Atticus is a very important and powerful character throughout the book.In the opening scene of the "To Kill A Mockingbird", Mr. Cunningham must repay Atticus for his favor with some hickory nuts. Given the circumstances, Mr. Cunningham is black man in the Great Depression, therefor times are more cruel for a man like him and has no other way to pay him back. Atticus's daughter "Scout" calls for Mr. Cunningham to meet with her father. After Mr.Cunningham gives Atticus the nuts and leaves the room, Atticus tells Scout to next time not call him in. Scout is innocent and does not understand as to why Mr. Cunningham would be in any way embarassed because he is only paying Atticus back. Through this scene, Atticus is established as a humble man. Atticus is a white man who is not in favor or skin color or any race, instead Atticus stands for justice. Atticus will stand on the side of justice. Atticus wanted to prevent Mr. Cunningham the embarassment. Even at the very beginning, one can understand that Atticus believes that all men are created equal, Atticus sees everyone on a common ground. Atticus is a lawyer, a white lawyer. If he wanted to, Atticus could have surely looked down upon Mr. Cunningham, instead he saw no need for meeting. There was no need for a black man to meet with a white man and make him feel looked down upon, make him feel any less than what he was, any less as a person. Atticus stands for self righteousness from the beginning. When Atticus decided to defend the rights of Tom Robinson, many people went agansit him. People went against due to the fact that he was defending a negro man that supposedly raped Mayella Ewell. At this time, this was considered unspeakable and unacceptable. However, Atticus still did what he believed was right , he proved to this society that everyone deserves a fighting chance. He knew that if he didn't stand up for what he believed in, how can he expect his children to do the same? On page 43, Atticus states "For a number of reasns...what they say to you" This quote reveals that Atticus feels strongly about toms case. It affected him in a strong way as a human. If he wasnt to defend him, then he wouldnt be able to live and he would lose his authority as a father and man.
I totally agree with Atticus being a humble man. He is soft spoken and often throughout the book, the voice of reason, especially for Scout who questions so many things. I believe he stands for morality and doing what is right, even if it displeases a majority of society. It's true, Atticus did not have to represent Tom Robinson in court. He could've said no and protected his reputation. However, what sort of example would this set for his children, which brings us back to him being a father and doing his best to teach his children right from wrong.
To add on to what Kaitlin says, Atticus happens to be one of the most inspiring characters in American literature. He represents what many long to be. He is courageous and honorable. Atticus is a man who although lives in the South, has managed to not be influenced by the ignorance he is surrounded by. He is a man of knowledge who looks not with his eyes but with his ears as he pays no mind to the color of one's skin but instead places himself in the shoes of those around him.
I agree with Kaitlin, Atticus is the voice of reaso ni nthe book and also represents how justice is blind; the way it is suppose to be but isnt in this time period because of segreation. Atticus represents eqaulity and the ideal mentality that one should have and what Harper Lee would like to see during her lifetime.
As a white in the 1932s, he was extremely ahead of his time. In his closing argument, Atticus reveals that he is advanced with his educated diction and common sense. It was ironic because he lived in one of the most segregation in the United States yet he was extremely open minded. I love his role as a single father because that enhances his ethos.
Atticus is a very intelligent man but I feel as though his parenting is a bit off. As my group who was assigned Scout discussed, we noticed that she referred to him as "Atticus" rather than dad. I think this exemplifies bad parenting in which kids did not usual call their parents by their first name. It is a matter of respect but then again it is to be taken into consideration the time period that this setting is in. Through Atticus's character I think Harper Lee is trying to make a statement about his relationship with Scout, furthermore a father and a daughters relationship.
I Agree with alexis and i believe that atticus is infact is an inteligent man but his parenting skills need a change. Jem and scout, when asked not to bother the radely family, they did not listen to atticus.
I think Harper Lee's purpose in having Scott refer to her father as Atticus is because Atticus is more than a father. If we take, for instance, the chilling scene in which he shoots the sick dogs, we can conclude that there is something dreamy about Atticus. He is the ultimate representation of good and throughout the book we fail to that image falter. It's has if Harper Lee made him out to be an angel and if we look at it from that stand point, Mary never referred to Jesus as "son" unless she was saying. Calling someone by their name IS a sign of respect.
Atticus knows more than his children does. He knows what's right and what's wrong because he's not just only protecting his children, but including the people he's protecting. He's very intelligent and stands as a very strong man. Parenting is always the time to become very responsible and Atticus proves this, including when he's handling a court case issue, such as defending Tom Robinson. He does not fear to protect him and neither does he fear to speak the truth. Atticus knows his words, his language, and his diction and he uses them as a parent and as a lawyer.
Like the documentary said. Attiucs is a character portrayed much more modern for an age in which he lived in. The interesting thing we see about Atticus is that he never actually outright states how he is not prejudice he shows us how he isn't which is interesting due to all the other characters being completely outspoken about their hate. Harper was most likely trying to further compare the contrasting types of characters.
