Various community members comment on Atticus Finch's character throughout the novel. The majority of the racist citizens believe that Atticus is wrong for defending Tom Robinson and have negative things to say about him. In chapter 9, Cecil Jacobs reiterates his parents' comments regarding Atticus by telling Scout,

"My folks said your daddy was a disgrace an‘ that nigger oughta hang from the water-tank!" (Lee 79).

Scout's cousin also reiterates his grandmother's negative comments regarding Atticus by telling Scout,

Just what I said. Grandma says it’s bad enough he lets you all run wild, but now he’s turned out a nigger-lover we’ll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb agin. He’s ruinin‘ the family, that’s what he’s doin’. (Lee, 85)

In chapter 11, Mrs. Dubose also expresses her negative feelings regarding Atticus by telling his children,

"Your father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for" (Lee, 105).

Despite the many citizens who dislike Atticus, there is also a faction of community members who support and respect him. As the citizens are taking their seats to watch Tom Robinson's trial, Scout overhears the men of the Idler's Club comment on her father's intelligence. They say,

"Atticus Finch’s a deep reader, a mighty deep reader" (Lee, 165).

When Scout takes Dill out of the courtroom to settle him down, she has a conversation with Dolphus Raymond, who elaborates on the prejudice throughout Maycomb's community. He comments on Atticus's character by telling Scout,

I don’t reckon it’s—Miss Jean Louise, you don’t know your pa’s not a run-of-the-mill man, it’ll take a few years for that to sink in—you haven’t seen enough of the world yet. (Lee, 205)

Following the trial, Miss Maudie shows her support and respect for Atticus by telling Jem and Scout,

I simply want to tell you that there are some men in this world who were born to do our unpleasant jobs for us. Your father’s one of them...We’re so rarely called on to be Christians, but when we are, we’ve got men like Atticus to go for us." (Lee, 219)

The characters in To Kill a Mockingbird  have various opinions about Atticus. Let me give a sample. 

First, if you ask his children, at the beginning of the book, they would say that there was nothing special about Atticus. In fact, they would probably point out his faults. He is old, nearly blind in one eye, not very athletic, and too bookish. Here is Scout's depiction of him:

Atticus was feeble: he was nearly fifty. When Jem and I asked him why he was so old, he said he got started late, which we felt reflected upon his abilities and manliness. He was much older than the parents of our school contemporaries, and there was nothing Jem or I could say about him when our classmates said, “My father—”

During the trial of Tom Robinson, the black community looked at Atticus with respect. In one of my favorite parts in the book, the black community rises when Atticus passes by as a sign of respect.

I looked around. They were standing. All around us and in the balcony on the opposite wall, the Negroes were getting to their feet. Reverend Sykes’s voice was as distant as Judge Taylor’s: “Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father’s passin‘.”

Another valuable perspective comes from Miss Maudie. She views Atticus as a very special man, someone who has the courage to do what other neglect to do. Here is what Maudie says to Jem:

“I simply want to tell you that there are some men in this world who were born to do our unpleasant jobs for us. Your father’s one of them.”

What are some things that the other characters have said about Atticus in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Whenever someone possesses a strong character, people usually feel strongly about this person, either admiring or disparaging him. Such is the case with Atticus Finch, whose admirers are many, but his enemies few.

• Miss Maudie - The neighbor and friend of Atticus Finch, Miss Maudie tries to explain to the children that the Radleys may have secrets that go on inside there house that others cannot imagine, but Scout says that Atticus does not treat her any differently when she is inside or outside. Kindly, Miss Maudie remarks, "Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public streets."  Later, when the children see their father shoot the rabid dog and they are amazed at his expert aim, they wonder why he does not hunt. But, Miss Maudie explains,

"If your father's anything, he's civilized in his heart. Marksmanship's a gift of God, a talent....I think maybe he put his gun down when he realized that God had given him an unfair advantage over most living things."

• Francis - The cousin of Jem and Scout, Francis tells Scout, "I guess it ain't your fault if Uncle Atticus is a n***r-lover besides, but I'm here to tell you it certainly does mortify the rest of the family--" This remark enrages Scout so much that she fights with Francis.
• Mrs. DuBose - Another neighbor of the Finches, Mrs. DuBose derogates Atticus, saying to Jem and Scout, "Your father's no better than the n****rs and trash he works for!" Then, when Jem must read to her, she would allude to Atticus's "n****r-loving propensities."
• In Chapter 13, the children learn from their father that Aunt Alexandra does not think he is raising them correctly,

"Your aunt has asked me to try and impress upon you and Jean Louise that you are not from run-of-the-mill people, that you are the product of several generations' gentle breeding--"

• The Idlers' Club - The men who make a habit of sitting outside the courthouse express their opinions about Atticus Finch's acting as defense attorney for Tom Robinson:

"...thinks he know what he's doing," "oh-h now, I souln't say that," says another. "Atticus Finch's a deep reader, a mighty deep reader."

When one Idler points out that the court has appointed Atticus, another counters,"Yeah, but Atticus aims to defend him. That's what I don't like about it."

• Aunt Rachel - After the trial, Dill's aunt says, "If a man like Atticus Finch wants to butt his head against a stone wall it's his head.
• Bob Ewell - When Atticus is in town, Ewell spits in his face and taunts him, "Too proud to fight, you n***r-lovin' bastard?" Also, after Tom dies, Ewell said "...it made one down and about two more to go."
• Mrs. Merriweather - At the Missionary Tea in the Finch home, the sanctimonious Mrs. Merriweather says," I tell you there are some good but misguided people in this town. Good, but misguided. Folks in this town who think they're doing right, I mean."
• Mr. Underwood - In his editorial, Mr. Underwood implies of Atticus, according to Scout, the narrator,

...Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men's hearts Atticus had no case.