It is rare to come by someone who has true beliefs. In Harper Lee’s novel “To Kill a
Mockingbird”, Maycomb is a town in which people act differently on the streets than in the
house. Atticus Finch is not one of those people. He is defending a black man named Tom
Robinson because he is against racial segregation and wants to make a change. He taught his
children to respect others of different race or cast. Atticus Finch is a man of unshakable
morals.
Atticus is defending Tom Robinson even though he lives in a discriminative town in
which colored people are not accepted. Firstly, when the citizens of Maycomb disapprove of
Atticus defending Tom, he is determined with his decision and defends him anyways.
There are a couple
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of reasons why Atticus is defending Tom, but, “the main one is, if I didn’t, I couldn’t hold my head up in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again” (Lee 86).
Atticus is
telling Scout that if he chose not to defend Tom, he would be disrespected in Maycomb and
would be known as a coward. It is one of his morals to give everyone a chance for justice.
Secondly, Atticus does not have faith in the community because he knows they will not win
the trial but he also knows this will be the spark of change Maycomb needs. Scout does not
understand racism. She asks, “Atticus, are we going to win it?’ ‘No, honey’ ‘Then
why-’ ‘Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us
not to try to win”(87). Even though they have a small chance of winning the trial, Atticus will
take that chance because he wants to make a change which is removing racial boundaries. He
believes that everyone is equal, ignoring their race and gender. Lastly, Atticus knows that if
he does not defend Tom, then no one will and Maycomb will remain with racism which is not
right. Atticus knows that, “the one place where a man ought to get a square deal is in
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a courtroom, be he any color of the rainbow, but people have a way of carrying their resentments right into a jury box”(252). Atticus is telling us that colored citizens should at least have equality in a courtroom but they do not because the jury is all white. Atticus will fight for the equality of all colored citizens.
Therefore, Atticus will do everything in
his power to give everyone equal rights.
Atticus taught his children to respect everyone, disregarding race or cast. Firstly,
Atticus told them that before you judge someone, think about it fromt the other person’s
perspective. Atticus wants Scout to know that. “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”(33). Atticus explains that you should not be rude to others because if you think about it
from the other person’s shoes, you will understand that it hurts them,. If you respect others,
you will get respect back and you will feel good. Secondly, Atticus wants his kids to
know about the outside world so they can learn from it. Atticus explains to his brother Jack
that “When a child asks you something, answer them for goodness sake. But don’t make a
production of it. Children are children, but they can’t spot an evasion quicker than adults, and
evasion simply muddles ‘em”(99). Atticus is telling Jack that you should not lie to children
about some things because they will be confused and they should know the truth
to understand how society works. He believes that telling his kids the truth will help them become better people. Lastly, he wants his children to grow up to be leaders so if he does not succeed, his kids will. Miss Maudie explains to Scout why Atticus stopped hunting. She tells her that, “I think maybe he put his gun down when he realized that god had given him an unfair advantage over most living things. I guess he decided he wouldn’t shoot till he had to, and he had to today”(112). Atticus did not want to tell his children that he is the best shot in town because he was worried they would start off on the wrong foot. He did not want to give them something to brag about so they can appreciate what is really important. Therefore, Atticus wants Jem and Scout to understand that all lives have value. In conclusion, Atticus is a man with true beliefs. He is defending Tom Robinson because he wants to remove racism in Maycomb. He also told his kids to keep in mind that everyone has feelings. A man with unshakable morals only comes by so often.
Atticus views that it is his duty to do his best in the Tom Robinson trial and feels no
Atticus is a single father of two. He believes that no matter who he is defending, if that person is innocent, he deserves justice and he will try his best so justice will be served. '' ”If you shouldn't be defendin' him, then why are you doin' this?” “For a number of reasons. ”said
To Kill a Mockingbird focuses on “Maycomb’s usual disease,” as a pivotal part of the book, but also shows that compassion and wisdom can exist in these most bleak areas. The prejudice and bigotry comes from the lack of knowledge of Maycomb, and their fear to change what they have grown up with. Pre-conceived ideas are the main reason that Maycomb is ignorant of black people as they are afraid what a change of those pre-conceived ideas will bring. Even so, compassion still exists, as Atticus is able to save Scout and Jem from the influence of ‘Maycomb’s usual disease.’ Wisdom is also embodied by Atticus, where his wisdom, which is not necessarily knowledge but life experience, is able to force him to do things which are right, shown in his reluctant shooting of the rabid dog.
Atticus’s children are in confusion and constantly ask their father about his case. Atticus said”. If I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature. i.e. a.75. Clearly we can see that he has lots of respect for this county and for blacks.
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
“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) What Atticus means in this quote, is a lot like the quote “don’t judge a book by its cover”. It means you shouldn’t judge anyone by the way they look. You have to get to know them first. * “Imagine you’re playing a game of monopoly. The money is handed out. The player on your right gets double your a mount and the player to your left gets triple your amount. There is also a change of rules. Instead of collecting two hundred dollars when you pass go like the other players, you
As a father, Atticus Finch tried to make his kids the best they can be. He tried teaching them that just because everyone acts a certain way, doesn’t mean they have to be close-minded and go along with it. Furthermore, he tries teaching them to always place themselves in someone’s position before judging them. Atticus leads them with example in the way he fought for Tom Robinson, tried helping Mayella Ewell deal with her father, and tried protecting Boo Radley from harassment. In conclusion, Harper Lee portrayed a sense of universal understanding in her novel.
