A Man of True Dignity In a world full of injustice and cruelty, people like Atticus who fight against that norm are incredibly important. Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird remains one of the best novels ever written, partially because of Atticus, a very wise man who embodies exactly what dignity ought to be. Atticus carries himself in a matter that deserves respect and honor. Not a word comes out of his mouth that he has not thought through carefully and he possesses words of wisdom for any scenario or situation in life. Throughout the novel, Atticus clearly lives his life in a very discerning, upstanding and peaceful manor.
Heroes are not invincible, and certainly are not the ones who always win; however, a hero is someone who, despite this, is courageous enough to fight for what is right. Atticus Finch, one of the most inspiring literary characters from the highly acclaimed novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, is an example of such. This classic novel is told from the perspective of Scout Finch, Atticus’ daughter, a young girl who lives in the town of Maycomb County, Alabama, in the 1930s, a town where prejudice and discrimination is rife. Rather than succumbing to societal expectations and adopting the extreme animosity held by the other citizens, Atticus views and treats all with the dignity and respect that they are entitled to, guiding his
Atticus Finch is in many ways the pivotal character of To Kill a Mockingbird. Although Scout narrates, Atticus is the person who drives the story forward, giving the story multidimensional color. On the most superficial dimension, Atticus defends a man falsely accused in the courtroom, and cares for the needs of his family after he dies in an escape attempt. At another dimension, he wins the respect of his children by doing so. Even deeper, we see that he also started to soften peoples’ hearts to the plight of the black people in the community, and won the admiration of the black community.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch is a role model not only for Scout and Jem, but for the town as a whole. He is unbiased and just in his values, and this carries over to his parenting with Jem and Scout. Atticus always listens to what his children have to say, and they greatly respect him for it. He instills in them that it is okay to stand up for what they believe in, even if the rest of society shuns them for it. They are taught to treat other people with respect and to always think before acting. Although Maycomb sometimes looks down upon Atticus, he is an exemplary parent because he has ingrained the values of respecting others, thinking before acting, and being oneself into Scout and Jem.
Atticus Finch Is A Hero In Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird,” Atticus Finch is the hero of the story because he is very reasonable, ethical, and compassionate in his beliefs. Atticus lives in Maycomb, Alabama with his two children and their maid. His children are Jem and Scout Finch whom he teaches important life lessons to throughout the story.
Hanna Clasen Mr. Flanagan AP English 11 February 28, 2017 Atticus Finch Life in the 1930s was hard for most people. In the South, it can be considered a time of racial segregation and injustice. However, in Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch presents himself as a compassionate, wise, and courageous individual, making him an admirable leader in Maycomb County. Atticus is a man who is not affected by what other people say or think about him.
We trust him to do right. It’s that simple” (236). Undoubtedly, Atticus demonstrates justice as he defends Tom in a fight for his
When Scout complains about Miss Caroline, Atticus states, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view . . . until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (Lee 33). Atticus Finch says empathy is based on sympathy, on being able to see another person 's point of view and comprehend why they act the way they do even if it 's hard to agree with it. He is allocating fatherly advice to Scout by telling her that Miss Caroline was probably just trying to do her best in a new environment. This piece of advice supports Scouts development throughout the novel by making her not as agile to judge. Although Atticus is crucial to his children 's growth, he can’t give a “feminine” input which sometimes flaws his parenting, but Lee proves that good parenting requires a person to do the right thing, no matter the circumstances through fairness, perspective, and integrity.
Every day in our lives, heroes are all around us. They may not be what society tells us is a hero, like Superman or Batman. They do not wear fancy costumes or have super powers. But these heroes change the lives of the people around them, for the better. Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird is the charismatic, understanding father of Scout and Jem Finch as well as a hard working lawyer in Maycomb County, Alabama. Despite racial inequalities in the South, Atticus sticks to his own morals and agrees to be the defending lawyer for Tom Robinson, a black man being accused of raping a white woman. Although Atticus’ defense in court was thorough and clearly proved Tom’s innocence, the jury was prejudiced towards black folks and convicted Tom as guilty. Nonetheless, Atticus is still a hero despite losing the case. He has the courage to stand up for what he believes in, fights with reason rather than guns, and has utmost determination, making him a hero despite being just an average human being. Ultimately, his thoughts and actions set the stage for major changes in the meaning of equality throughout Maycomb County, changing lives of numerous people.
Atticus Finch- Modern Day Hero In general, the first thing that comes to people’s minds when they hear “hero” is superheroes. Batman, Superman, the works. And fiction can be thanked for this.
In the book “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch is one of the main characters. Atticus Finch is the fifty year old father of Jean Louise Finch and Jeremy Atticus Finch. He is Maycomb’s lawyer and is defending a black man named Tom Robinson who was accused of rape by Robert Ewell and Mayella Ewell. Atticus Finch’s first three priorities are honor, respect, and acceptance.
Throughout the novel To Kill a MockingBird Atticus proves his greatness as a father by teaching his children life lessons through everyday actions. In the novel, Scout and Jem go through many rocky bumps in their life, and with Atticus they receive a stable role model to lead them through harder times. Atticus being a lawyer could have made him into a very serious busy man who could have paid little to no attention to his young children. But being a lawyer helped mold Atticus and his children into well rounded and educated people. By the end of the novel Atticus has changed his children into disciplined and reasonable human beings.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” In life, one cannot back down once they are faced with adversity. There is no better statement than King’s that relays the message of upholding your beliefs. In “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, the theme of standing up for what you believe in is developed through Atticus Finch, Calpurnia, and Scout Finch.
Through To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee teaches us the righteousness of empathy. Harper Lee 's technique of writing and coinciding Christian beliefs weaved through emphasizes the importance of the story 's moral and themes. It is through Scout, the young dynamic and protagonist, that Lee opens the reader 's eyes to a realistic world of prejudice and inequality during the 1930s. Though introducing many characters throughout the novel, it is through Lee 's wise father character, Atticus Finch, that she further helps teach her readers life lessons, one being empathy. While narrating in first person, Lee further details her novel with the setting and use of style and diction.
Martin Luther King Jr. gave one of the most significant speeches in American history. Atticus Finch, one of the main characters in Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, gave a closing argument in a court trial that caused an uproar in the south during the 1930’s. Their speeches were given several decades apart, but talked about the same social issues that come from deep-rooted racism. Both of them used rhetoric that challenged the majority opinion around them.