How Does Atticus Use Racial Discrimination In To Kill A Mockingbird

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“Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try and win” (82) says Atticus Finch, stating his main reasoning why he accepts the case to defend Tom Robinson, a black man who is being convicted of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman. Racism is a routine and approved part of society in Maycomb County. Exclusively during the time in which the novel is set in, the 1930s. Atticus apprehends this, yet he is still determined to defend Tom Robinson for several reasons. He knows the people of Maycomb will be talking about the case. He hopes by taking the case he is be able to make a positive effect on people's behaviorism and take baby steps towards eradicating racial discrimination. His children are also …show more content…

It is not about winning, presumably since Tom Robinson’s name was not cleared however Atticus was able to show the people of Maycomb what they did to an innocent man. Scout claims “Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men’s hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed” (126). Atticus knew this as an experienced lawyer conversely, he wanted to be fair and square because he knew he would not be able to live with himself or be able to hold his head up. He says “It’s a peculiar case… if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town,... I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again” (55). When he chooses to defend Tom many people thought he was brave. For example, “It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived” (105). When people ask Atticus why he is doing what he is, he replies with “It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do” (116). The novel is told through the eyes of Scout.It is evident Scout’s opinion of Atticus is different and changes throughout the story. The same happens with other people in town. In fact. Atticus is able to earn people's’ respect by treating them with respect no matter what. Even though Bob Ewell spit in Atticus’ face he kept his calm instead of trying to fight fire with fire. Atticus wants to keep is conscience clean from negativity, as he declares “before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience." (114) As a final

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