...In the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch is a well known lawyer, father to Scout and Jem Finch, and citizen in Maycomb County. His predominant characteristic is integrity. The definition of integrity is, “adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty” (Dictionary.com). Atticus Finch shows this in the court and in his home. Most people only play by the rules and keep people’s wellbeing in mind when it can affect their own reputation or they are out in public. Atticus not only shows his integrity in town, but also in his own home and to his children as well. Scout and Jem have absorbed the genuineness of their father, through many daily lessons to life-threatening troubles. Mr. Finch is very unique...
Words: 759 - Pages: 4
...especially the Finch Family. Challenging moments in one’s life result in a lesson learned. Even if times are hard, just always know that it is worth it in the long run. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Maycomb County is where the Finch family has lived for countless years, their family name is honored in the small community. Scout Finch, Atticus’ young daughter is just entering school, and her older brother Jem is there to help her. But, Jem and Scout begin to encounter difficult experiences that are much different than their usual games in the backyard. The Finch family develops and grows throughout the book from the experiences they encounter together. Scout if first introduced as a young innocent tomboy type of girl who is her father’s little girl, but over time she grows through her experiences. Scout’s father, Atticus, is all about teaching his children morals, and one moral he has taught Scout is to never do harm to someone or something that does no harm to you. Atticus looked like he needed cheering up. I ran to him and hugged him and kissed...
Words: 968 - Pages: 4
...by Harper Lee, Jem is a young boy who faces several dilemmas while growing up in a small town Although Jem is unaware, the influence of Maycomb’s narrow-minded and racist culture is inevitable. In various ways, Jem demonstrates the moral development of courage and responsibility that comes with age, examples, and experience. As a result of Jem facing difficult situations, his preconceived notions of society shatter, and he begins to develop an increasingly mature sense of courage and caliber. For example, as an attempt to lure Boo Radley outside, Jem accepts Scout and Dill’s dare to touch the side of the Radley house(19). Because of the unrealistic understanding he and children his age have of mettle, Jem...
Words: 585 - Pages: 3
...Mockingbird Summer Work Characters Scout Jean Louise Finch, also called Scout, is the narrator and protagonist of the story. She is the sister of Jeremy (Jem) Finch and the daughter of Atticus Finch. She lives with her brother, father, and their black cook, Calpurnia, in Maycomb County. Being the main character, she is involved with all of the major events that happen during the course of the novel, including the Tom Robinson trial. While the story progresses, Scout’s views about life mature. Scout is different than most little girls at the time. She wears overalls instead of dresses and learns to climb trees with Jem and Dill rather than learning manners.She starts to understand how to look at things from someone else’s point of view, instead of only her own, and, “step into their skin,” as Atticus tells her, in order to understand people’s feelings. She progresses from a short-tempered tom boy to an empathetic young girl. Although she is still young, her understanding of the world is progressing rapidly. Jem Jeremy (Jem) Finch is the brother of Jean Louise (Scout) Finch, and the son of Atticus finch. He is four years older than Scout. He is Scout’s playmate and protector throughout the novel. Although he slowly weans himself from Scout’s little games, he remains her closest companion and guardian. He and his views on life are deeply affected by the Tom Robinson trial because of the amount of sheer prejudice and cruelty of the trial. Jem learns what real courage is. Atticus...
Words: 2535 - Pages: 11
...In the book To Kill A Mockingbird there are three kids named Dill, Scout ,and Jem. This essay will be about what their daily life is like. I will discuss what they do for fun, what their thoughts are at the beginning of the book and how those thoughts have changed throughout the book. In the small humble town of Maycomb county Alabama, there are these three kids named Dill, Jem , and Scout. Dill, Jem, and scout all live on the same street in Maycomb county. On that same kid lives a mysterious malevolent beast called Boo Radley. Before we continue we need to first describe Dill,Jem,Scout,and Boo Radley. Dill Harris is a kid that Jem and Scout discovered one day while they were out playing. Dill is a boy who likes to dramatize all the...
