Atticus
Introduction
Extremely significant, vital - source of all knowledge
Teaches about injustice and prejudice and the need for compassion, empathy and fairness
Prejudice
Prominent lawyer – defends Tom despite criticism and knowledge of being “licked”.
Tells Jem and Scout “the white man always wins.” Intensifier “always” makes it evident black
people never received a fair trial – judged on the colour of their skin.
Scottsboro Trial – influenced Harper Lee when she was a child
Teaches the children that to accept the lack of justice reinstated by Tom’s case as just an “ugly”
“fact of life” makes them as corrupt as society, because it is their moral obligation to make small
stands against the inequality, even if they alone cannot make a big difference.
By presenting racism as Maycomb’s “usual disease” Harper Lee indicates that this injustice was
typical and expected of the Southern States – pre-modifying adjective “usual”.
Although Atticus’ tone seems resigned and bitter, he clearly covets change and equality.
In the 1930s, despite slavery being abolished in 1865, the Jim Crow Laws continued in enforcing
segregation between black and white people, feeding beliefs that integration was dangerous and
condemned by God. The petty and unreasonable nature of the white people’s fear is highlighted by
Atticus, who contrasts the immoral society. “reasonable people go stark raving mad where
anything involving a negro comes up”. Juxtaposition “reasonable” and “mad” shows his incredulity
at white people believing devotedly in their superiority.
“The one place where a man ought to get a square deal is a courtroom, be he any colour of the
rainbow, but people have a way of carrying their resentments right into the jury box.” Atticus
seems to have lost his optimism at Tom’s conviction, but it is important for his children to realise
that life is brutal and unfair. Lee shows that even an eternally hopeful character like Atticus can be
worn down by society’s injustice, portraying her message of the need for change.
Role Model/Parenting
He tries to teach his children significant life lessons, including respect and honesty, that enable
them to develop upstanding moral viewpoints. His strong beliefs in conscience prominently impact
on their rites of passage, as he cannot abandon what is morally right: “before I live with other folk,
I have to live with myself”. Atticus teaches his children not to succumb to society’s pressure to
disregard what is right. When Scout is angry and confused by the insult “nigger-lover” Atticus’ lack
of reaction explains that it cannot damage his fight for equality.
Unlike the traditional disciplinarian methods of most parents at the time, Atticus speaks to his
children maturely and refrains from the orthodox infantilization – he chooses words over brutality.
When Scout doesn’t want to go back to school, he listens to her concerns, and tries to make her see
the teacher’s side of it and teach her empathy: “if you’ll concede the necessity of going to school,
we’ll go on reading every night.” The use of the noun “bargain” shows his desire for equality
within his family by appreciating their significance.
He tells her that she won’t achieve empathy “until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”
This implies that empathy is the key to dispelling prejudice and discrimination.
Always there when his children need him; all of his actions are driven by a need to keep them safe.
When Jem’s arm is broken, Scout knows Atticus: “would be there all night, and he would be there
when Jem waked in the morning.” Devoted and loving, and it is from him they learn how moral
courage is more powerful than any physical weapon, and comes from a strength of conviction.
Work
Atticus presents the historical issue of poverty and unemployment, brought about by the Wall
Street Crash in 1929. Although Scout initially conveys Maycomb as a town with “nothing to fear but
Introduction
Extremely significant, vital - source of all knowledge
Teaches about injustice and prejudice and the need for compassion, empathy and fairness
Prejudice
Prominent lawyer – defends Tom despite criticism and knowledge of being “licked”.
Tells Jem and Scout “the white man always wins.” Intensifier “always” makes it evident black
people never received a fair trial – judged on the colour of their skin.
Scottsboro Trial – influenced Harper Lee when she was a child
Teaches the children that to accept the lack of justice reinstated by Tom’s case as just an “ugly”
“fact of life” makes them as corrupt as society, because it is their moral obligation to make small
stands against the inequality, even if they alone cannot make a big difference.
By presenting racism as Maycomb’s “usual disease” Harper Lee indicates that this injustice was
typical and expected of the Southern States – pre-modifying adjective “usual”.
Although Atticus’ tone seems resigned and bitter, he clearly covets change and equality.
In the 1930s, despite slavery being abolished in 1865, the Jim Crow Laws continued in enforcing
segregation between black and white people, feeding beliefs that integration was dangerous and
condemned by God. The petty and unreasonable nature of the white people’s fear is highlighted by
Atticus, who contrasts the immoral society. “reasonable people go stark raving mad where
anything involving a negro comes up”. Juxtaposition “reasonable” and “mad” shows his incredulity
at white people believing devotedly in their superiority.
“The one place where a man ought to get a square deal is a courtroom, be he any colour of the
rainbow, but people have a way of carrying their resentments right into the jury box.” Atticus
seems to have lost his optimism at Tom’s conviction, but it is important for his children to realise
that life is brutal and unfair. Lee shows that even an eternally hopeful character like Atticus can be
worn down by society’s injustice, portraying her message of the need for change.
Role Model/Parenting
He tries to teach his children significant life lessons, including respect and honesty, that enable
them to develop upstanding moral viewpoints. His strong beliefs in conscience prominently impact
on their rites of passage, as he cannot abandon what is morally right: “before I live with other folk,
I have to live with myself”. Atticus teaches his children not to succumb to society’s pressure to
disregard what is right. When Scout is angry and confused by the insult “nigger-lover” Atticus’ lack
of reaction explains that it cannot damage his fight for equality.
Unlike the traditional disciplinarian methods of most parents at the time, Atticus speaks to his
children maturely and refrains from the orthodox infantilization – he chooses words over brutality.
When Scout doesn’t want to go back to school, he listens to her concerns, and tries to make her see
the teacher’s side of it and teach her empathy: “if you’ll concede the necessity of going to school,
we’ll go on reading every night.” The use of the noun “bargain” shows his desire for equality
within his family by appreciating their significance.
He tells her that she won’t achieve empathy “until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”
This implies that empathy is the key to dispelling prejudice and discrimination.
Always there when his children need him; all of his actions are driven by a need to keep them safe.
When Jem’s arm is broken, Scout knows Atticus: “would be there all night, and he would be there
when Jem waked in the morning.” Devoted and loving, and it is from him they learn how moral
courage is more powerful than any physical weapon, and comes from a strength of conviction.
Work
Atticus presents the historical issue of poverty and unemployment, brought about by the Wall
Street Crash in 1929. Although Scout initially conveys Maycomb as a town with “nothing to fear but
