Question #6: Atticus

[[deleted user]]

As we've discussed, Atticus is a dominant character in the book. What are your opinions of him as a father, lawyer, community leader, or literary figure?

[Susan]

I've already shared my high opinion of Atticus in previous posts. He's my favorite literary father.

I love what Scott Turow, the author and lawyer, has to say about Atticus in Scout, Atticus, and Boo: A Celebration of Fifty Years of "To Kill a Mockingbird":

"It's true that there aren't many human beings in the world like Atticus Finch - perhaps none - but that doesn't mean that it's not worth striving to be like him...He is a paragon beyond paragons.

One of the things that I maintained in my practice was this commitment to pro bono work. If you say to me, 'Well, why did you want to do pro bono work?' I can't say it was Atticus alone, but certainly if you can ask me for the earliest example that I was aware of, that was it. I promised myself that when I grew up and I was a man, I would try to do things just as good and noble as what Atticus had done for Tom Robinson. So I don't think it inspired me to be a lawyer, but certainly, as a vision of the positives that lawyers can do, it did."

[Shirley]

I must have read this book back in school but reading it again is like the first time. I found this book to be somewhat boring until we got to the part about the trial. I am currently awaiting the jury's verdict. Atticus's closing speech was amazing and I'm sure it's been used in many an acting audition. I am in love with Atticus - the logical sense of his nature inspires me; he keeps it simple and to the point. He is my hero - I want to name my next cat after him.

[Allison]

Shirley wrote: "I must have read this book back in school but reading it again is like the first time. I found this book to be somewhat boring until we got to the part about the trial. I am currently awaiting the ..."

Shirley, you are too funny!

[Susan]

Shirley wrote: "I must have read this book back in school but reading it again is like the first time. I found this book to be somewhat boring until we got to the part about the trial. I am currently awaiting the ..."
Shirley, I love the logical nature of Atticus, and his forthright manner with his children.

I think a lot of people name their dogs Atticus - wouldn't it be terrific for a Great Dane? I have to confess that my next female cat might be named Scout!

[Susan]

Has anyone else wondered why the children call their father by his first name? It can't have been typical back in that time period, and still isn't today.

[Allison]

Susan wrote: "Has anyone else wondered why the children call their father by his first name? It can't have been typical back in that time period, and still isn't today."

I assumed that Harper Lee wanted to make it that way to emphasize further that Atticus wasn't a conventional father, and that he was parenting from a philosophical stance whereby children and father alike were equal.

[Shirley]

Interestingly enough, this never crossed my mind. Atticus is such a larger than life character, I can't imagine him being called "Daddy". I am intrigued by the way Harper Lee evolves her characters to such a degree that I imagine them being real people. I would have to guess that by always referring to Atticus as such instead of father, it helps build his character in a symbolic way. He is not the typical parent who gets caught up in parenting drama, he is always Atticus - who speaks with reason and logic. The fact that there is no mother to refer to either, puts Atticus in the position of being almost like a "God" to Jem and Scout.

[Allison]

Shirley wrote: "Interestingly enough, this never crossed my mind. Atticus is such a larger than life character, I can't imagine him being called "Daddy". I am intrigued by the way Harper Lee evolves her characters..."

Shirley, you have raised an excellent point! I like the larger-than-life argument...it definitely distinguishes Atticus in a more significant way, not only within the community but also within his own household. It may be a reflection too that he was also a somewhat detached and distant father...recall his missing Scout's Christmas play. I also got the feeling that in their younger years, the children were raised predominantly by Calpurnia, while Atticus was working hard at his profession. This could have added to the detached parent-child relationship.

[Susan]

I so disagree with the "detached and distant parent," Allison! For his time, I think Atticus was very involved with his children. If he wasn't, I don't think his kids would have been so comfortable with him, or able to come to him with any of their problems. Just think of Scout cuddled on his lap learning to read, or Atticus sitting by Jem's bedside after he was injured.

I do love the insight you and Shirley provided as to why he would be called by his first name. I love the audio version of the book narrated by Sissy Spacek. I particularly love the way she pronounces "Atticus" with her Southern accent and Scout's voice. So it was a bonus to hear Sissy Spacek say "Atticus" more often than she would have if the kids called him "Dad!"

