Free Response - challenge accepted
Atticus has a much different personality
in the courtroom than at home. Describe his personality and tell why has he
never shown this side of him to Scout and Jem?
Harper
Lee has characterized Atticus as a sensible, kind, and hardworking parent, but
has never gone into detail about what he is like in the courtroom, until the
trial. The trial is the first time Jem and Scout really see him in action. In
the courtroom, Atticus' personality is different than at home; "...then
Atticus did something I never saw him do before or since, in public or in
private: he unbuttoned his vest, unbuttoned his collar, loosened his tie, and
took off his coat.... this was the equivalent of him standing before us stark
naked." This quote proves that Atticus has a much different character just
by Scout and Jem's reaction.
During
the trial Harper Lee shows Atticus being intimidating, kind, laid back and
caring. Atticus has never shown this side of himself because that is not what
he wants Scout and Jem to see him as. These quickly changing features are not
Atticus’ personality, but merely ways he uses to get information out of witnesses
and ways he uses to convey Tom Robinson’s side of the story. All in all, Atticus doesn’t want them in the
courtroom because they might think differently of him, whether that be not
respecting him as much or just thinking that he’s a person that he’s not.
Questions: Are there any other ways Harper Lee has characterized Atticus?
Do you think Atticus has a good "style" of getting and conveying information?
Why would Atticus switch characteristics so quickly?
Questions: Are there any other ways Harper Lee has characterized Atticus?
Do you think Atticus has a good "style" of getting and conveying information?
Why would Atticus switch characteristics so quickly?
Unlike your opinion, I believe Atticus is the same at home as he is in the courtroom. In both places he is respectful and courteous, and treats everyone, including who he is against with respect. This was proven when he was talking to Mayella Ewell, even though she was being unfair and mean he still treated her with kindness. He was different on this one day for a very clear reason. He was trying to win this case, a case that could not be won purely by facts. He had to overcome both the facts of the defendant, and the racial prejudice that comes with a case like this. Not only were Scout and Jem suprised, but so was everyone else. This was very unlike Atticus, and proves that even though he thought he could not win, he gave it his best shot. He sacrificed how people thought of him, and tried everything he could to fight for what he knew was right.
ReplyDeleteI think Atticus' style of getting and conveying information is actually very good. He is trying to seem cool and confident in the courtroom, which could make a witness or someone testifying very nervous. I agree with The Doctor (aka Ian), on this one. At home, Atticus is a very serious dad, and is always trying to teach his kids life lessons. As Ian said, he is very kind to everyone. When Jem messed up Ms. Dubose flowers, Atticus understood that Jem had a reason, but he still wanted Jem to be kind and respectful, and he made him go apologize to Ms Dubose. In the court, he understands that Mayella Ewell is being unreasonable and unkind, he still showed respect to her, and he treated her fairly and kindly.
ReplyDeleteI think Atticus' style of telling information is very effective and clear. He gives only the facts and does not waste time, making whoever he was transferring information to understand. As for his ways of getting information, he does that well, too. He makes the person who he is getting information from used to answering without any second thoughts by asking them general questions that they don't see any harm in answering, then he gets to the bigger questions once they've left their gaurds down.
ReplyDeleteHarper Lee added in the part about Atticus stripping off layers of his clothing because it taught Scout a lesson about people and what they can hide from each other. Even though Scout knows her own father incredibly well Atticus does show a slightly different side of himself depending on what he is doing. When Atticus is around his kids he is a sweet, gentle man who tries hard to be a person that Scout and Jem can look up to and admire, on the other hand, when Atticus is in the courthouse he tries to be intimidating and show that he is determined to win the case for his client. This all shows Scout that people can act different depending on who they are with and where they are.
ReplyDeleteAtticus is similar when he is at home and when he is in the court room. Atticus's biggest characteristic is that he always is doing his best to do the right thing. In the courtroom, Atticus kept that trait because even though he knew he was going to lose, he did the right thing. Everyone was against Atticus representing Tom Robinson but he did it anyways because he knew it was right and he tried hard to win through it all. He also kept his traits the same in the court room by treating everybody in the courtroom with repect. Even those who were against him he was respectful to like Mayella Ewell. Atticus showed his kids the right thing to do.
ReplyDeleteIn these chapters Harper Lee has characterized Atticus as the same person he is in court as he is at home. Scout and Jem may have seen Atticus do things he has never done before in the courtroom, like sweating, but that's because he was doing his best to do the right thing. At home, he always emphasizes the point and sets examples for his kids to do what is right. Atticus has a great style of conveying and getting information. For example, when he was asking Mr. Ewell questions, he started off asking him if he could read and write. He eventually got to the point where he proved Mr. Ewell was left-handed by making him write his name, which proves that Mr. Ewell could have been the one that beat Mayella because it was her right eye that was hurt. If he just asked Mr. Ewell if he was left-handed right away he could've just said no and Atticus would not be able to prove him as a possible candidate who beat Mayella.
ReplyDeleteAtticus switched characteristics so suddenly when he was in court because he's trying to prevent Robinson to go to jail, while at home the biggest problem is usually just trying to calm down Scout after a fight. Being at court is a very different situation than at home, so it would make sense Atticus would act differently or a little more nervous at court than he would at his house. However he was trying to do what he always does at home; doing the right thing. When he is at home he tries to do and tells his children to make the right choices and do the right thing whenever they can. In court he was doing whatever he could to do the right thing, which was defending Tom Robinson to the best of his ability.
Does the way Atticus acts in court change the way you view Atticus? How do you think this trial will change Scout and Jem as people? Why do you think Atticus lets Scout, Jem, and Dill come back to see the trial when Calpurnia and Aunt Alexandra are reluctant to let them go back?
I disagree with you Jimin, the court is supposed to show a different side of Atticus. Atticus is never relaxed. He is always very concentrated on his work. Now after it is all almost done he starts to relax which Jem and Scout ussually don't see. Also, there is much more to the sweating than has been described. The sweating means that he is nervous. To Jem and Scout this is a very different way to see their Dad. Unlike earlier when they see a tougher side to him, they are now seeing his fragile more gentle side. Harper Lee then has Atticus unbutton his shirt to show that he has opened himself up to his kids. Even though he doesn’t know his kids are there it is showing Scout’s growing understanding of her father.
ReplyDeleteDo you think Atticus will be different at home now that the trial is over? Do you think that Atticus will be more open with Scout and Jem?