Atticus lived in Maycomb County, Alabama where he brought up his two children, Jem and Scout alone since his wife passed away when Scout was little. Maycomb County is inherently racist and has a large amount of many prejudiced people. Most of the county called black people “niggers”, but to Atticus everyone is an equal. Atticus comes across as a very kind and gentle father, and never seems to lose his temper when Jem or Scout are naughty or misbehave.
Atticus, as a lawyer in Maycomb, does not earn a great deal of money and has to make sure it lasts for him and his children. Atticus tries to be good father as much as he can to Jem and Scout. He never brags about his abilities, he is loving and caring towards his children and tells them the difference between right and wrong. I think Atticus a good father and he looks after his children very well. He seems, in the context of the 1930’s, Deep South, an extremely modern parent.
Atticus is an example to Jem and Scout, he doesn’t physically punish them instead he punishes them in other ways for example sending Jem to read to Mrs. Dubose. This is a good way to punish him because not only is Jem not being hurt, but he is learning from Atticus that there’s more than one way to punish people, and that a smack doesn’t always solve the problem. But this is actually one of Atticus’s downfalls, as he left his two children in the hands of a frightening, bad mouthed old woman, and this clearly scared Jem and Scout. Atticus tries his best to teach Jem and Scout the difference between right and wrong, and makes it clear to Jem on page 49 that it is wrong to keep bothering the radleys.
Atticus is very close to Scout and often sits with her on his lap when she is upset. Atticus teaches Scout in page 30 that you can never understand a person until you consider their point of view “until you climb into their shoes and walk around in them.” Scout seems to learn more from Atticus than she does anywhere else, as well as school. Scout listens carefully to Atticus, which shows that she respects him and values his advice. Later on in the book we find that Scout uses Atticus’s advice by climbing into Jem’s shoes and walking around in them, this proves the effect her father’s words have on her. Jem also looks up to Atticus and almost uses him as a role model “Atticus is a gentleman, just like me!” this shows that Atticus really does set them both an example.
Atticus, does not earn a great deal of mon...