Words: 899 - Pages: 4
...recipient of numerous honorary degrees, but has always declined to make a speech. Other significant contributions of Lee include assisting her close friend, Truman Capote, in his research for the book In Cold Blood. II.INFORMATION ABOUT THE NOVEL Classification- To Kill a Mockingbird is embodied by Atticus Finch, who is virtually unique in the novel in that he has experienced and understood evil without losing his faith in the human capacity for goodness. Atticus understands that, rather than being simply creatures of good or creatures of evil, most people have both good and bad qualities. The important thing is to appreciate the good qualities and understand the bad qualities by treating others with sympathy and trying to see life from their perspective. He tries to teach this ultimate moral lesson to Jem and Scout to show them that it is possible to live with conscience without losing hope or becoming cynical. In this way, Atticus is able to admire Mrs. Dubose’s courage even while deploring her racism. Scout’s progress as a character in the novel is defined by her gradual development toward understanding Atticus’s lessons, culminating when, in the final chapters, Scout at last sees Boo Radley as a human being. Her newfound ability to view the world from his perspective ensures that she will not become jaded as she loses her...
Words: 2841 - Pages: 12
...finger on family and social values that has made it appealing to all generations of readers. The narrator uses the small town of Maycomb and the Finch family as the basis of her story for describing family values. "Maycomb was an old town, but it was an old tired town when i first knew it" p.5 Nearly all the families in TKAM are atypical, even if the Finch seems to be the most normal in the novel. in fact Atticu's family is still unusual: it is a single-parent family and his children call him by his first name. Harper Lee uses the 1st person narrative to put the reader in the shoes of Scout, a tomboy daughter of Atticus Finch. Scout is an intellingent and neither She nor her brother Jem have any close friends, but only Dill who comes to visit each summer. Atticus is one of the only parents that takes time with his children. Him and Scout would read everyday for example. the only motherly touch in the house comes from Calpurnia, the african american housekeeper. Nevertheless, the Finch serves as role models I mean The novel traces the life of Scout, her brother Jem and Atticus over many years. Meanwhile, Harper Lee uses great descriptors and try to show the values of the other dysfunctional families found in Maycomb: The Ewells are "the disgrace of Maycomb for three generations" in part because of the lack of a mother as the Finch, its a single-parent family Bob. they too are a single-parent family. But in contrary to Atticus, Bob spend little time with his children. he's...
Words: 629 - Pages: 3
...Louise “Scout” Finch - The narrator and protagonist of the story. Scout lives with her father, Atticus, her brother, Jem, and their black cook, Calpurnia, in Maycomb. She is intelligent and, by the standards of her time and place, a tomboy. Scout has a combative streak and a basic faith in the goodness of the people in her community. As the novel progresses, this faith is tested by the hatred and prejudice that emerge during Tom Robinson’s trial. Scout eventually develops a more grown-up perspective that enables her to appreciate human goodness without ignoring human evil. Atticus Finch - Scout and Jem’s father, a lawyer in Maycomb descended from an old local family. A widower with a dry sense of humor, Atticus has instilled in his children his strong sense of morality and justice. He is one of the few residents of Maycomb committed to racial equality. When he agrees to defend Tom Robinson, a black man charged with raping a white woman, he exposes himself and his family to the anger of the white community. With his strongly held convictions, wisdom, and empathy, Atticus functions as the novel’s moral backbone. Jeremy Atticus “Jem” Finch - Scout’s brother and constant playmate at the beginning of the story. Jem is something of a typical American boy, refusing to back down from dares and fantasizing about playing football. Four years older than Scout, he gradually separates himself from her games, but he remains her close companion and protector throughout the novel. Jem moves...
Words: 2836 - Pages: 12
...This paper is about the debate whether the Finch kids ever did give back to Boo Radley like he gave to them through hollowed out tree hole. Scout was partially right with her statement that they never gave him anything in return. They never gave him any materialistic things but they did give Boo Radley attention like nobody else in Maycomb did. It wasn’t always good attention but sometimes it was. They also got other people on town to think about him, sense they were always asking questions about him. In a way they also gave him adventure when he went out to save them. “I made my way along in what I thought was the road. I was not sure, because I had been turned around so many times. But I found it and looked down to the street light. A man was passing under it. The man was walking with staccato steps of someone carrying a load too heavy for him. He was going around the corner. He was carrying Jem. Jem’s arm was dangling crazily in front of him” (Lee 352). Boo gave the French children more than they could ever give him. He gave Jem and Scout their lives. He also gave them material items, something to think about over their summers, and even gave them some emotion. “His lips parted into a timid smile, and our neighbor’s image blurred with my sudden tears. “Hey Boo,” I said” (Lee 362). Scout was always the most open hearted and excepting one out of her and Jem towards Boo. The comment “… neighbors give in return. We never put back into the tree what we took out of...
