Is Atticus Finch a Hero or Disgrace?
To Kill a Mockingbird Essay
“Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.” (Lee 101). Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird wrote an inspirational story that discusses racism at the time of the Great Depression. In To Kill a Mockingbird, there is a character named Atticus Finch, who is given a difficult task to be the lawyer of a black person, Tom Robinson, who was accused of raping a white women. Atticus Finch is known through Maycomb, Alabama as a man who is always respectful and true to others. He has two children, who he loves, and teaches them moral lessons that will get them through life. It is reasonably accurate that Atticus
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When Atticus is explaining to Scout the possibility of outcomes associating the case, he tells Scout that he wishes that she and Jem will learn a valuable lesson. “‘All I can say is, when you and Jem are grown, maybe you’ll look back on this with some compassion and some feeling that I didn’t let you down.’” (Lee 139). What this quote demonstrates, is how Atticus wants his children, and the people of Maycomb to learn the importance of this case and the moral lesson it teaches. In chapter three, Atticus teaches Scout, how to view things from another person’s perspective. “‘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 39). This shows that Atticus wants Scout to not judge anybody by how they seem on the outside. In chapter 20, Atticus describes to the Jury that not all black people are the same. “You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men are not to be trusted around women- black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men.’” (Lee 273). This confirms that Atticus is trying to convince the jury that not all black men are the same. Atticus wants to send a positive message to his children and Maycomb, that color doesn’t define a person. Just as Atticus was doing the right thing, others would take to account that there were some downfalls that harmed Atticus and his
(182). In Maycomb African Americans (like Calpurnia) were not treated as equals by many Caucasians. Atticus however can see pass skin color and see just another equal human being. He has accepted her into the family as his own, “‘... and another thing, the children love her’” (183).
ESSAY Cherilynn tilley Atticus Finch from the novel to kill a mockingbird is great father and role model to his two children Gem and Scout by setting a good example for them by being courageous, intelligent and a fair man. Atticus is very courageous all throughout the book. For example, when, he shoots the mad dog. Or when he represents a Tom Robinson; a black man in court when in Maycomb, the town he lives in is very racist towards black people at the time.
Maycomb County, located about 20 miles away from Finch landing. The place that the Finch’s receive their social class status from of being higher and more elite than most. Social class and racism back in the early 1900’s caused many to become snobs, not all, but many. The work as a whole is shown thoroughly through the character of Atticus Finch, a model of integrity to lawyers all over, all in favor to the surroundings he grew up in around the early 1930’s, which ultimately shaped his morals traits as a racial hero in Harper Lee’s novel. Years after the Civil War ended and slavery in the United States was over, racism was still looming large over the country, especially in the South where American’s highly supported slavery.
He raises them to believe that whites and blacks are equal and should both be treated fairly with respect and kindness. When Scout asks if he is a nigger lover, Atticus replies with, “I am simply defending a negro…” (Lee 75). Atticus tells Scout this to show that defending a black person isn’t a bad thing. He also tells her not to say the word nigger, even if the other kids in school say it.
Atticus took on the case of Tom Robinson a black man accused of raping a white woman. At this time period in history there was a lot of racial tensions and discrimination especially in the majority racists town of Maycomb. Plenty of people didn’t like the fact that Atticus was defending Tom Robinson so in Chapter 11 when Scout wonders why he is he responds with “This case, Tom Robinson’s case, is something that goes to the essence of a man’s conscience-Scout, I couldn’t go to church and worship God if i didn’t try to help that man.” (139). Scout is able to recognize the prejudice in her town and also be able to not follow their ways.
Within the first ten chapters of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the characterization of Atticus Finch is made clear. One example of his characterization is how his children refer to him. The first example of this is on the first page of chapter one “..so we consulted Atticus. (3)” Scout and Jem, call Atticus by his name.
Atticus believes words can't hurt him, because he is following his morals., which would be to defend who is right. Although, Atticus thinks that it won't hurt him, Scout knows that everyone in the town hates Atticus, for defending a Negro, and realizes how hard it is for Atticus to defend a black man. Scout learns more about the racism in Maycomb during the trial. Atticus knows why he lost and explains it to Scout how "people have a way of carrying their resentments right into a jury box"(220). The opinions of the white men in the jury box, are hateful for black people, and jurors won't listen to Tom Robinson's story one bit.
Atticus Finch is very courageous and this is evident when he stands up for what he believes in despite the prejudice of other people in Maycomb. Since he goes against the status quo, he gets discriminated against. Other people criticize his actions behind his back, and
The conflict of Tom Robinson’s case changes Scout’s development drastically by making Scout see that dark sides exist in Maycomb. Formerly, Scout assumed the world was totally fair. Her father, Atticus, argues that the fairest place is a court of law. Atticus argues, “Our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, [but] ... in our courts all men are created equal” (Lee 274). Scout expects to see Tom Robinson get a fair trial due to her belief: the world is fair.
The novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a wonderful novel that contains an amazing character named Atticus Finch who treats everyone equally and breaks the social norms of racial separation in the 1930s. Scott Turow once promised to grow up and “try to do things as good and noble as what Atticus had done for Tom Robinson.” I agree with this statement because in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird I think Atticus had morals that were kind and compassionate, he never gave up, and he also stuck up for what he thought was right. To begin, throughout the novel Atticus Finch acts in ways that are kind and compassionate. Jem and Scout, Atticus’s children, find Atticus outside the jailhouse in the middle of the night while a crowd that wanted to hurt Tom Robinson was standing in front of him.
Atticus Finch - A Role Model for All In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch is a role model for his two children and his ethics are respected by the people of Maycomb, showing he teaches valuable lessons to others. Atticus is a strong role model for his children which is important, because your childhood often impacts the rest of your life, for example if you are brought up with strong beliefs and customs, they will most likely have an influence in your later years. Atticus protects his children in light of all the things that are going on in Maycomb county such as the trial, and racism. Atticus allows his kids see both sides of the story in most situations.
The oppressive feeling of racism has touched all in maycomb. None can ignore it. The effect of it is very obvious, corruption. Atticus’s goal is to stop his children from “catching Maycomb’s disease” (117 need citation) in hopes that Jem and Scout will grow into people with morals that all are equal, you don’t have to follow society's predetermined standards. Atticus sacrifices his reputation, safety and when undertaking the responsibility of defending a black man.
Atticus Finch is very intelligent and well-respected by many. He is a good father to Scout and Jem. He is a man who’s going to fight for what he believes and sticks to it no matter the outcome. Atticus is very influential not only in his community but on his children as well. Atticus strongly believes that all should be treated equally.
As Atticus has explained to Scout many times, Atticus values justice and equality. He also believes that everyone is equal. Just because Tom Robinson is black, that doesn’t mean Atticus shouldn’t defend him simply for that reason. As Atticus says to Scout, if he defend Mr. Robinson, then he couldn’t tell his children, Jem and Scout, not to do something. He says and does this to set an example for his children to follow, because if he expects them to do or follow something, then he must display it to them first.
Though many people think that emotion helps make rational resolutions, often times it hurts one’s ability to do so. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Scout, the protagonist, and her family discover the need for logic when her father takes an important court case. Sadly, most of the people of Maycomb in the 1930s became corrupt because they do not use rationality in their lives. Throughout the novel, Scout and the reader both learn that one should not let their emotions rule their reason when making decisions. Even before the court case began, Scout learns about the recurring theme of logic being more effective than her feelings when forming opinions of others and in communicating.