Discussion Topic
Atticus Finch Quotes in To Kill a Mockingbird
Summary:
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch's character is highlighted through several key quotes. When Atticus shoots a rabid dog, his children are shocked to learn of his marksmanship, revealing his humility, as he never boasted about his skills. Miss Maudie explains that true courage isn't about using a gun. Atticus also exemplifies kindness and integrity, treating the abrasive Mrs. Dubose with respect and teaching his children about conscience, stating, "The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience."
Can you provide a quote about Atticus shooting the mad dog in To Kill a Mockingbird?
Atticus shoots the mad dog in chapter 10 and surprises his children, who were under the impression that he was a talentless, boring person. Before the drama unfolds, Jem and Scout lament that Atticus has no special talent and is too old to do anything interesting or fun. Later on, the children spot a rabid dog walking down the street and Calpurnia notifies the authorities. Sheriff Tate and Atticus arrive on the scene, and the sheriff looks to Atticus for help. Because of their negative perception of Atticus, Jem and Scout are astonished when Sheriff Tate hands Atticus his rifle, and Atticus kills the rabid dog in one shot. Scout describes the dramatic moment by saying,
With movements so swift they seemed simultaneous, Atticus’s hand yanked a balltipped lever as he brought the gun to his shoulder. The rifle cracked. Tim Johnson leaped, flopped over and crumpled on the sidewalk in a brown-and-white heap. He didn’t know what hit him (Lee, 88).
After killing the rabid dog, Atticus picks up his glasses, and Jem is paralyzed by the spectacle. The Finch children find it hard to comprehend what they witnessed, and Jem is awestruck by his father's extraordinary talent. Once Atticus leaves the scene with Sheriff Tate, Miss Maudie provides insight into Atticus's outlook on life and describes his hidden talent by telling the children,
If your father’s anything, he’s civilized in his heart. Marksmanship’s a gift of God, a talent—oh, you have to practice to make it perfect, but shootin’s different from playing the piano or the like. I think maybe he put his gun down when he realized that God had given him an unfair advantage over most living things. I guess he decided he wouldn’t shoot till he had to, and he had to today (Lee, 90).
When Scout wonders why Atticus is not proud of his exemplary shooting abilities, Miss Maudie replies, "People in their right minds never take pride in their talents" (Lee, 90). Following the incident, Scout declares that she cannot wait to brag about her father's special talent at school, but Jem encourages her to be humble by not saying anything about it.
It should be noted that different editions of To Kill a Mockingbird will have these quotes on different pages, but if you look for them in chapter 10 you should be able to find them.
Can you provide a quote showing Atticus's kindness to Mrs. Dubose in To Kill a Mockingbird?
Your question is a bit confusing since it was not Mrs. Dubose's house that burned down; it was Miss Maudie Atkinson's. Atticus has little to say to Maudie on the night of the fire. After saving Maudie's oak rocking chair and carrying the possession "she valued most" to safety, Atticus stood beside Maudie as they watched the house burn and finally collapse. But Scout's narrative doesn't mention Atticus having a conversation with her. The next morning, Atticus related to Maudie the story about Boo Radley placing a blanket on Scout's shoulders, and Maudie mentions it to the children, assuring Scout that
"I'd've had sense enough to turn around, too." (Chapter 8)
Atticus always treated Mrs. Dubose with kindness, and he spoke to her in a friendly manner whenever he saw her.
... Atticus would sweep off his hat, wave gallantly to her and say, "Good evening, Mrs. Dubose! You look pretty as a picture this evening."
I never heard Atticus say like a picture of what. (Chapter 11)
After Mrs. Dubose's death, her house stood
... empty and shuttered, her camellias grown up in weeds and johnson grass. (Chapter 15)
Can you provide a quote by Atticus about doing the right thing in To Kill a Mockingbird?
In chapter 11, Atticus makes Jem read to Mrs. Dubose as punishment for destroying her camellia bush, and Scout worries about her brother's safety. When Atticus sits down to read his newspaper, Scout asks her father why she and Jem need to keep their heads up and control their anger. Atticus proceeds to explain to his daughter the importance of controlling her emotions and carrying herself with respect when the chips are down. He goes on to tell Scout that the Tom Robinson case "goes to the essence of a man’s conscience" and says that he hopes in the future she will look back on this time with some compassion. Atticus also admits that he couldn't worship God if he didn't help Tom Robinson. When Scout says that he must be wrong because the entire community disagrees with his decision, Atticus says,
"The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience." (Lee, 108)
When Scout's Uncle Jack joins the family for Christmas in Chapter 9, Atticus reveals to his brother the truth about how he came to defend Tom Robinson. Atticus did not seek out the case; instead, it was thrust upon him by Judge John Taylor, who knew that Tom would get better representation from Atticus than from a public defender. Atticus knows that defending a black man accused of raping a white woman will make enemies in the town and bring trouble to his family, but he feels that he has little choice in the matter.
"... do you think I could face my children otherwise? You know what's going to happen as well as I do, Jack, and I hope and pray I can get Jem and Scout through it without bitterness... I just hope Jem and Scout come to me for their answers instead of listening to the town. I hope they trust me enough..."
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