinson case. Even his own family disagreed of taking the case because of the bias. He takes many risks when taking the Tom Robinson case. He risks the chance of critization by the people that live in the Maycomb County. Mrs. Dubose criticizes him when she said, “Atticus is a Nigger lover!’’ (100). With many prejudice people living in Maycomb County Atticus also risks the chance of not being re-elected for legislature. Secondly, it is

Have you ever been blamed for something you didn't do? In Harper Lee’s To kill A Mockingbird, Atticus is defending a black man because he knows he's innocent and he knows if that was him he would hope he had someone take his side when they know he was innocent. Atticus should take a stand for Tom Robinson because he believes for standing up for the right thing and he also helps others in need.

Undoubtedly, one of the most controversial subjects in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, would be whether or not Atticus Finch should have defended Tom Robinson. However, in order to understand this controversy, a person must first be able to understand Atticus Finch himself. Atticus as a character is a very intellectual person who possesses the fortitude to stand up for whatever he believes is right and will not let other people’s choices affect his own. Furthermore, it is also important to understand that Atticus is not a racist, nor does he approve of the idea that one group of people are better than another based on their appearances in general, and because of this, a person can generalize that Atticus’s characteristic traits are why he did not complain when given the task of defending a black man, Tom Robinson, who had been wrongfully accused of raping a white woman. A man that he, as well as a small group of other people from town, viewed as the picture of innocence. In their eyes, Tom was no more than a mockingbird, “[and mockingbirds] don’t do one thing but make music for [people] to enjoy” (Lee 119). Knowing this, anyone with a reasonably strong sense of what is right and what is wrong can conclude that it does make sense for Atticus Finch to have taken the case due to his belief that it is a sin to kill the innocent as well as his courage that allows him to stay true to his ideas, even though when taking the case, he was inevitably going to be putting his

testing his respect, courage, and mental strength to their fullest extent. Atticus is widowed and is forced to raise his two kids, Scout and Jem, with the help of Calpurnia, the maid of the household. Atticus chooses to take the court case of Mr.Tom Robinson, a colored man, in Maycomb County. Maycomb happens to be a very prejudice town set during the Great Depression. He takes this case knowing that most of the towns people will resent him for it. This is where Atticus has to choose between what he thinks is right and what others will think of him throughout different situations in the book.

Beliefs are important to Atticus and many of his beliefs include of kindness, equal rights, and having courage. Doing what he believes in is highly important to Atticus, which is a reason that standing up for Tom Robinson was the right thing for Atticus to do. “ “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.” “(Lee, CH.9). This quote shows us that Atticus had the courage and beliefs to stand up for Tom Robinson, and by defending him he stuck to his beliefs. Atticus’s courage to stand up for Tom was honorable not only for Tom and his community but also to the people against racism. Atticus always believed that being kind was the best thing to do and he shows this by standing up for Tom “ “...I do my best to love everybody…” “(Lee, CH. 11). This quote shows that Atticus is kind-hearted and that standing up for Tom was just another one of his acts of kindness. Since Atticus does his best to love everybody he felt it was a necessity for him to defend Tom Robinson. Atticus not only is kind for his benefits but also for his kids. He teaches his kids to be kind and to treat everyone equal and if he wouldn't have taken Tom’s case he would have been setting a bad example to his children. “ “I wanted you to see what real courage is…” “(Lee, CH. 9). This shows that Atticus is trying to be a good example to his

Atticus, the father of Jem and Scout, is a complex character from Harper Lee’s, To Kill a Mockingbird. A complex character, also known as a Dynamic or Round character, undergoes a change as the plot unfolds. Atticus, as the story unfolds, becomes authoritative , serious, and grateful.

Atticus Finch in “To Kill A Mockingbird” did no conforming to the town when he chose to defend a black man, which was obscene back then. Being a lawyer, Atticus felt it was his responsibility and duty to defend the man and would feel ashamed and remorseful if he didn’t. Even when his own children questioned his actions, ‘"If you shouldn't be defendin' him, then why are you doing' it?"’ He answered them with what he knew they would understand and respect. ‘"For a number of reasons," said Atticus. "The main one is, if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature, I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do something again. […] 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."’ (p.100) Atticus fought for what he thought was right, but ended up losing the lawsuit in the end. Nevertheless, his actions and choices earned him respect from every African American in that little town. Filled with gratitude for what Atticus had tried to do for one of their own, they wanted to give all the respect they could. The whole court house stood as he passed, and Reverend Sykes even said “Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father’s passin’.” (p.283) to have her understand her father was a great and noble person.