[Sylvia]

So much about Atticus -and why not? Great guy, lawyer, and dad!!

I called my dad Joe many times -and it felt very affectionate -made it 'cool' and special. I think he liked it too-well, he most certainly tolerated it, and did not scold me. But most times it was Papa. :))

[Susan]

Sylvia wrote: "So much about Atticus -and why not? Great guy, lawyer, and dad!!

I called my dad Joe many times -and it felt very affectionate -made it 'cool' and special. I think he liked it too-well, he most c..."
Now that you mention that about your Dad, Sylvia, I can say that my sons rarely call me Mom. They both have a nickname for me, and one of them mostly calls me "Sue," which is not a name that anyone else calls me. These nicknames just evolved, and yes, they do feel special to me. There was never any plan for them not to call me Mom - but they weren't as young as Scout and Jem when they started to use the nicknames.

[Sylvia]

Susan wrote: "Sylvia wrote: "So much about Atticus -and why not? Great guy, lawyer, and dad!!

I called my dad Joe many times -and it felt very affectionate -made it 'cool' and special. I think he liked it too-..."

That's so adorable 'Sue' :) Kids enjoy nicknaming their parents - loved hearing about your boys.

[Kate]

I remember always getting a kick of getting to ask for my Dad by name when I called him at work and spoke to the secretary. I call my dad "Father-person" a lot and I have no idea how that started. Can't say I'd probably ever start calling him Ken on a regular basis!

I like that Atticus is Atticus to Scout and Jem. Like others have said, I just can't picture him being called Daddy! I think it just nicely highlights how special and different their relationship is. It adds to making him that much more larger than life.

I really like Atticus as a character. He's definitely one of the top, if not the top, fathers in literature for me.

[Emily]

Kate wrote: "I remember always getting a kick of getting to ask for my Dad by name when I called him at work and spoke to the secretary. I call my dad "Father-person" a lot and I have no idea how that started. ..."

Agreed! I can't say that I've ever called my dad Phil - but I do call out "Lori" when my mom and I have lost track of one another while out shopping! :)

I really love that the kids call Atticus by his name. In addition to the "larger than life" idea, I think it really helps to show him as a full, fleshed-out character, rather than simply a parent-figure. As a non-parent at this point in time, I often see parents address themselves to their children - "Come to Mommy!" - and occasionally wonder about the impact that might have on their sense of personhood, and their child's idea of their own parent as ONLY a parent (not a full person with other interests and life roles). I know that some families consider calling one another (parents, and even aunts and uncles) by first-name is disrespectful. I imagine that this is different in every family, but for this reason, Jem and Scout having a loving and respectful relationship with Atticus while calling him by name was so charming and a bit of a relief! Atticus is definitely, for me, a parental ideal.

[Shirley]

To add to the figure of "Atticus", I think by referring to him without linking him as a father figure, it emphasizes his role as showing no emotions. Father or Daddy are terms that imply emotional attachments and although Atticus certainly felt emotions, at no time does he display them or allow them to play a role in his dialogue.

[Kimberley]

I'm with you Allison I found Atticus to be somewhat hands off as a father. He left the bulk of the child rearing to Calpurnia. There is no question he was excellent at providing a moral compass when required. You knew he loved his children and they loved him, but he wasn't exactly actively involved with them. You don't see him out playing ball, board games, card games etc. He reads to them yes, but that is about it. For the most part when he is home he is reading and they are out and about doing their own thing. This may of course simply be typical of the times as a parent, especially a single parent.

His children calling him Atticus in my mind just further demonstrated his relationship being less of a father and more of a mentor. He treated them like adults more so than children. Imagine letting your children sit through a rape trial? Not that he wasn't ever tender with them he was but overall I felt his relationship with them was very cerebral.

As a father I would give him 4/5 stars, a community leader, lawyer and literary figure 5/5 stars.

[Emily]

Kimberley wrote: "I'm with you Allison I found Atticus to be somewhat hands off as a father. He left the bulk of the child rearing to Calpurnia. There is no question he was excellent at providing a moral compass w..."

