For the sins of my father

We could talk for days about how Atticus is the pefect role model for Jem and Scout. He works hard at his profession. He treats people the right way. He's well respected in the community. He stands up for what he believes in. And as Jem says, "he's a gentleman, like me." For Jem and Scout, and really anyone reading this book as a fan of literature, or as an aspiring attorney, or as a future father, Atticus is the standard. And for us on the outside, even though we know it is a struggle, it's hard for us to see how Atticus could fail at anything, especially in raising his children, to whom he is their biggest influence. To me, it feels almost inevitable that Jem and Scout will grow up be outstanding, upright people and citizens.

But for every Atticus, there are ten Bob Ewells. Lazy, drunk, violent, racist, and poor. While Atticus is everything a father, a lawyer, and a man should be, Bob Ewell is everything a man should not. While Jem and Scout have a golden opportunity to grow up right, Bob Ewell's children have no chance. How good a father can you be when you beat your daughter and place false charges on another man? What influence do you have on your children when you coach them to commit perjury in order to send an innocent man to his death? And it's heartbreaking when you understand there are real life examples of people who are totally screwed based on who their parents are (http://www.amazon.com/Sins-My-Father-Killer-Legacy/dp/0767906896 ). Although Atticus is the standard, the role model of what we should try to be, the example of Bob Ewell of what we should not be is as motivating, if not more so.