What is Atticus's opinion of the n-word in To Kill a Mockingbird?

This is a
good question. In order to understand 's point of view, we need to know something about his
culture. 

We need to remember that Atticus is culturally situated in the
south during a time when racism was common. Therefore, to expect Atticus to have our view of
race now is to be anachronistic and unfair. That said, we can say that Atticus was far ahead of
his time by defending Tom Robinson. 

Second, we can say that Atticus did not
care for the word. When Scout used it in front of him, Atticus forbade her to use that word. The
reason he gives is interesting though. He does not forbid her to use the word based on
principle, but because it is "common." He feels as though he is "higher" or
better than the people around him. 

This, of course, is not to say that
Atticus was not noble; he was in many important ways. All I am saying is that Atticus was a
product of his time. Here is the text:

Cecil Jacobs made
me forget. He had announced in the schoolyard the day before that s daddy defended niggers. I
denied it, but told .

Whatd he mean sayin€˜ that? I asked.

Nothing,
Jem said. Ask Atticus, hell tell you.

Do you defend niggers, Atticus? I
asked him that evening.

Of course I do. Dont say nigger, Scout. Thats
common.

From now on itll be everybody less one