To Kill a Mockingbird: Critical Evaluation
“To Kill a Mockingbird” is a thought provoking novel by Harper Lee. The novel is set in a post civil war deep South of America during the Great Depression. The story follows Scout, Jem and Atticus Finch as they face the trials and tribulations of defending a black man in the racist town of Maycomb. As the plot unfolds the readers admiration for Atticus grows.
Atticus Finch has outstanding qualities such tolerance, empathy and integrity, these qualities make the reader grow in admiration of Atticus. Atticus is a lawyer who controversially defends the case of a black man accused of rape, Tom Robinson. Atticus is also a single parent to both Scout and Jem who he tries to teach the excellent qualities he possesses such as tolerance towards others:
“until you climb into his skin and walk around in it”
Scout and Jem′s father, Atticus, is a well respected man and is morally upright. Atticus is a very tolerant and honest man and this is frowned upon by most people from the town of Maycomb due to his defence of the black and in particular Tom Robinson. Atticus encourages his children to understand how others feel and not to judge people by what they see this is why Atticus tells Jem and Scout that things are different when you see things from the prospective of others or climb into their skin, this highlights one of the novels key themes, the theme of empathy . Atticus tries to teach his children not to be prejudice toward others such as Tom Robinson, Boo Radley and Miss Dubose. The children are taught to look at people from not what they see but from the persons eyes. Atticus never speaks ill of others because he knows their situations and always sees the best in people no matter what. Scout and Jem are never forced to have the morals of their father, this is because Atticus is a more lenient parent and he always his children to come to their own conclusions because he feels that children are more likely to disobey if you force something on to them so Atticus lets his children to make their own decisions but guides his children to the right path. Despite this good quality Atticus is often criticized for not showing his children discipline. I think that even though Atticus is essentially the hero of the novel initially neither Scout nor Jem idolize him, both are embarrassed that he older than the fathers of their peers and cannot hunt or fish like other fathers, however, as the plot unfold the children’s attitude towards their father changes.
