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Atticus Finch's Integrity In To Kill A Mockingbird

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In the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch is a well known lawyer, father to Scout and Jem Finch, and citizen in Maycomb County. His predominant characteristic is integrity. The definition of integrity is, “adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty” (Dictionary.com). Atticus Finch shows this in the court and in his home. Most people only play by the rules and keep people’s wellbeing in mind when it can affect their own reputation or they are out in public. Atticus not only shows his integrity in town, but also in his own home and to his children as well. Scout and Jem have absorbed the genuineness of their father, through many daily lessons to life-threatening troubles. Mr. Finch is very unique …show more content…
With Atticus working, it gives him less time with his kids, but he still manages to spend time with them and teach them whenever he can. Scout and Jem still have a solid relationship with Atticus even though he can’t be there all the time. Through their relationship Atticus establishes strong morals in both Scout and Jem. As Jem gets older, you can see the change in his character because of what Atticus has taught him. These morals have been put to the test. For example, Mrs. Dubose, a grouchy old lady, was calling Atticus very rude names. Jem snapped and with a baton “ran flailing wildly up the steps to Mrs. Dubose’s front yard . . . [and] he did not begin to calm down until he had cut the tops off of every camellia bush Mrs. Dubose owned . . .” (Lee p. 102-103). After this incident Atticus gave a month long punishment that brought Jem and Scout to the conclusion that Mrs. Dubose wasn’t absolutely horrible. Because of Atticus’s teachings, both children have grown to understand society and dare to be different. This made them okay with Atticus defending Tom Robinson and able to withstand the criticism. The greatest example of Atticus having high moral standards even when it comes to his own family is when he thought Jem killed Bob Ewell. Even with the thought of Jem getting charged with manslaughter charges, he did not want it covered up and was still willing to have it out in the open (Lee p.

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