Atticus And The Children During Tom's Trial example essay topic

Atticus Atticus is the father of Jem and Scout. He is the voice of reason in the novel. He is a lawyer and an extremely morally upright man. Atticus looks at everyone and tries to understand who they are and where they are coming from.

His code of conduct remains the same no matter what situation he is placed in. He is the same in the courtroom as he is at home or in the streets. This is why he feels he needs to take Tom Robinson's case and defend him to the best of his abilities. Otherwise, he would see himself as a hypocrite. He is very devoted to his children and tries to raise them to think everyone is equal despite how th rest of the town fells about racism. Through everyday situations, he passes on his wisdom to Jem and Scout.

He tries to remain a good role model for his children. Calpurnia Calpurnia is the Finch's cook. She lived on Finch's landing as a young girl and moved to Maycomb with Atticus. Calpurnia is treated like a member of the family.

Atticus allows her to scold and discipline Scout and Jem when it is needed. Calpurnia has become the closest thing to a mother that the children will ever have. She teaches Scout about treating people with respect and taking time to understand others. Dill Dill is a friend of the Finch children with a very active imagination and a sense for adventure.

He initiates the first expeditions toward the Radley house. His family life is less than ideal. This is why he sometimes makes up wild stories about his parents. He looks for attention from the people around him to make up for what he doesn't receive at home.

When his own life is lonely, the Finch's are the family he relies on. Miss Maudie Miss Maude's is one of the only positive female influences of Scout in the absence of her mother. She is the one Scout goes to talk to when she is confused because Maudie never makes fun of her. Maudie is one of the few white citizens in the town who stand up for Tom. In fact, Maudie is not afraid to challenge any of the towns notions. When the women on her street gossip about Boo Radley, Maudie puts them in their place.

Maudie, like Atticus, has a strong sense of character; she is just more outspoken. Miss Rachel Miss Rachel is Dill's Aunt. She is the one he comes and lives with during the summer. When Dill runs away to Maycomb, she is the person Atticus calls and tells where he is. Mrs. Dubose Mrs. Dubose is the meanest old lady in the town.

She never smiles at anyone. When someone walks by and gives her a friendly hello, she replies with a rude comment. Eventually her rudeness gets to Jem and he takes it out on her flowers. As a punishment Jem has to read to her to help her pass the time. Mrs. Dubose passess away and the children learn a valuable lesson about bravery. Atticus tells them off her morphine addiction, and how she has been trying to come off of it.

Even though she is hateful, Atticus admires her for her bravery. Rev. Sykes Rev. Sykes is the preacher at First Purchase Church. He is not ashamed to let everyone in the church know that they need to attend and tithe. He also helps Jem and Scout find seats in the colored balcony at the trial.

Aunt Alexandra She moves in with Atticus and the children during Tom's trial. She is very concerned that Scout needs a feminine influence in her life. She has strict, traditional ideas of how society works and the role for a Southern woman within it, which she tries to enforce upon Scout. She is concerned with Atticus raising his children "properly". Aunt Alexandra displays her beliefs very publicly. She is an active member in the Missionary Society, which appears to be as much a social club as an religious organization.

Uncle Jack Uncle Jack comes to visit Scout and Jem every Christmas. He is a doctor who, like Atticus was schooled at home. He has no children and does not understand them very well. He spanks Scout for fighting with her cousin Francis. She teaches him a lesson about children by telling him that he should listen to both sides of the story. Boo Radley Boo is the mysterious neighbor of the Finch's.

Since no one sees Boo Radley, it is easy tok make accusations and spread rumors about him. He hides away from the town, which gives them free reign to make outrageous claims about him. Boo sees Scout and Jem as his children, which is why he parts with things that are precious to him, why he mends Jem's pants and covers Scout with a blanket, and why he ultimately kills for them. Apparently his family disapproves of his affection for the children of Mr. Radley would not have cemented the knothole.

Boo loves them even with the knowledge that he is the object of their cruel, childish games. The children treat Boo with as much prejudice as the town shows Tom Robinson. They assign characteristics to Boo without validation. Ironically, watching the injustice that Tom suffers helps the children understand why Boo may choose to be a recluse.

Nathan Radley Boo's older brother who comes back to live when Mr. Radley dies. When he passess by he just gives a simple hello and goes on about his business. Arthur Radley Sr. Arthur Radley Sr. is the father of Boo and Nathan. He passess away before the novel ends. There are only a few things the children know about him.

One is the fact that he walks to town at eleven-thirty every morning and comes back promptly at twelve, sometimes carrying a brown paper sack that the neighborhood assumed contained the family groceries. The other is that he made his living "buying cotton", a polite term for doing nothing. Zeebo Zeebo is Cal's son. He is the town garbage collector. He leads the hymns at church by reciting one line, then the rest of the congregation reciting it. This is done because he is one of the very few people in the church who can read.

Heck Tate Heck Tate is Maycomb's trusty sheriff, who is on the whole and honest and upstanding man. He accompanies Atticus in killing the mad dog and delivers the news about Bob Ewell. Heck lies and tells everyone that Mr. Ewell fell on his own knife. He is wise in doing this because he is protecting Boo from the rest of the town. Mr. Underwood The owner, editor, and printer of the Maycomb Tribune. Although he openly dislikes blacks, he defends Tom's right to a fair trial.

In the column after Tom's death, he compares his death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children. By purposely writing at a child's level, Mr. Underwood underscores the town's immaturity when it comes to racial issues. Link Deas Mr. Deas "creates" a job for Helen when Tom dies so she can feed her children. When Mr. Ewell bothers Helen on her way to work, he walks home with her and warns Mr. Ewell not to bother her anymore. Dolph us Raymond Judge Taylor He is the solicitor for the Ewell in Tom's case. He examines Tom with very much disrespect.

The Cunningham's Mayella Ewell Scout believes that Mayella must be the lowliest person in he world. She lives at home taking care of her brothers and sisters. She does not get help from anyone and her father is very abusive toward her. Tom Robinson is the only man that ever pays her any attention or helps her with chores. Tom is the person she thinks she should kiss because he is the only one who ever shows her any kindness. Her father sees her trying to kiss Tom and beats her.

Her father accuses Tom of rape and tells Mayella to testify against him. In fear of what her father would do if she did not testify, she accused the only person who was ever nice to her of rape. Mayella will have to live with that mistake for the rest of her life. Bob Ewell Bob is the father of Mayella Ewell. Even though he has nothing, he still believes he is better than anyone else. He is a very bad father.

His children starve because he spends his relief checks on whiskey. He also beats them. When Atticus lays his lifestyle out for everyone in the town to see it makes him very angry. He seeks revenge by trying to attack Jem and Scout.

In the end, all his hatred toward others gets him his own death. Tom Robinson Tom is the character being compared to a mockingbird in the novel. He never bothers anyone or anything. He always tries to help someone in need. He is falsely accused of rape by Mayella Ewell. Because of the racism of the county, this causes his death.

Miss Stephanie Stephanie Crawford is the town gossip. She knows anything and everything whether it is actually happening or not. She is the one who tells the children all the false stories about Boo Radley. Helen Robinson Helen is the wife of Tom.

She is left to support her children when Tom passess away. She walks to work everyday at Link Deas place.