ATTICUS'
RELATIONSHIPS
Calpurnia.
Cal had been working for the Finch family for many years, presumably either before his
wife's death or possibly beginning shortly thereafter. Atticus considers Cal a member of
the family, and she serves as a motherly figure for both of the children. He stands up
for Cal when Atticus' sister Alexandra tries to convince him to fire the
housekeeper.
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"... I couldn't have got along without her all
these years. She's a faithful member of this family... We still need Cal as much as we
ever did."
Jem
& Scout. Atticus is not a typical father. As a single parent, he
spends a great deal of time with his children (at least as much as a busy lawyer and
state legislator can), but he also gives them more independence than most children
receive at their age. He trusts that the children will obey him and follow his role
model as they get older. Both children come to admire Atticus even more strongly as the
novel progresses, recognizing his lawyering skills, his humility, and the love that he
garners from his neighbors.
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"I just hope that Jem and Scout come to me for
their answers instead of listening to the town. I hope they trust me
enough..."
Tom
Robinson. Atticus did not want to undertake the defense of Tom Robinson.
He knew defending a black man accused of raping a white woman would only bring trouble
to him and his family. But he defended Tom with a furvor, and following the guilty
verdict, he tried to convince Tom to keep the faith, since Atticus hoped that an appeal
would free him. Atticus stood by at the jail alone against the lynch mob that had come
for Tom, and following his death, Atticus went to tell Tom's wife the bad news
himself.
"And so a quiet, humble respectable Negro
who had the unmitigated temerity to 'feel sorry' for a white woman has had to put his
word against two white people's."
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