Throughout the novel, Atticus seems to demonstrate his lack of prejudice, be it racial or social. In contrast to what other people think, he feels that “you’ll(Jem and Scout) see white men cheating black men everyday of your life...no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash”, and that “there’s nothing more sickening than a low-grade white man who’ll take advantage of a Negro’s ignorance.” He shows his lack of social prejudice when he, unlike Aunt Alexandra, permits Scout and Jem to play with Walter Cunningham.
Atticus is a respected man, as can be seen from “stand up...father’s passin’”, as people only stand up when important or respected people pass.
Ironically, though Atticus is a heroic figure in the novel and a respected man in Maycomb, neither of his children idolizes him. On the contrary, both Jem and Scout find it embarrassing that he is older than other fathers and that he doesn’t do what other parents usually do.
However, Atticus is very wise in his parenting, and he sums up in Chapter 30 by saying, “Before Jem looks at anyone else he looks at me, and I’ve tried to live so I can look squarely back at him”. This attitude of his ultimately wins their respect. By the end of the novel, Jem, in particular, seems to be fiercely devoted to Atticus. Scout, still a young girl, loves him uncritically. Although his children’s attitude toward him changes gradually, Atticus is characterized throughout the book by his absolute consistency. He stands rigidly committed to justice and thoughtfully willing to view matters from the perspectives of others. He does not develop in the novel but retains these qualities in equal measure, making him the novel’s moral guide and voice of conscience.
Throughout the book, Atticus tries his best to understand people by putting himself into their shoes. By doing this, he is able to relate better to the citizens of Maycomb as he understands their stand and feelings.
Psychological Analysis
Atticus believes in honestly treating his children as adults, and answers any questions they have truthfully. He uses all these instances as an opportunity to pass his values on to Scout and Jem. Scout says that “‘Do you really think so’… was Atticus's dangerous question" because he helps people to see situations in new lights. Atticus uses this approach not only with his children, but with all of Maycomb.
And yet, for all of his mature treatment of Jem and Scout, he patiently recognizes that they are children and that they will make childish mistakes and assumptions. Ironically, Atticus's one insecurity seems to be in the child-rearing department, and he often defends his ideas about raising children to those more experienced and more traditional. He focuses on instilling moral values in Jem and Scout and feels the importance of justice, restraint, and honesty. He tells his children to avoid getting in fights, even if they are verbally abused, and to practice quiet courage instead.
Atticus believes in justice and the justice system. Atticus is perseverant, and also carries a positive outlook when doing things. Even though he knows before he begins that he's going to lose Tom Robinson’s case, he still tries his very best instead of giving up, and gives Tom the strongest defense he possibly can. Most importantly, Atticus sees Tom Robinson as a normal human being who has been wronged, not a “nigger”.
Although Atticus feels very sorry for Mayella, his “pity in my(his) heart does not extend so far as to her putting a man’s life at stake”. He feels that Bob Ewell is “trash”, as seen from “you’ll(Jem and Scout) see white men cheating black men everyday of your life...no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash”, and that “there’s nothing more sickening than a low-grade white man who’ll take advantage of a Negro’s ignorance.”
Atticus believes in persevering, as seen “Simply because we were(anyone is)licked a hundred years before we (they) started is no reason for us (them) not to try to win”
Unlike the children’s outlook, Atticus’s understanding of the world is not innocent: he does not believe in goodness simply because he has never seen evil. He has indeed seen and experienced evil, but he is nevertheless capable of faith in the good qualities of humankind. This faith represents the adult perspective toward which Scout, who begins the novel as an innocent child, is forced to move as the story progresses. Although the jury strikes a blow for prejudice by convicting Tom, it is still possible for the town’s morally unblemished adult characters to hold out hope.
Atticus’ stern but fair attitude toward Jem and Scout reaches into the courtroom as well. He politely proves that Bob Ewell is a liar; he respectfully questions Mayella about her role in Tom's crisis. One of the things that his longtime friend Miss Maudie admires about him is that "Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public streets."
Atticus recognizes that people have both good and bad qualities, and he is determined to admire the good while understanding and forgiving the bad. He is unaffected by Mrs. Dubose's caustic tongue, Miss Stephanie Crawford's catty gossip, and even Walter Cunningham's thinly veiled threat on his life. He doesn't retaliate when Bob Ewell spits in his face because he understands that he has wounded Ewell's pride — the only real possession this man has. Atticus accepts these people because he is an expert at "climb[ing] into [other people's] skin and walk[ing] around in it."
Atticus seems to be motivated by his strong sense of justice throughout the trial, and ultimately the whole novel. The only time he seriously lectures his children is on the evils of taking advantage of those less fortunate or less educated, a philosophy he carries into the animal world by his refusal to hunt. And although most of the town readily pins the label "trash" on other less wealthy or less fortunate people, Atticus reserves that “distinction” for those people who unfairly exploit others.
Role and Function in the novel
Atticus functions as the moral backbone of Maycomb, a person to whom others turn to when in doubt or trouble. However, this conscience that makes him so admirable ultimately causes his falling out with the people of Maycomb. Unable to abide the town’s racial prejudice, he agrees to defend Tom Robinson, a black man who is wrongly accused. This action of his makes him the object of scorn in Maycomb. However, he is not scorned for long, as after the trial, he seems to be held in the almost the same high regard as before.
The incident with the mad dog demonstrates Atticus’s courage and symbolizes the town’s dependence upon his protection from both the rabid animal and the worst evil within themselves. Atticus protects the town both physically and emotionally throughout the entire novel. When Atticus proves that Bob Ewell is in the wrong, he is in a way “protecting” the town from the worst evil within themselves, as he proves that not “all negroes lie...(not)all negroes are basically immoral beings...(not)all negro men are not to be trusted around...women”
Atticus seems to hold out hope for the town. During the trial, he speaks to the jury is proving that with confidence and dignity, urging them to find confidence and dignity within themselves, and is the first person who is able to make them consider so hard their stand, as seen “only man in these parts who can keep a jury out so long in a case like that”.
Though To Kill a Mockingbird dramatizes the threat posed to goodness by evil, and though it frequently treats this theme by exploring the destruction of innocence, the novel’s ultimate moral outlook is not bleak; rather, it is characterized by Atticus’s wise understanding of both the goodness and the evil within people. Atticus understands that people are capable of great goodness and great evil, which proves the key to his own admirable moral strength and courage.
In a way, Atticus also functions as a mockingbird. He is forced to take up Tom Robinson’s case, and hence is scorned by the townspeople of Maycomb, and even his own family feels that he is a disgrace to the family. In this way, he represents the idea of a mockingbird: someone innocent who is harmed by inevitable circumstances.