In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, how is Atticus considered a good person other than the fact that he defends Tom Robinson?

There are many ways in which Atticus proves that he is a good person. Not only is he a great father who leads by example and love, but he treats all people in the community with the same respect. Some examples of Atticus showing his good nature is with Walter Cunningham, Jr., Calpurnia, and his neighbor, Mrs. Dubose.

First, Walter Cunningham, Jr. joins the Finch family for lunch on Scout's first day of school. Jem...

There are many ways in which Atticus proves that he is a good person. Not only is he a great father who leads by example and love, but he treats all people in the community with the same respect. Some examples of Atticus showing his good nature is with Walter Cunningham, Jr., Calpurnia, and his neighbor, Mrs. Dubose.

First, Walter Cunningham, Jr. joins the Finch family for lunch on Scout's first day of school. Jem invited him as a kind gesture after Scout rubbed his nose in the dirt for something that happened in class previously. As Atticus sits at the table with the young, hungry, and impoverished boy, he treats him respectfully by talking with him like an adult. Scout explains as follows:

"While Walter piled food on his plate, he and Atticus talked together like two men, to the wonderment of Jem and me. Atticus was expounding upon farm problems when Walter interrupted to ask if there was any molasses in the house" (24).

The above passage shows how Atticus respects any human being in his home--and that includes children. Atticus could have eaten without saying a word, but he pays attention to his guest with kindness.

Next, Atticus is loyal and thinks highly of his cook, Calpurnia. His sister, Alexandra, suggests firing Cal when she moves in with her brother. Atticus says the following:

"I don't think the children've suffered one bit from her having brought them up. If anything, she's been harder on them in some ways than a mother would have been. . . She tried to bring them up according to her lights, and Cal's lights are pretty good--and another thing, the children love her" (137).

Basically, Atticus tells Alexandra that Calpurnia is not worthless or a bad example to his children. He isn't influenced by his sister to do something like fire someone just because she suggests that he do so.

Finally, but certainly not the only example, Atticus shows he is a good person by talking about others people's good sides rather than their bad ones. With Mrs. Dubose, she calls him terrible names to his children and he doesn't do anything about it. He tells his children to give her some slack because she is old and ailing. She also conquers her morphine addiction before she dies and that is quite an accomplishment. After she dies, he tells his children the following:

"I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do. Mrs. Dubose won. . . She was the bravest person I ever knew" (112).

There are many other examples of how good Atticus is with his children and with other people. These are just a few that show how he never holds a grudge, he respects everyone, and he always sees the best in others.