Atticus Finch, the father of Scout and Jem teaches various life lessons for the people around him and of course his children and family. Atticus teaches his kids to make the right decisions when it comes between them and someone else. He teaches them respect and also guidance. Atticus feels that he needs to teach his young ones life lessons because of what had happened to him in his past and he doesn't want them to experience the negativity. Atticus is an inspiring leader of his family and he teaches Scout and Jem life lessons from the marvelous and displeasing events in life.
During the first part of this story, Atticus punishes his son Jem to read to Mrs. Dubose because of the actions he's committed when he found out she was talking bad about his father Atticus. Deeper into the story, Atticus gets into a similar situation with dealing at the trial and all the ignorant people there. On Jem's side of the story he doesn't really know Mrs. Dubose's reasons as to why she acts a certain way towards them, as to the black man at the trial, nobody really know's who he is to be thinking bad of him right away. Atticus ends up defending the black man Tom Robinson for being accused of raping a white woman. This is a sign of respect that Atticus is showing to readers and for everyone else in the town of Maycomb because he doesn't judge people but or him by his skin color, unlike everyone else who does the complete opposite. "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view until you climb into his skin and walk around it"(39)People won't always understand that others go through tough situations in there life so they shouldn't quickly judge. Mrs. Dubose makes mean comments to both Jem and Scout every time they walk past her house, but that doesn't stop Atticus's respect her has for her. He compliments her and never forgets to say hello. People can easily say that Atticus doesn't always show respect in this.