Character Analysis Of Atticus Finch In To Kill A Mockingbird, By Harper Lee

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Parents often teach their children things in life and guide them through it. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee, a father raises up his children with many lessons. The author shows how Atticus Finch teaches his children three most important lessons throughout the novel. Atticus demonstrates what courage is, the importance of moral principles, and to not judge others. That being said, Atticus Finch teaches his children courage, moral principles, and about judgement in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird.

One of the three lessons Atticus Finch teaches is courage. After Mrs. Dubose died, Atticus uses the opportunity to show his children, especially Jem, the meaning of courage. Atticus wants Jem to see “what real courage is” …show more content…
First of all, after returning from school, Scout complains about her first grade teacher. Atticus tells her she needs to understand a person by looking at their perspective first. Atticus explains, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view ... Until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (39). This shows before judging people, one must know and understand them. At the end of the novel, Scout remembers this very lesson while she stands on the Boo Radley’s porch. She realises, “Atticus was right ... you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them” (374). After numerous events with Boo Radley and the people in her town, Scout learns that judging a person without looking at their point of view first can cause more harm than good. With these examples, to not judge others can be considered as one of the many lessons Atticus teaches his children.
In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, courage, moral principles, and judgment are the three most important lessons Atticus teaches his children. He explains courage is doing what is right even though it is hard. Atticus makes Scout understand about moral principles. Finally, he teaches to not pass judgement before looking at a person’s point of view. Perhaps one day Jem and Scout will tell their own children the same three lessons Atticus has taught
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