How does Atticus explain mobs to his children in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Answer 1

Atticus explains to Scout that the people in mobs there or anywhere else are the people are neighbors, friends and relatives. He tells her that what she said to Mr. Cunningham about his son, it snapped him back to reality and allowed him to remember that he was a neighbor, a father and a neighbor, not the type of man to get involved with mobs.

Answer 2

Atticus explains mobs to his children as a cowardly group of people who act without thinking for themselves. He teaches them the importance of standing up for what is right, even when it goes against the popular opinion of the group. Atticus wants his children to understand the dangers of following a mob mentality and the necessity of individual courage.

Answer 3

Atticus tells Scout and Jem that mobs are always made up of people no matter what.. sometimes people you know. He then talks to the children about how Scout stopped the mob just by being there and talking to Mr. Cunningham. He says that the fact that the people left proves that "a gang of wild animals can be stopped, simply because they're still human".

Answer 4

Here is what Atticus says:

"A mob's always made up of people, no matter what. Mr. Cunningham was part of a mob last night, but he was still a man. Every mob in every little Southern town is always made up of people you know -- doesn't say much for them, does it?"

"So it took an eight-year-old child to bring 'em to their senses, didn't it?" ... "That proves something-- that a gang of wild animals can be stopped, simply because they're still human."

Answer 5

He says simply a mob is made up of people, despite the location or situation the mob is in.