Atticus Finch is an upstanding and honorable man. He is trustworthy because he is honest in all his dealings. Plus, he's not prejudiced, which is almost unheard of in the South in the 1930s. Atticus does his best to teach his children to be honorable and honest as well; but, when he thinks that his son might have killed Bob Ewell, this is when his honesty is put to the test. In chapter 30, Atticus and Sheriff Tate have a discussion about what actually happened when Bob Ewell attacked Jem and Scout. Atticus says the following:
"Well, Heck . . . I guess the thing to do--good Lord, I'm losing my memory . . . Jem's not quite thirteen . . . no, he's already thirteen--I can't remember. Anyway, it'll come before the county court" (272).
This passage shows Atticus stammering a bit because of the overwhelming feelings he has for the fact that his children almost died that night, and that he may have to present Jem to the court for a trial concerning the death of Bob Ewell. Atticus is showing honesty and integrity because he is willing to hold his son accountable for defending himself and killing a man. Heck wants to cover the whole thing up and say that Bob Ewell fell on his knife in the scuffle, but Atticus refuses. But Sheriff Tate isn't wanting to cover up the truth for Jem's sake--he wants to protect Boo Radley. It is actually Boo Radley who killed Ewell in defense of the children. The point is that Atticus, in the name of honesty, was willing to make his son face the facts of the case before a court of law, even if it was in self-defense.
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