Atticus is a great leader of his family, teaching his children morals and life lessons. He makes them better people by showing them how to deal with the trial and people making fun of them. Atticus teaches Scout how to respect other people. First, Scout learns to respect Atticus, then to respect "Boo" Radley, and finally to respect a whole race of people, negroes. He makes it a common practice to live his life as he would like his children to live theirs, and thus displays the attributes of an honest, respectable, and kind man. Throughout the trial process, Atticus shows Jem and Scout that true courage is standing up for what you believe in and that all human beings, despite their race, deserve respect. "You never really understand a person until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." This quote shows that Atticus wants his children to get along with people, and so other people will respect them for whom they are.
When Atticus chooses to defend Tom Robinson, he knows he will most likely lose the first trial. His friends and colleagues will talk behind his back for defending a black man under a capitol defense. He knows though that this is a trial in his life that he must defend in order for him to live the rest of his life with his head held up high.”For a number of reasons, Atticus said, The main one is, if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this country in legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again,’ Atticus says to Scout one night while explain to her why he is defending a black man. This shows Atticus’ high ideals and morals he has must be upheld by him if he is to live with himsel...
Scout learns that by yielding to prejudice, we often hurt and cause strife unto others. For example, Scout is harassed and becomes the target of insults when her father decides to defend Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman. This is a plajurized essay. The hate felt towards black people by the majority of the Maycomb citizens causes them to bother and harass those who attempt to befriend the black people. Forgive me for stealing this essay. Scout realizes that the only reason she must undergo this torment is that her father is defending a black man, which has become taboo because of the corruption that racism has caused in many people. In addition, Scout watches Tom Robinson undergo unfair treatment and false accusations. Please dont tell my parents I stole this essay. Although Atticus provides the jury and the people of Maycomb with overwhelming evidence benefiting Tom, and ultimately proving him innocent, this is not enough to overcome the powers of hate and racism. Scout watches as the jury deliberates and convicts Tom Robinson of murder because he is a black man. This is a stolen essay. Although Scout witnesses a myriad of injustices occurring against black people, she also sees an exiguity of kind and compassionate movements towards black people.
Atticus should not give up his character, parental authority, and position in town to please the racist beliefs of others in Maycomb. Atticus cannot stand racism and says, "As you grow older, you'll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don't you forget it—whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash. " Atticus should take a stand and defend Tom Robinson, to treat his children with valuable lessons and to keep his conscience clean. For these reasons, it does make sense for Atticus Finch to defend Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
Atticus is fighting for equal rights. In chapter 20, Atticus says ,”There is not a person in this courtroom who has never told a lie,.. never done an immoral
Atticus is a good father for teaching his children to respect everyone. Scout asks Atticus if he is a “nigger lover” and he simply replies, "I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody... I'm hard put, sometimes—baby, it's never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn't hurt you." This shows that atticus is not like the other people in Maycomb he considers every man to be equal to one another. Judge Taylor comes to Atticus to defend Tom Robinson because he knows he’s the only man in Maycomb that is fit to do to the job, and do it fairly. While thinking about taking the offer Atticus firsts thinks about his kids and how it will affect their lives. Atticus says “…do you think I could face my children otherwise? You know what’s going to happen as well as I do, Jack, and I hope and pray I can get Jem and Scout through it without bitterness, and most of all, without catching Maycomb’s usual disease. Why reasonable people go stark raving mad when anythin...
This quote shows how fair Atticus is, he’s trying to understand other people in different situations. His advice is very true and is valid throughout the entire book, it could even be considered a theme on it’s own. Atticus’ quality of respect is very high and continues on into the trial further into the book which helps him during the case and helps Lee build to the theme: “‘Gentleman,’ he was saying ‘I shall be brief, but I would like to use my remaining time with you to remind you that this case is not a difficult one, it requires no minute sifting of complicated facts, but it does require you to be sure beyond all reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the defendant. To begin with, this case should never have come to trial. This case is as simple as black and white,” Lee 271 Atticus voices in his final words at the trial.
For instance on (p.104) he explains to scout the trouble she may endure but to keep a positive outlook, "When summer comes you 'll have to keep your head above far worse things.it's not fair for you and Jem, I know that, but sometimes we have to make the best of things, and the way we conduct ourselves when the chips are down-well, 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 Scout and Jem are mature enough to understand these things, that they will know he never let them down. This excerpt/example further exemplifies his understanding of Jem and Scouts sake and what they will go through as little kids, but he knows a deep and powerful lesson will be implanted in their minds at the end. In addition, it is evident that he was the best to take the case, for reasons such as he is white which allowed him to understand where the whites are coming from with their hatred and rude comments (towards "niggers") because he knows, as one himself, that they know no different and have had very little influence from other areas of the country due to Maycomb being so far inland and not having many new settlers. He acts as a medium between the two "groups" which allows him to deepen his compassion and understanding for both sides, correspondingly he stated, ".I do my best to love everybody."