Atticus as a Father
Parenting can be one of the most challenging jobs a person undertakes. There are many qualities that are necessary to be a good parent. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, there are numerous characters that appear as parental figures. Atticus is the most important parental figure to Scout because he teaches her critical life lessons, raises her in an unbiased environment, and provides her with unconditional love. Throughout this novel Atticus shows Scout what is important in life by teaching her timely lessons. Scout, at the age of six, is beginning to make observations and judgments of others. Atticus wants Scout to think about things from a perspective other than her own. He tells her, "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb in his skin and walk around in it" (34). Atticus believes that without realizing a person's situation it is impossible to determine anything significant about them. If Scout decides to follow his advice she will be less likely to make rash negative opinions about others and will be more empathic to everyone around her. After Jem, her brother, went back to the Radley house to retrieve his pants, he
She is intent on dying free of the drug. I must be patient and disturb him as little as possible" (117). By "climbing into Jem's skin" Scout is beginning to look at things from his perspective. Later, when Scout is frustrated with Jem's inconsistent moods, she approaches Atticus about her problem. This motivates Scout to follow in her father's footsteps and not judge others unfairly. Atticus effectively teaches her the lesson of empathy. Atticus is concerned about Scout's problems and successfully attempts to solve them. Finally, Atticus is a loving father and shows true compassion for Scout throughout this book. Atticus tells Scout that it is never acceptable for anyone to treat African Americans unkindly, no matter who that person might be. He once again gives her useful suggestions about her problems. Through teaching Scout essential life lessons, raising her in an open-minded atmosphere, and genuinely caring for her, Atticus appears as the primary parental figure in To Kill a Mockingbird. After Scout's first day of school she is very distressed about the happenings with Miss Caroline, her teacher. "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.
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