Atticus Finch & Silas Marner - Good Parents?

Have a little read: ... Atticus Finch & Silas Marner Good Parents comment: This essay comments on Atticus Finch and Silas Marner on how they are older single men but make good parents. To kill a mocking bird was wrote by Harper Lee in the 1960 commenting on the events 100 years ago when racial rites were being pushed to the limits. As the South of America was anti-black, racial tensions were high. The story centres on a small-inbred town called Maycomb, which has a population, dominated by whites, which look down on the blacks. Both To kill a mocking bird by Harper Lee and Silas Marner George Eliot are social comments on what was happening at that time. To Kill A Mocking Bird deals with racial issues. Silas Marner talks about the social standard in England at the time of industrialization. Atticus is a good father to Jem and Scout, but he has to gain there respect, in there eyes they see him as a ageing man who has little or no value to them, because of this, Jem and Scout don't see him as a role model until a string of events puts it into perspective. Atticus buys Jem and Scout a gun when he thinks they are responsible enough to look after it he gives them one piece of advice, "Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird," he is referring to the notion that a mockingbird is a harmless creature, and does nothing but sing and bring happiness to the world. This advice given by Atticus could be seen as his way to explain the treatment of Boo Radley and Tom Robertson. Both Boo Radley and Tom Robinson are treated with little respect in the town, and are sinfully destroyed or neglected by the people. They could be seen as "mocking birds". Atticus Finch is used to convey Harper Lee's feelings about race, society as a mass, and morals. Atticus teaches the children in three simple ways which are; the use of examples, verbal statements, and learning through experience. Atticus uses these techniques to help his children to become upholding members of the local society. Jem and Scout are subjected to a sharp learning curve; at the start of the novel they have innocence about them and are naïve to what is happening with race. They play and act like regular children, until the court case against Tom Robertson. There is a sharp contrast between Scout and Jem at the start of the novel compared to the end. Maturity and a feeling of self-pride are installed into them thanks to Atticus. Atticus Finch uses examples to teach Scout and Jem, he lets the maid who is black to eat with them, something that is frowned upon in there town, also he treats everyone with curtercy if they are black or white. A good example of this is when Mr Ewell spits in Atticuses face he stays calm and wipes of the slaver and does not react. This shows to Jem how he would stay calm even if he was attacked or hurt by someone. Atticus makes it a common practice to live his life, as he would like his children to live theirs, by doing this he is honest, respectable and, kind man. Atticus shows his character by defending Tom Robinson, a black man on trial for the rape of a white woman. Throughout the trial process, Atticus shows Jem and Scout that true courage is standing up for what you believe in, and all humans deserve respect, despite there colour or race. Atticus also tries to be a perfect southern gentleman, again, teaching Jem and Scout to care for all people. Since Atticus possesses a strong trusting relationship with Jem and Scout, his word becomes valuable to them. Therefore, the statement of his beliefs is a highly effective way of communicating with the children. Early in the novel, Scout overhears