He is always trying to teach his children that real courage is not using your fists or guns, but rather using your wits. Scout is struggling to get along with other children at school before Tom Robinson’s trial, because she is horrified by what the other kids are saying about her father. Atticus informs Scout of how to get along better with all 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” (27). He also offers advice on how to deal with her anger and frustration, “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.

The character Atticus once again is a perfect role model of a person who has passion for their job which gives him courage to change the world with his work in serving justice. Although the case of Tom Robinson trial against Myela Ewell was sprung on him and he knew their chances were hopeless, he still treated it like another case of his and braved the trial. When Scout asks why Atticus must defend Tom Robinson, Atticus replies with the main reason being that he couldn't be the lawyer, and parent he’s worked hard to be any more if he didn’t defend Tom. “Atticus’s decision to defend Tom is born out of his need to be seen as a lawful, moral, responsible citizen and father, not out of an urgent ethical need to change bitter racist conditions” (Dogra, 43).

Atticus Finch is remarkably courageous throughout the novel. Atticus does not retaliate when Bob Ewell spits in his face, goes to Tom’s cell knowing there would be a mob, and does his best in court to exonerate Tom. Firstly, Atticus does not retaliate when Bob Ewell spits in his face. Atticus says “ ‘...if spitting in my face saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take’ ” (Lee 218). Atticus is being disrespected in one of the worst ways by a man he could destroy, but knows that he was helping a victim of abuse, Mayella, so he does not make things worse by retaliating. Secondly, Atticus knows there is a mob coming, but nevertheless goes to Tom Robinson’s cell to defend him. Atticus knows the possibly dangerous mob is coming, with Scout observing “He seemed to be expecting them” (150). However, Atticus recognizes that he is Tom’s only hope, and utilizes his immense courage to face the mob. Thirdly, Atticus does his best to defend Tom in court. As Scout tells us, “Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed” (241). Atticus knows from the beginning he has next to no chance to win the trial, but still tries for Tom’s sake, for the other black people in the community, and for the chance he could appeal it and change laws for the good of African Americans. Atticus is an amazing example of courage in the face of adversity for his actions in To Kill A Mockingbird.

Atticus was a very kind person to everyone.He treated you with the same respect if you were white or black and that wasn't common during that time period.Like when he says “"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”.(Lee 220)Taking on Tom Robinson's case was a very kind gesture he did.No one would have taken it because Tom was black,and atticus gave it his best go but unfortunately he lost because Tom was black.He also helped Jem, his son, when he was attacked.He stepped up and help his son by calling the police and taking good, close care to him.Lastly he treats you with the same respect no matter the age or color.When Scout and Jem were “annoying” Mrs.Dubose he respectfully went and talked to

Atticus had the courage to practice his beliefs when it came to the court trial. He chose to accept defending an African American in the trial because he believes that African Americans are no different from whites. Atticus explained to his kids why Bob Ewell was not a sincere person by saying, “Whenever a white man does that to a black man, not matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash.” (Lee 295). Defending an African American against the discriminating town of Maycomb took a lot of courage. Atticus knew what was right, and portraying his beliefs during the court trial took a lot of courage. Atticus recognized that having antagonistic beliefs towards to the town wasn’t going to be easy, but he had the courage to defy the town's “usual disease”. He had the courage to stand up during the court case. Even though Atticus was being labeled for his beliefs, he had the courage to overcome these insults. When he was confronting Jem about these insults he said, “Son, I have no doubt that you’ve been annoyed by your contemporaries about me lawing for niggers, as you say, but to do something like this to a sick old lady is inexcusable.” (Lee 138). Atticus, no matter who insulted him, wanted his kids to accept the situation they were going through and respect everyone. He is always able to recognize the struggles that his oppressors were going through, and he believed in his kids recognizing their struggles as well. Atticus believes in equal rights, as he was making his final statement for Tom Robinson, he pleaded, "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, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men are not to be trusted around women—black or white.” (Lee 273). Atticus was

Mockingbirds are known to be a symbol of innocence. Through day and night, they sing, mimicking other creatures sounds. Their peaceful nature brings no harm to human life. Therefore, killing a mockingbird is like destroying purity and constructing a sin.

Atticus shows true courage by defending Tom Robinson, a black man charged with the rape of a white woman. Atticus continues to fight for justice despite knowing he can’t win the case because he is