Words: 1056 - Pages: 5
...Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is set in Maycomb, a small town in Alabama, during the 1930s. It portrays the story of a young girl, Scout Finch, and the obstacles, prejudice, and findings she encounters during her early childhood. Her older brother, Jem Finch, is a usual companion and joins her in most of her wanderings. Their father, Atticus Finch, is a defense attorney and works in the state’s legislature. During the course of the novel, Atticus encounters a difficult case he needs to defend. Tom Robinson, a black man, is accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman. This case gains lots of attention. Atticus and his children soon becomes the victims of strong hatred and harassment from whites of the town because many believe Atticus should not be defending this case. The family also has a housekeeper, Calpurnia. Calpurnia is black, yet still very educated. Calpurnia is seen not only as their...
Words: 992 - Pages: 4
...To Kill a Mockingbird To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, is a critically acclaimed novel narrated by Scout FInch, following an important three years in her life. This novel became an instant best seller, an Academy Award-winning film, and a winner of the Pulitzer Prize. This book in some states are part of the English curriculum to be taught in high schools, while in other states it is banned from school libraries. This book arises much controversy because it is based around white supremacy in the South, and how African Americans were harshly treated. It reveals the ugly truth on how society handled cases in the court and the biased verdicts as the result. It also reveals the existence of good and evil in a small town, and how some adults...
Words: 1838 - Pages: 8
...mentors, and memories. The adventurer’s early findings are their foundation. From there, all discoveries build on that foundation opening the door to make the transition from adolescence to a less innocent status. Scout and Jem Finch, two of the protagonists in Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, must endure this evolution with the help of their father. Atticus, an honest and righteous...
Words: 1438 - Pages: 6
...It's when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” - Atticus Finch (chpt 11 pg. 149) This quote by atticus gives us an idea about his values and like we need courage, so do heroes. Another quote is, “With him, life was routine; without him, life was unbearable.” - Scout Finch 9 chpt 12 pg. 154. When Scout says this, it gives us an idea of how much calm and how much more controlled Atticus makes life for Scout. “Jen and I were accustomed to our father's last-will-and-testament diction, and were at times free to interrupt Atticus for a translation when it was beyond our understanding.” - Scout. Jem and Scout trusted Atticus even if they didn’t understand him, they knew he would never do anything to hurt them and so they listened and did as they were told with respect. “She was the bravest person I ever knew.”- Atticus. Atticus respected others and tried to help them even if they were mean or unpleasant to be...
Words: 551 - Pages: 3
...moments for the narrator Scout, also known as Jean Louise Finch. Specifically in chapter 5, Lee demonstrates how Scout felt heartbreak when Dill told her he loved her and then left her. Lees purpose is to expand this aspect of the human condition Heartbreak of betrayal by incorporating literary elements such as symbol, juxtaposition, metaphor, and tone. Lee opens up chapter 5 with Scout explaining how she knew Jem would get tired of her nagging him, and was relieved when he was. “My nagging got the better of Jem eventually,” (Pg.55). This passage demonstrates how Scout realized that her nagging of Jem would only irritate him more, and that was a moment of realization and maturation for her, coming of age. Lee uses the symbol of the game that Scout and Jem were playing to juxtapose how young they were. The game was about Boo Radley’s life, and it wasn't exactly child friendly, juxtaposing how young Dill and Scout were. Lee uses the symbolism of summer to represent Dill and Scouts relationship. Summer...
Words: 562 - Pages: 3
...September 18th, 2015 Brandon McConnell To Kill A Mockingbird If you were to ask me about a book or a hero that was an ethical influence on me, I would tell you that both come from the same book/movie. It would be Atticus Finch from To Kill A Mockingbird, it is a classic example of heroism and doing the right thing and there is many readers who would agree with that statement. I read this book at the young age of 14 in middle school when I was still developing my feel for the ethics of right and wrong so it made a lasting impact on me growing up and developing as a person. Summarize the book or hero’s life in a few paragraphs; Everyone should know the story of To Kill A Mockingbird but if you don’t, let me share it with you. It happens in a little town of Maycomb, Alabama in the heat of all the racism in the South. In this little town everyone knows each other and everyone knows what happens. The main characters are the Finch family with Atticus, Scout, and Jem in their small house in the middle of Maycomb. Scout is a young girl who grew up with a lot of boys and acts that way in the way she deals with conflict. Jem is the older brother who isn’t really isn’t in the picture a lot but is in a crucial incident of the story with Scout. Atticus is a very well known coveted lawyer; everyone in town knows him and looks up to him as a person and a professional. That was short lived when Atticus did something he knew was right but society said it was wrong very wrong...
Words: 1361 - Pages: 6
