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Is Atticus Finch an Irresponsible Father?

Boo Radley, Finch

Many regard Atticus Finch as a hero. Who could blame them? In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch is portrayed as a pillar of justice and equality for defending Tom Robinson despite the social stigma. Yet, we must question the actual ramifications of Atticus’ actions. When regarding someone as a hero, we must consider how he or she became praiseworthy. Often, the ends do not justify the means. Similarly, we must scrutinize Atticus Finch and his actions. Was he, in fact, trying to be a good father, or risking the safety of his children for his own ideals? These decisions result in his kids’ ostracism, bodily harm, and almost in litigation. Atticus Finch’s decision to defend Tom Robinson made him an irresponsible father.

Atticus’ actions made his kids ostracized. At school, Scout gets into a fight with Francis because Francis called Atticus a nigger-lover:

Francis looked at me carefully, concluded that I had been sufficiently subdued, and crooned softly, ‘Niggerlover…’ This time, I split my knuckle to the bone on his front teeth. My left impaired, I sailed in with my right, but not for long. Uncle Jack Pinned my arms to my sides and said, ‘Stand still!” (84).

She defends her position to Uncle Jack by explaining, “I ain’t very sure what it meant, but the way Francis said it- tell you one thing right now, Uncle Jack, I’ll be- I swear before God if I’ll sit there and let him say somethin’ about Atticus” (86). Scout is just a little girl. She cannot be expected to have the degree of self-discipline needed to control herself when someone insults her father. Atticus, however, places Scout in this position by defending Tom Robinson. By accepting this case, Atticus made the Finches pariahs in Maycomb. Even when the kids were at that essential stage in life, when they must learn to cooperate and make friends, Atticus shows irresponsibility when he takes the case and hinders their development.

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Atticus’s actions incite Bob Ewell to attack Jem and Scout. By defending Tom Robinson, Atticus knew he would make an enemy out of Bob Ewell. Yet, he pursues the case and builds up an effective argument. Then in his drunken daze, Bob attacked the Finch children. They narrowly escape because Boo Radley defended them. Dr. Reynolds gave the children a physical examination after the incident and remarks, “He’s got a bump on the head just like yours, and a broken arm. Scout, look that way- no, don’t turn your head, roll your eyes. Now look over yonder. He’s got a bad break, so far as I can tell now it’s in the elbow. Like somebody tried to wring his arm off… Now look at me” (264). A responsible father would never allow this to happen. As a father, Atticus failed. His decision to defend Tom Robinson almost got his kids killed. This quote shows that Bob Ewell came at the children with the full intent to do at least lasting damage to, if not kill, the children. Atticus did what he thought was right, but in doing so, he invited danger into the lives of his children. It is true that a father should be a role model, but even Atticus cannot instill sound morals and values in dead children.

Furthermore, he tries to prevent Heck Tate from covering up Bob Ewell’s death. Once Bob Ewell dies, he thinks that Jem stabbed Bob. However, Atticus does not want to cover up the death. He simply tells Tate that he will take it to the court and argue that it was self-defense: “Of course it was clear-cut self defense, but I’ll have to go to the office” (272). When Tate argues even more, Atticus pleads,

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If this thing’s hushed up, it’ll be a simple denial to Jem of the way I’ve tried to raise him. Sometimes I think I’m a total failure as a parent, but I’m all they’ve got. Before Jem looks at anyone he looks at me, and I’ve tried to live so I can look squarely back at him… if I connived at something like this, frankly, I couldn’t meet his eye” (273)

This shows that Atticus’ need to defend his values and self-worth is more important than his role as a father. Atticus is willing to risk his son getting sent to jail or executed just to prove a point to the boy, that one should not cover up crimes. What kind of father would even risk his son’s incarceration or death? Furthermore, his decision was also based on his confidence in his job. Atticus still pursued this alternative even though he knew that the people of the town were prone to acting on their prejudices, as in Tom Robinson’s trial.

Atticus proves himself an irresponsible father to Scout and Jem. He makes his kids pariahs, endangers his children, and risks their well-being. Although Atticus stands by his morals, he seems to lose sight of his responsibilities as a father. Atticus does have many admirable qualities, but many think Atticus a moral pillar, failing to recognize this grave fault in his personality and responsibility. When Atticus makes the decision to defend Tom Robinson, he is clearly acting with good intentions, but he shirks his responsibilities as a father.