Atticus Finch As A Hero Essay

2181 Words5 Pages

The Bigger the Hero, The Bigger the Fall
To Kill A Mockingbird is an iconic book that has dazzled its’ readers throughout the years. The audience quickly falls in love with the quick-tempered, no nonsense girl that is Scout Finch. Readers, also, become fascinated with Atticus Finch, who seems to be a liberalist in a conservative town. Atticus gains a hero status because of his trial defending a wrongly convicted black man. The town and Scout think of Atticus as a revolutionary. Go Set A Watchman, however, contradicts any idea that Atticus is what some call a man before his time. Instead of a hero, he has become apart of the force that he was fighting in To Kill A Mockingbird. The difference in Atticus large, but so is the age difference …show more content…

Before reading Go Set A Watchman, the audience only got their image of Atticus because of the young eyes that portrayed him. Early in To Kill A Mockingbird, the readers understand that Atticus teaches Scout to think for herself and have an open mind, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from is point of view” (Lee, Mockingbird, 144). The audience is shocked alongside Jean Louise to find out that Atticus is not the revolutionary man he is proclaimed to be in To Kill A Mockingbird. The outraged Jean Louise is confused by her father’s actions because she cannot understand the motivation behind them. The way Atticus raised Scout does not reflect himself. Lee illustrates the fury Jean Louise feels:
“ I looked up to you, Atticus, like I never looked up to anybody in my life and never will again. If you had only given me some hint, if you had only broken your word with me a couple times, if you had been a lesser man, maybe I could have taken what I saw you doing. If once or twice you’d let me catch you doing something vile, then I would have understood yesterday. Then I’d have said that’s just His Way, that’s My Old Man, because I’d have been been prepared for it somewhere along the line-” ( Watchman,

Show More
Related

  • Atticus Finch Courage in To Kill a Mockingbird

    1356 Words  | 3 Pages

    Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird was published in the year of 1960, and is one of the few American classic novels awarded the Pulitzer Prize. The racism that is prevalent in many southern American towns in the 1930s is brought to life with profound imagery in To Kill a Mockingbird. There are several characters in the book, yet the true main character is the narrator's father, Atticus Finch. He is a man of great integrity and intelligence. A very heroic figure in more ways than one, Atticus possesses traits like being principled, determined, and, more importantly, he teaches others. When looking at To Kill a Mockingbird, one can see that Lee uses lots of description, dialogue, and actions to portray Atticus as a heroic individual.

    Read More

  • Atticus Finch A Hero Essay

    735 Words  | 2 Pages

    When people think about heros it is a person in a cape flying into burning buildings to save people or fighting a villain to save the world. According to Oxford Dictionary a hero is a person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. This shows how just normal people can be qualified as heros. A book that exemplifies this is To Kill A Mockingbird because it is filled with people that went out of their way to help others or the society as a whole. A person who did this in particular was Atticus Finch. Atticus Finch was a hero because he fell under the definition and was admired for his courage, achievements, and noble qualities.

    Read More

  • Prejudice And Empathy In Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird

    1060 Words  | 3 Pages

    The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is set in Alabama in the 1930s, and concerns itself primarily with the interrelated themes of prejudice and empathy. These themes are explored as the story follows Scout Finch as she learns lessons in empathy, ultimately rejecting prejudice. While all characters in Lee’s novel learn from their experiences, not all are able to grow in the same manner as Scout. The idea of a positive role model, typified by the character of Atticus Finch, and the ramifications of its absence, is a concept that Lee places much emphasis on. The isolated setting is also pivotal in the development of characters. Lee uses the contrast between characters that learn lessons in empathy and compassion, and characters that cling to the ideals of a small town, to explore factors that nurture or diminish prejudice.

    Read More

  • How Does Atticus Show Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

    1095 Words  | 3 Pages

    Compassionate, dramatic, and deeply moving, Harper Lee's, To Kill a Mockingbird takes readers to the roots of human behavior, to innocence and experience, kindness and cruelty, love and hatred, and the struggle between blacks and whites. Atticus Finch, a lawyer and single parent in a small southern town in the 1930's, is appointed by the local judge to defend Tom Robinson, a black man, who is accused of raping a white woman. Friends and neighbors object when Atticus puts up a strong and spirited defense on behalf of the accused black man. Atticus renounces violence but stands up for what he believes in. He decides to defend Tom Robinson because if he did not, he would not only lose the respect of his children and the townspeople, but himself as well.

    Read More

  • Atticus Finch Courage Essay

    597 Words  | 2 Pages

    Atticus Finch’s unique, courageous personality and contrarian mindset are proven through his unconventional actions throughout the novel. His stoic nature correlates with his extreme courage, a moral facet of his multi-layered personality that he highlights with various acts of nobility that many in Maycomb do not expect and often despise, but he continues on regardless. Early on, Atticus shows an aspect of his moral courage when he consoles Scout on the topic of getting bullied about his decision to defend Tom Robinson. In this specific instance, Atticus explains to Scout that, “no matter what anybody says to you, don’t you let ‘em get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change” (Lee 101). Letting insults and rude remarks fly over

    Read More

  • To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee - The Importance of Atticus Finch

    714 Words  | 2 Pages

    In a town of such undeserved glory, Atticus Finch is the one character who is worthy of glorification.  Yet, his humility further illustrates Atticus as a man of pure stability.  Surrounded by the self-righteousness of others, he is able to remain emotionally grounded.  Atticus Finch is a highly accomplished man of great intelligence, but even greater meekness.  For example, during one of their chats with Miss Maudie, Scout learns that her father’s childhood nickname was “Ol Shot” (Lee page #), which referred to his unbelievable marksmanship.  When Scout becomes excited about telling all of her friends about her father and his incredible talent, Jem says, “I'd reckon if he wanted us to know he’d a told us.  If he was proud of it he’d a told us… but Atticus is a gentleman…and people in their right minds never take pride in their talents” (Lee 98).

