How would you describe Atticus as a father? Give examples of his interactions with Jem and Scout. What type of role model does he provide for them? What lessons does he teach the children over the course of the novel, and how do these lessons relate to some of the novel's major themes?

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Ariel Newman

27 March, 07:14

How would you describe Atticus as a father? Give examples of his interactions with Jem and Scout. What type of role model does he provide for them? What lessons does he teach the children over the course of the novel, and how do these lessons relate to some of the novel's major themes?

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Phillip Suarez · Answer 1

Answer&Explanation:Atticus teaches his children many lessons, tolerance is one of them which is explained in the story. Atticus teaches his children about tolerance, and he lead by example through the way he interacts with his community and neighbors.

Most famously, Atticus teaches his children about courage. He doesn't just just use words but he acts courageously himself. He puts himself in the middle of the conflict with Tom Robinson, an act so courageous that his brother compares him to Christ by making the comment "let this cup pass from you, eh?" (Chapter 9). As his children see this, they decide to actual stand with him. They act courageously as he has taught them.

Although Atticus is assigned Tom Robinson's case, Atticus does his utmost to give Tom the best defense possible. Atticus is not a man who considers color as a factor that can separate people, he considers people as people irrespective of color, and he makes sure that he also put that into the mind of Scout and Jem.

He also teaches them to respect their elders, even if the elderly people are cranky and sometimes mean (such as Mrs. DeBose). When Jem disrespects Mrs. DeBose by ripping up her flowers (even though he was angry because she'd made a nasty remark about Atticus), Atticus makes Jem spend time reading to her. When this happens Jem begins to grasp the fact that this woman has some terrible pain she is facing and even battling a drug addition. When she dies (Mrs Dubose), Jem experiences a real remorse, we see her "fingering the wide petal" which in some way indicate a level of respect which wasn't there before.

Additionally, Atticus teaches the children to learn not to judge a person based on how much money they have.

When Walter Cunningham eats lunch with the Finch family and pours syrup on his dinner, Scout makes fun of him. Atticus steps in and teaches her not to judge others and to try "walking around in their skin", or to put herself in their place. Through this, Atticus is a model of respect, and the Cunningham family realizes this.