Chapter 10-11 Question A. Why do u think Atticus never revealed he was an expert marksman? ( Mario P)
I think there are many reasons that Atticus did not tell his children that he was and expert marksman. It is clear he did not want them to know because when Mr.Tate said to Jem “you didn't know your daddy’s” ( Lee 128) and Atticus told the sheriff to hush. The main reason I think he did not reveal his talent is because he did not want his children to be influenced by this or learn how to do it or even to get interested in that kind of guns/shooting because they could potentially hurt people or animals like they were trying to do with their air rifles. Another reason why I think Atticus did no reveal his secret is because of what Ms.Maudie said “he’s civilized in his heart” (Lee 130) and Atticus thought that being a marksman was something civilized people did not do in the south. The last reason I think Atticus did not share his secret with his kids is because when he was a kid he might've hurt an animal or a person with a real rifle ,has not forgotten about and does not want his kids to repeat his mistakes.
Overall Atticus though it wouldn't be a good idea to tell his children about his past because if all those reasons and maybe more and I think that it was a good idea not to because he children might have been to curious and find out other things about their father.
I agree especially with Mario's point that Atticus didn't want Scout and Jem to know because he didn't want them to think that shooting or violence is this secret to being a good person. At the beginning of the chapter, Scout doesn't see her father as 'cool' like the other fathers: "he did not... do anything that could possibly arouse the admiration of anyone," (Lee 118). Atticus sticks to books and morals intentionally, because he believes that the higher road is one where problems are solved through logic, not violence. He especially wants Scout to learn this lesson, as she has violent tendencies. Atticus hides that he is an expert marksman, because he doesn't want people to admire that characteristic. He wants to be seen as someone admirable because he used logic and wisdom, not his fists or a gun.
ReplyDeleteI think that there is a lot Atticus was good at in the past that he doesn't let the kids know now. As you can tell in the story Atticus doesn't believe in violence and thinks that it is not the right way to solve problems. After Jem and Scout received air rifles as a gift Atticus refused to teach them because he knew that they were not going to be very disciplined when using the air rifles. He knew one of them was going to try and shoot a bird and as he said “its a sin to kill a mockingbird”(Lee 119). Atticus didn’t teach the kids how to use the guns because he didn’t want to feel responsible if something went wrong.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statements. But I think another reason Atticus didn't want his children to know he was an expert marksmen is because he wanted them to look up to him because of his character not his abilities. When Atticus is talking about how courageous Mrs. Dubose was he says, "I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand".(Lee 149) Atticus is a very smart individual and knows the importance of having good character. Atticus does not want his kids to think he is cool or look up to him because he is good at shooting a gun which is something thats considered cool. He would rather them look up to him for the lessons he teaches them and how he raises them.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with Mario, as throughout the chapter we see in Atticus' behavior, that he is a kind, modest, and fair man. He doesn't want to inflict any sort of bad role modeling upon his children. He believes that violence isn't the answer. Ms Maudie explains to the Finch children that, "If your fathers anything, he's civilized in his heart... I guess he decided he wouldn't shoot until he had too, and that was today," (Lee 130). Atticus holds strong principles, that he stands by. He wants to show his children that it is important to stick by your morals, which we can see portrayed by the language "civilized in his heart." Atticus clearly encourages positive moral growth, even if it means that he may seem boring or "uncool". Overall Atticus, is a strong modest character, who plays an important role in Scout and Jem's lives, and will continue to have a strong impact on their personalities throughout the book.
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