Why Atticus Finch is a Gentleman

Hey everyone! I am back with yet another post about Atticus Finch, who is truning into one of my favourite characters of literature day-by-day as I read the novel 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. Last blog was about why I liked Atticus, which was because he was a gentleman. Today, I'm trying to be more elaborate on why he is as such.

During the 11th chapter, we come across a character by name Mrs. Henry Dubose, an aged and ailing woman who keeps badmouthing about Atticus to his children whenever they pass by her house. One day, Jem Finch loses his cool and ruins her garden. Atticus asks Jem to read to Mrs. Dubose every evening for one month as compensation. Jem and Scout do as he says, and after one month, Mrs. Dubose dies and then, Atticus reveals to Jem that he was not sent to read to Mrs. Dubose as punishment, but for her own sake. Mrs. Dubose was a morphine addict, and during her final days, in order to keep her distracted from morphine, reading was used as a substitute.

This may appear a simpler instance to establish Atticus as a gentleman, but the way it was written was so subtler. It is not because Atticus tried to help Mrs. Dubose, that I call him a gentleman. Atticus understands that Mrs. Dubose was only blatantly pouring out her opinion about Atticus defending a Negro. Others in the neighbourhood too, have the same opinion as Mrs. Dubose, only difference is Mrs. Dubose admits her frustration more vigourously. 

The most important attribute of Atticus is that he tries to understand things completely. He knows that the whole Southern region would be up against him, since he is the odd one out there. And therefore, its pointless to get angry on them. His sight goes beyond all the mocking and admonishings, and that is why, he was able to see Mrs. Dubose's illness and send his son to help her. He understands that Mrs. Dubose needs help more than anything else.

Another instance I want to talk about is when Dill runs away from his home and seeks shelter with the Finches. Atticus is notified of Dill's presence, and he doesn't panic or get tensed up and he instead handles the situation with a cool countenance. 

Even during the trial, Atticus doesn't intimidate the witnesses like Mayella Ewell or Robert Ewell. He gets them to signal the truth through simple questions. Atticus is the sort of person who looks to what is required at the moment by assessing the present situation, instead of deciding on the basis of emotion. Yes, he has an emotional and moral backdrop behind trying to defend Tom Robinson, but that too, is a decision taken with a clear mindset. That would be evident in the way he handles the trial.

When Scout and Jem's aunt Alexandra comes visiting their home, it appears at the beginning that she would begin to dominate the house thenceforth. Even Atticus yields to her during some instances. But still, Atticus does intervene and make it clear that important decisions be left to the three of them. He makes it clear that Alexandra cannot change the character of the house. When Alexandra tries to change Scout and Jem's playful and shrewd nature into obedience, Atticus yields to her at first, but then returns to his old self, because he himself is a person who doesn't abide by longstanding traditions. He is unable to bring himself forward to lecture Scout and Jem about "upholding" the family name, because he is violating it already. 

Similarly, Alexandra tries to get Calpurnia, the Black cook dismissed from the house, but Atticus make it clear that Cal wouldn't be dismissed, because she occupies an important place in the family. He knows that during some instances, it would become chaotic if he didn't obey to Alexandra, but he knows that he must remind Alexandra the limits and about certain irreversible things in the house.

Another instance was when Scout asks Atticus what rape means. Atticus doesn't react much. His answer is, "It is the carnal knowledge of a female by force and without consent". What other better reply could a father think of, to give his daughter, without dodging the query. He knows he couldn't answer completely to her query, and that it would be inappropriate at her age. But he doesn't want to leave her uninformed. He answers so, since he knows that she would understand when she becomes mature. Through this answer, Scout would be able to understand that touching a female by force is wrong and offensive, and she could be careful in the future. And it's better that she asked her father this question, and it would be better if her father informed her rather than anyone else which would give way to unnecessary judgement.

These are the things I wanted to share about for now. I request y'all to wait till I get back with more of Atticus and 'To Kill a Mockingbird' and until then, bye👋