To Kill A Mockingbird Role Model Research Paper

The Essence of a Role Model

Everyone has someone that they aspire to be. Whether it is morals, artistic skill, or even athletic ability, role models are everywhere. For many, the greatest role model was Christ – the greatest and most spotless person to ever live. Although we can never hope to be truly like him, we still can receive wisdom from his teaching, and apply his points to our daily lives. This is what we should do when confronted with integrity-filled characters such as those found in To Kill A Mockingbird. These characters serve as guides for younger characters such as Scout, teaching true character and ideals. Throughout the course of the novel, we meet characters whose attitudes and actions are indicative of and point toward Christ, as well as seeing exactly how true models should behave.

Similarly to Christ, he was falsely accused and lost his life. Naturally a gentle person, Tom simply tried to do what he thought was best: “Yes, suh. I felt right sorry for her” (Page 125). The victim of those who were biased against him, he was victimized as the result of another person's issues. His death was not without purpose, however, and it illustrated the abominable racism that existed during the time in which the novel takes place. This is also similar to Christ: both deaths serve a definite purpose. Although unjust, Tom's death helped put a dent into the prejudice of Maycomb, which is why although Bob Ewell won his case, any integrity and standing he may have had was undermined. Like Christ, Tom was a humble yet kind and wise character who was subjected to injustice and eventual