Atticus: The Protagonist

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Recommended: Literary analysis or racism in to kill a mockingbird

The story, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, is a story of growing up and the human dignity that unites us all, told by a 5-year-old girl who tells a three year tale of her family and her father’s job. This story may seem to be the tale of Scout Finch, but she merely narrates her father's triumphant story.
Throughout the novel, learning and growing is a key theme, but as Scout and Jem grow Atticus does also. Atticus starts out as the lawyer of Maycomb, the best one around, unlike the other children’s parents who are farmers and mostly uneducated southerners. Atticus looks at things a little bit differently than most. Later on he chooses one of the most daring things he could do, defend a black man in court. He takes on the case of Tom Robinson, who allegedly raped Mayella Ewell, and had a little chance of getting free considering his race. Most people thought he was rightfully accused and some just thought he was a lost cause. This is the story of Atticus Finch, told by his daughter Scout, a story of strength and dignity.
It is told through the eyes of a small girl growing up in the 1930s, her twists and turns with a neighbor people had only heard rumors about, and an angry drunk who wants vengeance. Scout Finch is just starting to go to school, but Atticus is just starting to learn about his daughter. He teaches his kids independence, “Jem condescended to take me to school the first day, a job usually done by one’s parents, but Atticus had said Jem would be delighted to show me where my room is.” (Lee, 15) This is best told by Scout because if Atticus had been telling it the lesson would not have come across like it had for Scout. Even though Scout didn’t realise every time Atticus did something for her it was more evident ...

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... up to people he knew, even if he didn’t know them very well it still took a lot of dignity and bravery to take a chance and stick up for what he believes in.
The moral of this story is justice, Atticus does the most just thing by standing for Tom Robinson. Everyone else in town just sits and watches his demise but Atticus does what is right. He does what is right as an example for his children and for everyone else, a learning lesson to everyone who wasn’t taught what the right thing is.
To Kill a Mockingbird is filled with twists and turns, acts of kindness, bravery, and relentlessness. Throughout this story Atticus Finch, a seeminglessly main supporting character is truly the magic of this novel. Scout Finch tells the tale of learning, but her father lives the tale of teaching.

Works Cited

Lee, Harper. To kill a mocking bird. London: Heinemann, 1960. Print.

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