Atticus Finch

1962

### Home

Maycomb, Alabama, United States of AmericaFinch’s Landing, Alabama, United States of America (ancestral home)

### Relationships

Jeremy Finch (father)
Jack Finch (brother)
Alexandra Finch (sister)
Jean Graham Finch (wife, deceased)
 Jem Finch (son, deceased)
 Scout Finch (daughter)
Francis Finch (nephew)

Simon Finch (ancestor, deceased)

### Personalities

Calm, wise, stern, patient, fair, honest, brave, idealistic, kind, loving, consisting, humble, noble, respectful, compassionate, moral, natural, assertive, virtuous, principled, determined, confident, dutiful, polite, responsible

### Allies

Scout Finch
Jem Finch
Calpurnia
Tom Robinson
Jack Finch

Alexandra Finch

### Goal

To teach his children life lessons about morality and dignity (succeeded)
To have his children understand the harsh reality of racism and injustice (succeeded)
 To defend Tom Robinson in his trial and believe in his innocence (failed)

To have hope that his client will have an appeal (failed)

### Fate

Tucks Scout into bed after she walks Boo home and sits with Jem until morning (To Kill a Mockingbird)Makes peace with Scout (Go Set a Watchman)

> "*It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived.*"
> ― Chapter 11
>
>

Atticus Finch is a major character in Harper Lee’s *To Kill a Mockingbird* and *Go Set a Watchman*. He is the father of Jem and Scout Finch, and the brother of Jack and Alexandra Finch.

Atticus is the local lawyer in Maycomb who is assigned to defend a black man accused of rape and teaches his children important lessons about morality, injustice and social prejudice. He is often regarded as one of the greatest fictional heroes in American literature.

## Storyline

### Family Background

Simon Finch was an apothecary and fur trader from Cornwall, England.He was also a Methodist and emigrated from England to avoid religious persecution and travelled to Saint Stephens, America, where he started practising medicine. He became wealthy from his work but wasn't satisfied, so he hired three slaves and established a homestead on the banks of the Alabama River, about 40 miles above Saint Stephens. Simon only returned to Saint Stephens to find a wife and produced a long family line, mostly daughters. He lived to a ripe old age and died wealthy, and his homestead was named Finch's Landing.

Male relatives often stayed in the homestead to work as cotton farmers, and they produced everything the public needed; except for ice, wheat flour and clothing supplied by boats from Mobile, Alabama. The Finchs lost their wealth during the American Civil War but continued living in the homestead until the 20th century.

Atticus Finch grew up at Finch's Landing, and he and his brother Jack were the first male relatives to leave Finch's Landing to pursue careers outside the homestead. Atticus studied law in Montgomery, Jack went to Boston to study medicine, while their sister Alexandra stayed behind to run the homestead. After finishing his studies, Atticus moved to Maycomb, a small town 20 miles away from Finch's Landing. He established his law office and practice in Maycomb and once defended two clients who were the last people at the Maycomb County Jail. They had been accused of murdering a blacksmith over a horse dispute, and their crime was committed in front of 3 witnesses. Atticus had urged them to plead guilty to second-degree murder and avoid the death penalty, but they pleaded not guilty, and Atticus had to watch their execution.

For five years, Atticus practiced economy and invested his earnings in Jack's education. After Jack was able to get started in his medical practice, Atticus received an income from the government. He became well-known and respected in Maycomb, as he was related by blood and marriage to almost all the town's residents.

After he was elected to the state legislature, Atticus met a woman named Jean Graham from Montgomery. He was already middle-aged, and she was 15 years his junior. They subsequently married and had two children: their first child was a son named Jeremy Atticus "Jem" Finch, and four years later, their second child, a daughter named Jean Louise "Scout" Finch, was born. When Jem was six years old, and Scout was 2, Jean died of a heart attack, a fatal heart condition that runs in her family. Jem misses his mother and had fond memories of her, but Scout doesn't remember or miss her since she was very young when her mother died.

The Finchs live on the main residential street in Maycomb with their black cook Calpurnia, who has served the family since Jem was born. Following his wife's death, Atticus assigns Calpurnia to be a mother figure to his children, and he is mostly a doting father to them.