Atticus is a very important and powerful character throughout the book.In the opening scene of the "To Kill A Mockingbird", Mr. Cunningham must repay Atticus for his favor with some hickory nuts. Given the circumstances, Mr. Cunningham is black man in the Great Depression, therefor times are more cruel for a man like him and has no other way to pay him back. Atticus's daughter "Scout" calls for Mr. Cunningham to meet with her father. After Mr.Cunningham gives Atticus the nuts and leaves the room, Atticus tells Scout to next time not call him in. Scout is innocent and does not understand as to why Mr. Cunningham would be in any way embarassed because he is only paying Atticus back. Through this scene, Atticus is established as a humble man. Atticus is a white man who is not in favor or skin color or any race, instead Atticus stands for justice. Atticus will stand on the side of justice. Atticus wanted to prevent Mr. Cunningham the embarassment. Even at the very beginning, one can understand that Atticus believes that all men are created equal, Atticus sees everyone on a common ground. Atticus is a lawyer, a white lawyer. If he wanted to, Atticus could have surely looked down upon Mr. Cunningham, instead he saw no need for meeting. There was no need for a black man to meet with a white man and make him feel looked down upon, make him feel any less than what he was, any less as a person. Atticus stands for self righteousness from the beginning. When Atticus decided to defend the rights of Tom Robinson, many people went agansit him. People went against due to the fact that he was defending a negro man that supposedly raped Mayella Ewell. At this time, this was considered unspeakable and unacceptable. However, Atticus still did what he believed was right , he proved to this society that everyone deserves a fighting chance. He knew that if he didn't stand up for what he believed in, how can he expect his children to do the same? On page 43, Atticus states "For a number of reasns...what they say to you" This quote reveals that Atticus feels strongly about toms case. It affected him in a strong way as a human. If he wasnt to defend him, then he wouldnt be able to live and he would lose his authority as a father and man.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with Atticus being a humble man. He is soft spoken and often throughout the book, the voice of reason, especially for Scout who questions so many things. I believe he stands for morality and doing what is right, even if it displeases a majority of society. It's true, Atticus did not have to represent Tom Robinson in court. He could've said no and protected his reputation. However, what sort of example would this set for his children, which brings us back to him being a father and doing his best to teach his children right from wrong.
DeleteTo add on to what Kaitlin says, Atticus happens to be one of the most inspiring characters in American literature. He represents what many long to be. He is courageous and honorable. Atticus is a man who although lives in the South, has managed to not be influenced by the ignorance he is surrounded by. He is a man of knowledge who looks not with his eyes but with his ears as he pays no mind to the color of one's skin but instead places himself in the shoes of those around him.
DeleteMr. Cunningham is not a black man, he is white.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kaitlin, Atticus is the voice of reaso ni nthe book and also represents how justice is blind; the way it is suppose to be but isnt in this time period because of segreation. Atticus represents eqaulity and the ideal mentality that one should have and what Harper Lee would like to see during her lifetime.
ReplyDeleteAs a white in the 1932s, he was extremely ahead of his time. In his closing argument, Atticus reveals that he is advanced with his educated diction and common sense. It was ironic because he lived in one of the most segregation in the United States yet he was extremely open minded. I love his role as a single father because that enhances his ethos.
ReplyDeleteAtticus is a very intelligent man but I feel as though his parenting is a bit off. As my group who was assigned Scout discussed, we noticed that she referred to him as "Atticus" rather than dad. I think this exemplifies bad parenting in which kids did not usual call their parents by their first name. It is a matter of respect but then again it is to be taken into consideration the time period that this setting is in. Through Atticus's character I think Harper Lee is trying to make a statement about his relationship with Scout, furthermore a father and a daughters relationship.
ReplyDeleteI Agree with alexis and i believe that atticus is infact is an inteligent man but his parenting skills need a change. Jem and scout, when asked not to bother the radely family, they did not listen to atticus.
DeleteI think Harper Lee's purpose in having Scott refer to her father as Atticus is because Atticus is more than a father. If we take, for instance, the chilling scene in which he shoots the sick dogs, we can conclude that there is something dreamy about Atticus. He is the ultimate representation of good and throughout the book we fail to that image falter. It's has if Harper Lee made him out to be an angel and if we look at it from that stand point, Mary never referred to Jesus as "son" unless she was saying. Calling someone by their name IS a sign of respect.
ReplyDeleteAtticus knows more than his children does. He knows what's right and what's wrong because he's not just only protecting his children, but including the people he's protecting. He's very intelligent and stands as a very strong man. Parenting is always the time to become very responsible and Atticus proves this, including when he's handling a court case issue, such as defending Tom Robinson. He does not fear to protect him and neither does he fear to speak the truth. Atticus knows his words, his language, and his diction and he uses them as a parent and as a lawyer.
ReplyDeleteLike the documentary said. Attiucs is a character portrayed much more modern for an age in which he lived in. The interesting thing we see about Atticus is that he never actually outright states how he is not prejudice he shows us how he isn't which is interesting due to all the other characters being completely outspoken about their hate. Harper was most likely trying to further compare the contrasting types of characters.
ReplyDelete