Atticus Finch Rhetorical Analysis

A Soldier Fighting an Endless War
It was a full courtroom, with men and women, the colors of black and white. It was sticky - hot humid and smelled of sweat and tension. Men coughed, women sighed, and many prayed. But even a word from God could not change Tom Robinson’s case. Accused of rapping a white women, a crime that was punishable by death, in the state of Alabama in the thirties. You could say there was more than a financial depression. Prejudice, in a small community, could turn any town into a gross southern pit. People of all races and genders fought to defend the natural rights given to them at birth. Atticus Finch, a character in the wildly acclaimed novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, is an example of a soldier, fighting the war of

racism. His historical summation to the jury, includes evidence against Mr. Ewell and Mayella. Not only does this passage include tasteful use of literary elements, but also brings a light to the prejudice of the courtroom and within the hearts of the jury.
Sprinkled throughout Harper’s novel, were superb uses of dialogue, whether it was to give the perception of a young curious Scout or define Jem’s brotherly protectiveness for his sister.

Lee’s best use of the literary elements, dialogue (diction, syntax, and tone) were used in Atticus’s final speech to the jury. This character’s witty use of direct tone can be understood by both sides of the courtroom. During the beginning of Atticus’s speech he makes the remark, “this case is as simple as black and white” (Lee 203). Atticus’s tone is straight forward and he does not mean to offend anyone. By speaking with a strong tone and clear diction, he speaks concretely and without a single hesitation. Although he performs a “first” by, “taking off his glasses and wiping them...he was one of those men whose faces never perspired, but now it was a shining tan” (Lee 204). The fact that his face was sweating, something he never does, shows that Atticus is truly worked up in that summation to the jury. With a more simple syntax but complex word choice, Atticus addresses the jury with a confident

perfection.
One of Harper Lee’s goals was to shed a light on the south during its time of extreme racism and prejudice. Throughout, To Kill A Mockingbird, the author truly conveys a lifelike setting. Tom Robinson’s case takes place in The Maycomb County courthouse that, “faintly reminiscents to the Arlington” (Lee 162). The courthouse is described to look “early Victorian” and “has Greek columns... clashed with a big nineteenth century clock tower” (Lee 162). The Greek columns are not really necessary, and were originally from the first courthouse that had burned down. This is symbolism between Maycomb’s desire to hold onto events of the past, and perhaps a foreshadow of the results of Tom Robinson’s trial. During any exploratory in the courthouse, there is specific places that people had to sit. Scout’s description of the courthouse really gives the readers a picture of the scene, “we knew there would be a crowd, but we had not bargained for the multitudes in the first floor hallway” (Lee 163). With the white people sitting in the first story and the blacks sitting upstairs, it is obvious that Tom Robinson has little to no chance of winning this case. During this time in history, Alabama, in the thirties, is famous for the usage of unfair racism in trial, and Tom Robinson’s case is no exception.
Atticus also experiences major conflict throughout this passage in the book.

With proper uses of tone and diction, Atticus holds himself against the power of internal and external conflicts. Atticus knew from the beginning, that taking on Tom Robinson’s case would mean taking of a bigger struggle, that would affect his family. When Scout asked Atticus why he took Tom Robinson’s case he says, “for a number of reasons”, said Atticus. “The main one is if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this town in legislature, and I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again” (Lee 125). Atticus truly shows signs of defeating internal conflict by taking Tom Robinson’s case head-on. Also when Atticus is meeting with the men who believe Tom guilty, outside of his office, he tries to show confidence. With the help of his children, the mob of men is scared off, “Mr. Finch? They gone?” Our nightmare had gone with daylight, everything would come out alright” (Lee 176). The mob of angry men symbolizes the external conflict that all the Finches are

facing.
Although Atticus faces countless challenges throughout To Kill A Mockingbird, he keeps his promises and morals. He knows that there is no way for Tom Robinson to win the trial, because of the unfair treatment of black people in Alabama, in the 1930’s. Maycomb might have been a sleepy southern town, but even racism can turn any community upside down. With Atticus’s summation to the jury, a true character change is evident. No longer is the quiet man who sticks to family and work, but a new character who sticks up for himself and Tom Robinson. He is classy and informative in his speech, but also down to the point. He addresses the real issue, not one of falsely accused rape, but of prejudice and racism in the hearts of the men and women of Maycomb. He might have been a more meek and mild character before, but now Atticus is the spine of the novel and without this highly developed character, To Kill A Mockingbird wouldn't be the famous novel it is today.