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Post by beccarugg on Jul 27, 2016 15:34:56 GMT
Throughout the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus relates to Jem and Scout through gentle words, kind gestures, and valuable life lessons. Atticus is always calm, and at peace with the situation, even when it doesn't go his way. Whenever Jem or Scout have a problem, he addresses the situation with wisdom and grace. These things that Atticus does are very challenging for most people to execute. When Jem ruins Mrs. Dubose's plants, out of anger from what she said about Atticus, Atticus calmly processes, and then says, "'... I strongly advise you to go down and have a talk with Mrs. Dubose,' said Atticus. 'Come straight home afterwards.'" (Lee 104). Atticus is so laid back about everything that happens, if he is mad, he doesn't show it, if he is worried or disappointed you would never know. These things that he does so easily, that are so difficult for other people make me wonder what happened in his youth, or earlier life, or with his wife before she passed along. His ability to be gentle and loving in parenting really allows Scout and Jem to process things without judgement, and in a safe environment. I also wonder if Scout and Jem become parents, and have families of their own, if they will act similarly towards their children as Atticus acts towards them. Another example of Atticus's maturity, is after Tom Robinson's case, the verdict does not seem to bother Atticus. Although he know that he gave and entirely convincing argument, he is content with the trial, and committed to helping Tom get free. All these things show just a small part of the delicate parenting style that Atticus has. |
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Post by dianadelvalle on Jul 27, 2016 16:06:11 GMT
Atticus' parenting was really unique, especially for the time period, much less than today. Even though Jem and Scout respect and love how Atticus is, they would not be able to mimic his style and way with kids. Part of his composure is due to the fact that he is old and tired, so dealing with the antics of two young children would be too difficult. He also lived a long life before his children, so he used his many experiences to help them. We see this when Atticus shoots the mad dog and Miss Maudie calls him "Ol' One-Shot," showing that he was not always so conservative. He developed his calmness over time. The children would not be able to replicate this. However loving, Scout would be too impatient and demanding, much like Cal. Jem would be closer to Atticus' parenting style, but he too has his limit, as seen with Mrs. Dubose's flowers. Atticus has had such a unique life that his demeanor is fit only for him.
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Post by juliecallan on Jul 27, 2016 23:35:03 GMT
They're two ways to look at the concept of Atticus's parenting style: either his parents were calm and conservative just as he is now, or they were completely bonkers and Atticus had no intentions of growing up like them. Nevertheless, he grew up to be the gentleman his kids believed him to be. The key-word being grew in that sentence. As Diana mentioned before, Atticus used to be known as "Ol' One Shot," which leads me to believe that he was once a kid just as Jem and Finch, and yes I am well aware that he was a kid before he was a parent (no matter how crazy that concept is). He used to have a temper like Scout and ideas as crazy as Jem. Growing-up, however, taught him to be the man that he is and the man that his kids want to be like. I do believe, on the other hand, that if Jem and Scout were to ever be parents that they would not be like their father because they have their own beliefs on how to raise kids and would not follow their role-model to the point that there were no differences.
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Post by noahenoch on Jul 28, 2016 22:01:40 GMT
Atticus's parenting style is truly unique and affective. Through out the book people frowned upon Jem and especially Scout's behavior. For example Mrs. Dubose dishes out that Jem and Scout are "...the sassies, most disrespectful mutts who ever passed her way..." (Lee 133). Atticus could have became very angry by these words and seek revenge. However he knew these words weren't true and instead of looking to get even with Mrs. Dubose, Atticus calmly encourages his kids and builds them back up. When Atticus' wife died I believe he made it his one and only goal to love on his kids and raise them to be fine young adults. When he was struggling to raise his kids on his own he was not arrogant and he called in back up, Aunt Alexandra. I believe Jem and Scout truly valued their father's values and grew up to have successful families of their own.
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Post by conniesun on Jul 31, 2016 19:48:34 GMT
I believe that Atticus is unique not because he is a strong father figure, but because his actions are more reflective of a mentor than a parent. He has a huge capacity for emotion, but he hides his passion. He has strong values and one of the reasons he has little prejudice, especially compared to the other Maycomb citizens is because of his high education. As a defense lawyer, Atticus chose to defend minorities and criminals that may have been wrongfully convicted. He has strong morals and a strict ethic code. I strongly disagree that he was not bothered by the trial and content with losing it. I think he was devastated. He did not become bitter, but being a man with such deep-seated ethicality, seeing the injustice done to an innocent young black man destroyed him- especially since he knew that if Tom Robinson had been white, he would have been found innocent. But Atticus is immensely brave and steady; he knew that Jem and Scout would need comfort, so he did not break down. Atticus is a very distinctive and rare type of father figure due to his line of work, morals, and probably his past, which is a huge positive influence to both Scout and Jem.
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Post by Andrea Flores on Aug 1, 2016 0:21:56 GMT
I agree with Diana, saying that Atticus is old and tired. This lead me to think of how most older peeple are looked at; very layed back, calm, wise, etc. When you notice Atticus applies to all of these characteristics, it's easy to understand why his parenting style is very toned down. Being older comes with being wise, going with the flow and not trying to control things that simply can't be controlled. Furthermore, Atticus's parenting skills all origin from everything he's learned over years and years.
