The Impact Of Atticus Finch On Maycomb Community In To Kill A Mockingbird
Atticus took upon a case nobody would take, since a white lawyer had to defend a black client named Tom Robinson. He was accused of rape and assault and charged by Mayella Ewell. Atticus’ role in the trial of Tom Robinson has a significant impact on the white Maycomb community. Giving them a different perspective of the black community and portraying how they are just like the whites. In the book, “To Kill A Mockingbird” written by Harper Lee, Atticus impacted the Maycomb community. However, many people in the community disapprove of Atticus supporting Tom Robinson and it impacted the people close to him, mainly his two kids Jem and Scout. However he also impacted adults such as Mr. Cunningham. Scout gets bullied by his cousin Francis when Atticus took the Tom Robinson case and learns that fighting with your head is more powerful than fighting with your fists. Jem learns the deeper meaning in why it is a sin to kill a mockingbird and why it relates to people like Boo Radley and Tom Robinson. Finally, Mr. Cunningham and his family is impacted by Atticus helping them financially and personally. Atticus’ greatest impact on the Maycomb Community is teaching and helping people.
The purpose of comparing or contrasting is not to state the obvious but rather to illuminate subtle differences or unexpected similarities between two subjects. Atticus uses this type of learning technique to help describe and better visualize on why something such as a Mockingbird is a sin to kill and how it relates to Boo Radley. When parents do not do a specific task or thing they do not like kids look up to their parents and follow their footsteps. Atticus teaches Jem that killing a Mockingbird is a sin and had never heard him call anything a sin but that. Atticus clams that a Mockingbird is a symbol for the weak and defenceless. “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us”. In deeper meaning Atticus is teaching his kids on how to treat innocent people. “I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the backyard, but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the blue jays you want but it is a sin to kill a Mockingbird”. In the novel it is symbolically stating that a mockingbird is someone who is innocent, who does kind things for others without asking for anything in return. Those kinds of people, according to Atticus, deserve to be protected. Anyone who tries to hurt them is committing a sin, because these kind-hearted people have done nothing but make the world a better place for those around them. Such as Boo Radley who has been accused of many crimes he did not commit yet helping and protecting Jem and Scout from Bob Ewell. In addition, Atticus indirectly teaches Jem about antagonizing and why he should show respect towards him no matter what and not to argue with Mrs. Dubose because she was an old women and very ill. “Jem was furious at Mrs. Dubose had said when we went by. “Easy does it, son,” Atticus said. “She’s an old woman and she’s ill. You just hold your head up high and be a gentleman. Whatever she says to you, it’s your job not to let her make you mad”. What he means by this is that her illness has caused her to behave in a grumpy and hostile mood towards people. Since she knows that she will not be able to fight of the illness and will lose even if she tries to fight it. Atticus later states “Whatever she says to you, it’s your job not to let her make you mad”. Teaching Jem about self- control and how to cope with behaviors no matter what the situation is and not to let anyone affect you.
Growing up many kids need guidance and attention from their parents, so that they can grow in a obedient and good manner. Skills like these take years to develop and learning at a early age is very beneficial. Atticus’ guidance is very important for his kids. Attius impacted many close to him especially one of his kids Scout Finch. He impacted her life in a positive and negative manner such as teaching her valuable lessons about gaining perspective and Scout being bullied at her school and her family looked down upon by the city and family members. Atticus is teaching his daughter a lesson on gaining perspective. Earlier in the day, Scout assumed Miss Caroline understood everyone's family background from Maycomb, which led to a misunderstanding between Scout and her teacher. “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”. Atticus explains to Scout that Miss Caroline was new to Maycomb, and Scout could not expect her to understand everything about the people of the city such as the Cunninghams on her first day. Atticus uses the analogy of climbing into a person's skin and walking around in it as a way to explain to Scout how she should look at situations from other people's point of view such as being Tom Robinson and why and for what reason he is truly discriminated from the Maycomb Community for. Furthermore, Scout gets bullied at school and at home she is teased and annoyed by her cousin Francis. Since her father Atticus Finch defends Negroes. Atticus’ work is affecting his personal life as well as his kids being bullied and discriminated at school because of their fathers; doings. Despite him knowing this he still continues on with his work and impacts Scouts education. Scout decides to take a violent approach to resolve her problems while protecting her father. Atticus explains to Scout that she might hear ‘ugly talk about him representing Tom Robinson at school. He also tells Scout to “Hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don’t you let ‘em get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change... it’s a good one”’. Atticus teaches Scout to stand up for what you think is right despite the majority siding with one decision and even if you know that you have a great chance of losing. Atticus teaches Scout not to use her fists every time she becomes angry because using logic and words instead, to defeat people's remarks is more effective than sorting arguments out using violence. Atticus uses Tom Robinson to teach perspective and uses a negative event on teaching her to solve problems using her head rather than her fist and violence.
Sometimes adults need guidance from other adults when they are in need of help and support. Atticus has also impacted Mr.Cunningham's life by helping him with legal and personal matters. Atticus helped them out and accepted payments in the form of food and goods from his farm. Despite knowing that they could give him something cheaper for the cost for a lawyer and would not be able to afford one. “As the Cunninghams had no money to pay a lawyer, they simply paid us with what they had”. Atticus knew that the Great depression hit farmers the hardest and knew it was difficult and hard for the farmers to recover from such an event. Atticus continued that professional people were poor because the farmer were poor and knew what it feels like living poor. In addition, Atticus also helped the Cunninghams by taking on their case so that they would still have authority over their own land and prevented them from entering poverty. “If he held his mouth right, Mr.Cunningham could get a WPA job, but his land would go to ruin if he left it”. Atticus helped the Cunninghams avoid poverty by fighting their case and helping them recover from the Great Depression he also helped Mr. Cunningham get a WPA job. Given the benefits that Atticus acquired for the Cunninghams he impacted them significantly and helped them with financially and personally.
To sum it up, Atticus had impacted the community of Maycomb. Scout, Jem and Mr. Cunningham changed throughout the novel learning about the black community's perspective and what they racism they face each day. We see that they face change set in motion by Atticus Finch has made them acquire perspective such as ‘putting themselves in their shoes’. Despite, the good he thought these children they also received hate and discrimination from the citizens of Maycomb. Along with him helping people out in the novel such as Mr. Cunningham. Atticus has an unusual way of teaching young children and requires a lot of thought on his lessons. Atticus teaches this lesson both indirectly and directly leaving many readers in awe of his choice of words. Throughout the book he came up with many quotes which he used as a teaching opportunity for the children of Maycomb.
