Atticus Finch Persuasive Essay

Atticus takes a stand

“Simply because we’re licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win” (Lee 101). In Harper Lee’s book, To Kill a Mockingbird, one of the main characters, Atticus Finch, is given a case to defend a black man. This changes the people of Maycomb, Alabama’s views on Atticus. Many call him names and mostly white people hate his choice to defend Tom Robinson. Taking the case put his children, Scout and Jem, in danger. However, Atticus knew that defending Tom was the right thing to do. After all the events that happened in To Kill a Mockingbird, I believe Atticus defending Tom Robinson is the right thing to do.

Atticus Finch is one of the few residents in Maycomb that is committed to racial

equality. I believe that this is one of the reasons why Atticus was given Tom Robinson’s case. “The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience” (Lee 140). Atticus does what he thinks is right, even if others disagree with him. Atticus is a good man, who believes there is good in everyone and everyone is equal. There is no difference in him when he is not in public. “ Atticus Finch is the same in the house as he is on the public streets” (Lee 61). He is the same man whether people can see him or not. Atticus is very civilized and polite. “ If your father’s anything, he’s civilized at heart…. 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 until he had to and he had to today” (Lee 130). This shows how civilized and humble Atticus is. He felt that shooting a gun gave him an unfair advantage and that he wasn’t courageous with one. Not only is Atticus polite, civil, and believes everyone is equal, but he is able to put himself in another’s shoes.
It is obvious that Atticus Finch has a different worldview from others.

He believed that everyone was equal no matter what. Most of the town disapproved of Atticus’s decision to defend Tom because they didn’t want Tom to get a fair case. “.... without catching Maycomb’s usual disease. Why reasonable people go stark raving mad when anything involving a Negro comes up, is something I don’t pretend to understand” (Lee 117). This shows that Atticus believes that no one should be treated differently because of their race. He views everyone as a human being. Atticus is trying to teach his kids to see others as a human being and view things in others point of views. “ 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). He believes that in order to truly understand a person, you need to see things from their point of view. This isn’t an easy task to accomplish with the disapproval of the white town’s people, but he believes in doing the right thing even if there isn’t a good chance of winning. “ Simply because we’re licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win” (Lee 101). Atticus’s drive is to be a good role model for his children, as well as to defend an innocent man, despite the fact that he is a black man. His world view may be different from his fellow town folk, but it is

right.
As kids, Jem and Scout are constantly being taught. They learn at school, books, and, of course, their dad Atticus. Atticus is trying to teach them to be respectable and set a good example for them. I think when Atticus was given the case, it was a perfect opportunity for him to model equality. “ Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit'em, but remember it’s a sin To Kill a Mockingbird” (Lee 119). When Atticus explained this to the kids, he wasn’t really talking about birds. He was talking about innocence. It’s a sin to kill a “mockingbird” because they don’t do anything at all to get killed. Atticus is explaining that he doesn’t want the kids targeting at innocent things. Boo Radley is a mockingbird. Atticus wants the kids to be respectable and leave Boo alone. “ What Mr. Radley did was his own business. If he wanted to come out, he would” (Lee 65). He wants Jem and Scout to be respectful towards others. He tries to teach a lesson of what true courage is. The kids thought of Atticus as courageous because he was able to shoot a gun. Atticus’ lesson to them was that true courage is doing what is right, even if you think you’ll fail. “ …. I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what” (Lee 148).
Although I believe in Atticus and his decision to defend Tom Robinson, he put his family in danger by taking on this task.

The kids were both bullied in school, the townsfolk that was against him defending a black man weren’t shy about sharing their feelings towards the Finches and most of all, Mr. Ewell attacked the kids. “He was out of his mind” (Lee 360). Atticus thought that Mr. Ewell cooled down after he spit in his face, but was clearly wrong when he went after Jem and Scout. The kids had a hard time in school and in town. Many people called them “nigger-lovers”, either behind their backs or in their faces. “ ‘Not only a Finch waiting on tables but one in the courthouse lawing for niggers’ " (Lee 135). This was hard on Scout, who fought a lot, because she couldn’t fight back. Atticus may have put his family in danger but he did what was right and earned a high level of

respect.
Taking on the challenge of defending a black man in a prominent white southern town is a risk in itself, but Atticus chose to jeopardize his reputation, career, and his family’s safety, all for what is right. He taught his children a life lesson in doing what's right in the midst of failure. He tried to set a standard of equality in a town that opposed it. I believe in always doing the right thing and treating others as I would want to be treated. That’s why I feel Atticus’ actions were valid and admirable. In a time where racism was everywhere, one man chose to do the unthinkable and defend a black man.