IN-CLASS ONLINE LESSON #3

Tolerance that Atticus Finch displayed:

1. Atticus needed to endure all the criticism he received when he took up the Cunningham case.

This can be supported by: “‘Then why did Cecil say you defended niggers? He made it sound like you were runnin’ a still.’
Atticus sighed. ‘I’m simply defending a Negro...” pg 81 chapter 9.

This shows Atticus’ tolerance towards the criticism and that he was only doing his job.

2. Although Atticus did not win the case of Tom Robinson’s, he did not throw a fit or become very impatient and unmanly.

This can be supported by: “Atticus took his coat off the back of his chair and pulled it over his shoulder. Then he left the courtroom...” pg 217 chapter 21

This shows Atticus does not take further action to win the case.


3. Atticus shows tolerance to people, even people with problems in their mindset, although these people will try to do horrible things.

This can be supported by: “‘But last night he wanted to hurt you.’
Atticus placed his fork beside his knife and pushed his plate aside. ‘Mr Cunningham’s basically a good man,’ he said,’he just has his blind spots along with the rest of us.’” page 163 chapter 16

This shows Atticus’s tolerance to such people. Even though people might not like Atticus and does nasty things to him, Atticus readily forgave and tolerated those people.

4. Mr Bob Ewell spat in Atticus’ face but he  just took out his handkerchief and wiped his face and stood there and let Mr Ewell call him names.

This can be supported by: ”Atticus was leaving the post office when Mr Ewell approached him, cursed him, sat on him and threatened to kill him” and “ Atticus didn’t bat an eye, just took out his handkerchief and wiped his face and stood there and let Mr Ewell call him names” page 223 chapter 23.

This shows that Atticus had tolerated Mr Ewell’s action and did not do anything about it.

5. Atticus does not tell the children about his gun skills as he wants his children to be civilized and not to be hunters.

This can be supported by: “‘He never said anything about that,’ Jem muttered
‘Never said anything about it, did he?’
‘No ma’am.’
‘Wonder why he never goes huntin’ now,’ I said .
‘Maybe I can tell you,’ said Miss Maudie. ‘If your father’s anything, he’s civilized in his heart. Marksmanship’s a gift of God, a talent - oh you, have to practise to make it perfect, but shootin’s different from playing the piano or the like. I think maybe he put his gun down when he realized that God had given him an unfair advantage over most living things......”

This show Atticus actually wants his children to be more civilized like him and not take shooting to receive an unfair advantage over others.



Atticus is very tolerant and also always keep his cool. He defended Tom Robinson and when people called him names, he did not feel insulted and chosen to ignore them. When Scout beat up her friend because he called her father names, Atticus told Scout not to do such things again and not feel angry of her friend. And also when he lost the case and Mr Ewell spat on him, he did not fight back but just stay still and let Mr Ewell continue calling him names. This shows that Atticus respect others as he did not do anything when they call him names or spat on him.