The book "To Kill a Mockingbird," by Harper Lee, portrays a man, Atticus Finch, who is good and virtuous in nearly every aspect of his life. In the wrapped up lives of the his family, Atticus, father of Jem and Scout, raises his children unlike the average parent. Rather than leading by direction, and simply telling his children how to behave, he leads more by example. This type of parenting is called leading by moral authority. He is very compromising and understanding towards his children, and he leads by doing what is morally the right thing to do. Atticus's method of parenting is a very effective way to raise children, and it has the effects he desires. Atticus's way of parenting is effective in a few ways when he defends Tom Robinson, sends Jem to read to Mrs. Dubose, and tells Scout about Boo Radley. .
During the time that Atticus is defending Tom Robinson's case, he tells Scout and Jem the importance of equality. "Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win". (9.76) What Atticus is trying to tell Jem and Scout is that even though the negroes were enslaved and disrespected a hundred years ago, does not mean that they cannot try to win the case. It also shows that Atticus is not afraid to be humiliated or judged for his actions. Atticus's way of parenting is effective due to the fact that he does not see the prejudice between the negroes and the whites living in Maycomb. .
Atticus sending Jem to read to Ms. Dubose shows that Atticus's way of parenting by moral authority is effective. "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 . You rarely win, but sometimes you do. Ms. Dubose won, all ninety-eight pounds of her. According to her views, she died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew." (11.112) Ms. Dubose was addicted to morphine, but before she died she made it her goal to get off of the drug.