    Read More

  • Atticus Finch: An All-Time Role Model

    817 Words  | 2 Pages

    True role models are those who possess the qualities that we would like to have and advocates for what they believe in. In an instant bestseller classic novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee describes Atticus Finch as a role model and still is to be considered one today. Atticus Finch, being a single father in the 1930s has an extremely different parenting style compared to the other parents. Despite the fact of living in a town full of racism, Atticus is one individual with a very different opinion towards African Americans. Furthermore, Atticus is a very humble man. In addition, Atticus is courageous to defend an African American, Tom Robinson. Not to mention that Atticus is an upstanding mortal, he also has extraordinary parenting skills.

    Read More

  • Comparing 1930's Society, as Depicted in To Kill a Mockingbird with Present Day Society

    864 Words  | 2 Pages

    “You never really understood a person until you consider things from his point of view—until you climb into his skin and walk around it.” Atticus Finch is a man of extreme integrity. He, as both a lawyer and a human being, stands up for his democratic beliefs and encourages his children to stand up for their own, though they may stand alone. Harper Lee showed how far respect went in To Kill a Mockingbird when Atticus defended Tom Robinson in his rape trial. He did not think twice about being ridiculed by th...

    Read More

  • Atticus Finch As A Heroic Character In To Kill A Mockingbird

    911 Words  | 2 Pages

    Atticus Finch is a heroic character in To Kill A Mockingbird. A hero is a person who is known for certain achievements and qualities. Atticus is known for many qualities he displayed during the novel, as well as various achievements. This makes him a heroic character. Atticus Finch is a hero because he defended a black man in court, proved his abilities and intelligences, and cared for everybody equally.

    Read More

  • Atticus Finch: The Perfect Role Model

    1551 Words  | 4 Pages

    True role models are those who possess the qualities that we would want to have in the near future and those who interest us in a way that make us want to be a better person. They teach us more about ourselves and encourage us to make better choices. A role model is not just someone who is successful, but someone who has had similar experiences that we have had. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee demonstrates that Atticus Finch is a true role model. Over the course of the novel, Atticus stands up for his beliefs, respects everyone despite who they are and behaves as a true father. Atticus is truly the ideal role model.

    Read More

  • How Is Atticus Finch A Good Role Model

    663 Words  | 2 Pages

    Lee illustrates Atticus Finch as a very understanding character, especially during the Tom Robinson trial. During the revolting times of the 1930s, it was outlandish for a white man to stand up for a Negro man. For example, when the towns’ people are talking about Atticus, they say, “You know the court appointed him to defend this nigger.” “Yeah, Atticus aims to defend him, that’s what is don’t like about it” (218). When Atticus is delegated to defend Tom Robinson, he not only defends him because he was ordered to. Atticus intentionally helped Tom and wanted Tom to win. Even though the towns’ people did not like Atticus aiming to defend Tom, he understood that it was his duty to help him. Another example is in chapter 22 when Bob Ewell spits on Atticus’s face. Atticus didn’t react intrusive because he knew that it would affect people’s outlook on the trial and on Tom. Atticus stood above the standard and helped a black man, which earned him respect from the Negro people in town. Atticus was very wholehearted when deciding to help Tom Robinson in the trial.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between To Kill A Mockingbird And The Odyssey

    1596 Words  | 4 Pages

    Atticus was a man of strong morals and conscience and in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, had to overcome the backlash and hate from defending Tom Robinson. With what seemed to be the majority of Maycomb County against him and his own safety at stake, Atticus knew that he couldn’t win the trial. Yet accompanied by his rationality, good ethics and determination he overcomes the trial. It is not the desired ending, but for his efforts in the trial, Atticus gains the respect of the black community and the respect of others in Maycomb by following through and overcoming the challenges that followed the

    Read More

  • Atticus Finch In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee

    628 Words  | 2 Pages

    Atticus is a person who wants to give people a new way of seeing things in certain situations. He treats his children with the utmost respect, and has the same respectable attitude in the house as on the streets. “First of all, ‘he said,’ if

    Read More

  • Human Nature In To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

    1566 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...ral and resilient nature of Atticus. It took one person to make a difference and challenging situations typically reveals the true nature of what’s within the heart of a man. Will it be decency and honesty or hatred and wickedness?

    Read More

  • The Misunderstood Citizens of Maycomb County

    1292 Words  | 3 Pages

    Atticus Finch is one of the main characters in the novel. Atticus is an example of being misunderstood through One-Shot Finch, the court case, and his personality. Atticus’ children even misunderstand him. Scout and Jem have a hard time understanding their dad, Atticus, throughout the novel. At one point Scout and Jem develop doubts about how great their dad is because of his age. The children view him as old and unable to do anything. Scout even says, “Our father didn’t do anything. He worked in an office, not in a drugstore. Atticus did not drive a dump-truck for the county, he was not the sheriff, he did not farm, work in a garage, or do anything that could possibly arouse the admiration of anyone”(118). They do not think that he can do the same things that other dads can do. Atticus is a good bit older that most of the fathers of kids their age. Atticus shows them a great example of how not to judge someone by their outside appearance, though, in one action. Harper Lee describes, “With movements so swift they seemed simultaneous, Atticus’s hand yanked a ball tipped lever as he brought the gun to his shoulder. The rifle cracked. Tim Johnson leaped flopped over and crumpled on the side walk”(127). S...

    Read More

More about Atticus Finch As A Hero Essay

Open Document