TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Character Revision Atticus Finch

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Character Revision

Atticus Finch • Atticus Finch is a single parent and nearly fifty years old when we meet him. • We learn his approach to bringing up his children when Scout says “he played with us, read to us, and treated us with courteous detachment” • Aunt Alexandra does not agree with his parenting, particularly with Scout who is far too masculine for her liking.

Atticus Finch • Atticus believes in being honest and straightforward with Jem and Scout, always listening to their opinion and answering difficult questions, even the embarrassing ones. • He treats them with respect, even allowing them to come back to hear the trial verdict, even though he must realise that there may be implications later. • Originally they are slightly embarrassed by him because he does not act like their friends’ fathers, but through his shooting of the dog and his defending of Tom, they eventually gain respect for him. • Scout and Jem consequently learn to respect him for being a constant, principled and sympathetic figure.

Atticus Finch • Miss Maudie comments on his consistency of character, whether privately at home or in public. His conduct is always gentlemanly despite provocation. • Atticus’s maxim (a short statement proposing model human behaviour) follows that if you attempt to stand in another’s shoes or another’s skin you will be able to see their point of view and there will be an understanding and tolerance and therefore no prejudice.

Atticus Finch • This is repeated to the children and demonstrated by Atticus. • For instance when he tries to sympathise with Mrs Dubose and understand Robert Ewell’s anger. • Scout and Jem learn to do so in their assessment of Mayella Ewell and Boo Radley.

Atticus Finch • Atticus’ self respect and pride demand that he makes sure Tom Robinson gets a fair trial. His case is ordered and his oratory is admired. • His language reflects his personality: courteous, formal and straightforward • His views are enlightened and he is a man of extreme courage, fighting against the prejudice of his community.

Atticus Finch • Atticus could be considered the main character of the novel. • He embodies themes of justice, tolerance, goodness and courage. • He is a man of extreme integrity and it is through his mouth that Harper Lee expresses her moral philosophy.

What does Atticus do in the novel? 1. Atticus teaches his children important lessons such as understanding other people’s viewpoints (Chapter 3) 2. Atticus shoots a mad dog to protect the community (Chapter 10) 3. Atticus sits outside the Maycomb jail to protect Tom Robinson from a lynch mob (Chapter 15) 4. Atticus defends Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman (Chapters 17 -21) 5. Atticus agrees to keep quiet about the details of the incident with Bob Ewell (Chapter 30)

How is Atticus described and what does it mean? Quotation Meaning “We were…. . free to interrupt Atticus for a translation” Atticus uses formal language but is patient and happy to explain things. He believes in being honest, respectful and straightforward with his children. “Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public streets” Atticus is always consistent and courteous. This is usually a good thing, but his ideas and principles can put him and his family at risk in society. “He sat in the living room and read” He is a studious lawyer, not young and active. He does not conform to society’s view of what it is to be a Southern gentleman and is something of a loner. “He’s the only man in these parts who can keep a jury out so long” A persuasive lawyer, he is determined that Tom Robinson gets a fair trial. Racial prejudice means he can’t win, but he will try to change things.

The Qualities of Atticus • Atticus is a lawyer but he doesn’t just do the job for financial reasons – he cares about his clients and accepts things like hickory nuts as payment from poorer people. • He is also honourable and unselfish. He does his best to defend Tom Robinson even though that he knows a lot of people in Maycomb won’t like him for it. He says there’s been talk in the town that he “shouldn’t do much about defending this man”. • Defending Tom Robinson shows how important Atticus’ job is to his sense of self-worth – he says that if he didn’t try his best he wouldn’t be able to “hold up my head in town”.

The Qualities of Atticus • He is also a good father. He teaches Scout and Jem to accept people’s social and racial differences and not to judge people because of them. • He is always honest with his children and tries to answer their questions truthfully. He spends time with them – reading, kicking a ball around and talking to them; this would have been unusual for fathers of that time. • Atticus contrasts with the other fathers in the book – Dill’s father isn’t interested in him, Bob Ewell mistreats his children and Mr Radley tries to keep Boo indoors.

