Monday, March 5, 2012
Ol' One-Shot (SDH's class)
Why do you think Atticus never let on he was an expert marksman?
I believe Atticus’s main reason for not revealing his skill as a expert marksman was to help maintain his career as a lawyer. He most likely felt that the people of Maycomb would no longer trust him in court knowing he was once called “One-Shot Finch”. Although I believe Atticus would never resort to violence, the gossips of the town would spread lies about his criminal history which would destroy his reputable career. The character of Atticus is a civilized pacifist who only uses his talent as a last resort, Miss Maudie explains this to Jem and Scout by saying “If your fathers anything, he’s civilized in his heart....I guess he decided he wouldn’t shoot till he had to”. Atticus could also have been thinking of his children, what would they do if they new he was once the best shot in town? As a father, Atticus didn’t want his children to grow up thinking that courage is a man with a gun and his hand, but rather courage is standing up for something you believe in without using force.
~ Paul T.
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I believe Atticus did not reveal his talent until he had to because his values do not rely on weapons and violence but on peace and resolution. Paul's idea that his main reason for not telling people was to uphold his career however I disagree with, I think the most important thing to him was the values he instilled in his children and the fact that violence is not the correct way to deal with something.
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