I really like what you've said about Atticus as a father, Kimberley! It resonated with me. I'm an only child, and my parents did actually raise me like a little adult a lot of the time - they showed a much higher level of trust and responsibility in me than my peers received from their parents. I am reminded of Atticus' attempts to keep his children safe - when he tells them to go home that night outside the jail, when he finally realizes they are at the trial - and it makes me smile to think that his first thought is always along the lines of what he Should to in order to be a good father, and that his second thought is usually to give in to his childrens' wishes because he knows that it isn't logical to protect them from something they have already started to experience. He didn't encourage them to attend the rape trial, nor did he even originally permit them to - but he did realize that punishing them or forbidding them to return after having seen and heard so much wouldn't make any sense. I loved that! I thought it was admirable that he respected his children enough to let them make their own choices. He never sold his children short.

[Maureen]

I just thought Atticus was the coolest father. As literary parents go, he has to rate as one of the better, if not the best, father. It seems to me that fictional fathers (and mothers) just get in the way of a good story most of the time. When you think of Dahl or l'Engle or C.S. Lewis or Harry Potter or The Secret Garden--so many orphans or children whose parents just weren't there for them.

[Jennifer]

Atticus was quite the father figure back in that time period. I agree that he is larger than life. Scout calling her father "Atticus" puts them on an even keel. For me, this type of relationships feels not like a father/daughter to me and I think that sometimes it gets lost in the novel. I too find it strange that she calls her father Atticus instead of father or dad.

[Allison]

Kimberley wrote: "I'm with you Allison I found Atticus to be somewhat hands off as a father. He left the bulk of the child rearing to Calpurnia. There is no question he was excellent at providing a moral compass w..."

I really like what you say here, too, Kimberley. That's exactly what I meant when I said he was a bit distanced and detached!

[Allison]

Maureen wrote: "I just thought Atticus was the coolest father. As literary parents go, he has to rate as one of the better, if not the best, father. It seems to me that fictional fathers (and mothers) just get i..."

Maureen, you raise a really interesting point about fictional parents often getting in the way of the story...hence, so many fictional orphans. I am thinking of Anne of Green Gables, too. I think that's why I see this as a coming-of-age story...Scout is growing up relatively freely with minimal (albeit significant) parental interference. I like that she and all those other fictional children are coming of age without being smothered by a parent. They are figuring out the world without being told how they should be figuring out the world.

[Allison]

Such an interesting discussion about Atticus!

[Susan]

Yes, Allison, this has been an interesting discussion. Everyone who has read this book has opinions about its characters. Again, I'd like to share a few about Atticus from Scout, Atticus, and Boo: A Celebration of Fifty Years of "To Kill a Mockingbird":

Singer Rosanne Cash: "There's just this beautiful naturalness that [Atticus] has and sense of confidence in his own skill as a parent. And respect for the child, that mutual respect.

Author Richard Russo: "Atticus Finch was the father maybe that I longed for."

Author Scott Turow: "It's true that there aren't many human beings in the world like Atticus Finch - perhaps none - but that doesn't mean that it's not worth striving to be like him."

Oprah Winfrey: "Atticus isn't even real, I know, but my gosh, did I want a dad like Atticus! And I wanted to have a relationship like Scout had with Atticus, so I could call him by his first name."

[Maureen]

Susan wrote: "Yes, Allison, this has been an interesting discussion. Everyone who has read this book has opinions about its characters. Again, I'd like to share a few about Atticus from [book:Scout, Atticus, a..."

Thanks again for this link, Susan. I could sure identify with Turow's comments about Atticus, that even though it's not likely an attainable goal, it's still a worthy one, trying to be like him.

[Susan]

Maureen wrote: "Susan wrote: "Yes, Allison, this has been an interesting discussion. Everyone who has read this book has opinions about its characters. Again, I'd like to share a few about Atticus from [book:Sco..."

You're most welcome, Maureen. I agree that it's a worthy goal. I often found myself wondering if I could have handled a parenting situation as well as Atticus did. He seemed to have endless patience, wisdom, and the right sense of humour to handle things well.

[Allison]

Susan wrote: "Maureen wrote: "Susan wrote: "Yes, Allison, this has been an interesting discussion. Everyone who has read this book has opinions about its characters. Again, I'd like to share a few about Atticu..."

I wonder if Atticus was so patient because he didn't have to deal with every little thing relating to his children: he had Calpurnia doing most of the grunt work associated with parenting! :) Seriously though, I thought he was a wonderful father, too!