The Qualities of Atticus • Atticus earns everyone’s respect by respecting everyone. Atticus is courteous to everybody, regardless of their race, social class or behaviour towards him. He sees the good in everybody and tries to encourage his children to do the same. • For example, even though Mrs Dubose says offensive things about Atticus, he is still courteous to her. He is polite to everyone. • He isn’t hypocritical and doesn’t have double standards, unlike most of the people of Maycomb. He practices what he preaches. He teaches his children to be honest, empathic and fair – just like he is.

The Qualities of Atticus • He provides a voice for the black community when he takes on Tom Robinson’s case. • But he also recognises when he needs a black person to communicate for him – for example when he takes Calpurnia with him to tell Helen Robinson that her husband is dead. • He is different to the rest of the men in Maycomb. At the start of the book, Jem and Scout don’t appreciate their father because they think he is “feeble” as he is “nearly fifty”. But Atticus isn’t afraid to be different from the rest of Maycomb’s men – he’s academic, he doesn’t drink and he spends his evenings reading with his family. • In Maycomb, people are judged for being different but because the town respects Atticus, they accept the way he is.

The Weakness’ of Atticus • However, he is still human. Sometimes, he loses his temper or gets angry like when he “fusses” or has a “fierce discussion” with Aunt Alexandra. • He is disheartened when he loses the trial – “If I don’t wake up in the morning, don’t call me”. • He misjudges Bob Ewell’s threats: “What on earth could Ewell do to me, sister? ” • His faith is people almost get his children killed. Though his weakness’ are those of an idealist, he does take undue risk with his own life and the lives of his children in the name of justice.

Exam Question: 2012 Q. 1 From the short stories and novel you have studied, choose either a character you like OR a character you dislike. Identify one or more incidents from the text that particularly influenced your feelings towards this character and explain why your chosen incident(s) influenced you to either like him or her. (30 marks)

Tackling the Question! • The Studied Fiction section of the paper accounts for 30 marks. You should spend no more than 25 minutes on this section. • Ensure that you are familiar with a wide range of references and quotations from the novel. This will help you to support your view. • Be careful answering the question. Underline the important words and phrases in the question to establish exactly what you have been asked to do. • Do NOT merely summarise the book – an honours level candidate is expected to do much more than that.

Sample Answer I have been very fortunate to study the novel ‘To Kill a Mocking Bird’ by Harper Lee. The novel describes the life of the Finch family in the south of America in the nineteen thirties. A character that I especially liked in the novel was the head of this family, Atticus Finch. Atticus was a lawyer and single parent. He was “nearly fifty” and “was related by blood or marriage to nearly every family in Maycomb. ” Atticus impressed me because he was a very strong, compassionate and fair man. He is a brilliant father and frequently dispenses valuable advice to his children. He tells Scout, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view. ” The main thing that influenced my feelings towards Atticus was his decision to defend Tom Robinson even though he knows it will impact on him negatively. I think this is an extremely brave thing to do. It is obvious that Atticus is not racist like so many of the Maycomb inhabitants. He tells Scout not to use the word “nigger” because it is “common”. He tries his best to defend and protect Tom Robinson. He even risks personal danger outside the jailhouse when the “mob” comes to lynch Tom.

Sample Answer I was also impressed with the compassion Atticus showed Mayella Ewell. He realised that she was to be pitied rather than condemned despite her cruel treatment of Tom Robinson. After the trial, Bob Ewell spits in the lawyer’s face. He remained incredibly calm and told Scout, “If spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell an extra beating, that’s something I’d gladly take. ” I think this statement shows what a caring man Atticus was and it made me like him even more. Atticus was “always courteous to everybody”. He had great patience and was even polite to the dreaded Miss Dubois. Mayella Ewell thought he was mocking her when he addressed her as a woman deserving respect. As Scout says, “I never heard Atticus raise his voice in my life, except to a deaf woman. ” His ability to be polite to everyone regardless of their character is very admirable.

Sample Answer There is much to admire in Atticus but he is not a one-dimensional character. His character would be tedious if he was merely a saintly character with no real depth. Fortunately, there is more to Atticus. He is a real man who can get angry or frustrated at times. The tiresome Aunt Alexandra frequently irritates him. He also has a very sharp, dry sense of humour. I enjoyed his witty one-liners throughout the novel. I really liked the character of Atticus Finch. His character definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the novel and caused me to reflect on my own behaviour.