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Post by zacksciallo on Aug 1, 2016 18:56:59 GMT
Yea, but if you look at the overly positive parenting style, I'd say it does more harm then it does good. Parents doing this is a great way to embed narcissistic personality traits in your child. I'd say that under the circumstances Atticus's overly passive parenting style is rounded out tho though, just because Scout and Jem have a parental figure like Calpurnia. Or even someone like Uncle Jack who will tell Scout when he is disappointed, even though he didn't understand the context of the situation "'Why, I didn’t think you’d hold it against me,' he said. 'I’m disappointed in you —you had that coming and you know it.'" (lee, 88)
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Post by shanarabrinkman on Aug 1, 2016 19:48:57 GMT
I believe Atticus parenting style was unique, but in a good way. He told his children what he need to and let them figure out the res. for example when he was telling them not to shoot a mocking bird because they are harmless and have no defense and later in the book scout took that lesson and placed it in to a real life situation, "making a hero our of boo would be like killing a mocking bird." Thus proved that scout has absorbed her fathers lessons. Because she absorbed the lesson it shows us readers that Atticus is doing his job and being a good parent.
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Post by ariellebakken on Aug 2, 2016 21:03:49 GMT
I agree and would even go further to say that Atticus's parenting style reflects his actions and character generally. Atticus shows that same discipline of reacting calmly and hearing the whole story before reacting with his job and station in the community as he does when he reacts to the behavior of his children. For instance Atticus carefully considered Tom Robinson's case and how to handle it in the same way he considers Jem's punishment when he destroys Ms. Buford's flowers. This shows that Atticus respects his children and it is in his character to carefully consider every matter no matter how personal it is.
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Post by Noah Durrance on Aug 6, 2016 18:48:55 GMT
Because readers are so invested in the novel, they compare Atticus's parenting style to the others presented in the book, which leads people to believe it really is unique. However, when compared to parenting today, Atticus shares many similarities with modern parents. Most try to instill values and lessons that will serve their children for the rest of their lives, and Atticus indeed does this. When prohibiting Scout from using a racial slur, he explains his action by telling her " ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebody's favoring Negroes over and above themselves." This kind of teaching was seen as tabooed, and was discouraged at the time. Most parents today teach their children to be aware of prejudice and discrimination, and how they are disgusting behaviors. I also disagree with Zack that Atticus's hands-off approach was detrimental to Scout and Jem. He respected his children and treated them almost as equals, in the same way he thought of African-Americans as deserving equal treatment as Caucasian, which in turn made his children respect him more. Despite this understanding , however, Atticus has able to be assertive with what he knew what was right, and stopping his children from doing things that he though were wrong. When he finds out about the game Scout, Dill, and Jem have been playing, and that they are trying to get Arthur (Boo) to come out, he halts them. He quite forcible tells them to "stop tormenting that man. If he wanted to come out, he would. He further demands that "You stop tis nonsense right now, every one of you". This not only showcases Atticus's ability to put his foot down, but also displays how the children follow his wishes. For the rest of the novel. none of the three children try to break into the Radley House again and they do not initiate contact with Arthur until he decides to come out at the end. Atticus is a good parent, teaching ,orals and ethics to his children, while also letting them figure out their world without trying to hide the fact that the world can be a cruel and dangerous place.
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Post by annalandolfi on Aug 8, 2016 2:54:02 GMT
SO much of Atticus morals and personality are revealed by how Atticus treats, cares for,and handles his children. We see how much he believe in fair judgment, honest morals, and patience to speak and respond. Attius is such a radical character for his time, as we just further see in his parenting style.
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Post by sheaward101 on Aug 10, 2016 6:33:46 GMT
Atticus is an extraordinary parent, and human being for that matter. He has excellent social skills, he isn't judgmental, and he accepts all walks of life. Not only does he pass those morals onto his children, but he treats everyone with the same amount of respect and kindness. Your analysis of him was really good.
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Post by isabellewilson2000 on Aug 10, 2016 7:06:43 GMT
I agree with you whole-heartedly. The fact that Atticus can raise two kids on his own with such grace shows what an amazing parent he is. He treats everyone with the same respect, and even says that if he can't defend Tom then he can't even ask for his childrens' respect. While the trial is going on he handles everything with such dignity even when people treated his with such contempt.
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Post by laurenschuetz on Aug 10, 2016 17:44:05 GMT
I think one of the unique and important aspects of Atticus's parenting, is that his children call him by his name. This shows that they view him as a friend more than a boss. Even so, both Jem and Scout respect him very much and try their best to please him. Scout defends him whenever somebody calls him a name, this shows that Atticus has loved her and she loves him back
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Post by andrewklein on Aug 10, 2016 20:29:08 GMT
I agree that Atticus's parenting style was very gentle and unique. If he had raised them with anger instead of patience and gentleness, they would most likely have not been able to assess the situations and problems that they were faced with throughout the story. It is important that Atticus was patient and answered with calmness so that they got the that they needed from him, as one of the only fatherly figures in theor lives.
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