Atticus is a lawyer in Maycomb county in Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus is raising two kids Jem and Scout while having to defend Tom Robinson. Tom is a black man and is going to court for supposedly raping a teenager. In the time that this book was wrote it was very uncommon to defend a black in the way that Atticus defended Tom. It makes sense for Atticus to take a stand to defend Tom Robinson because Atticus is selfless and reliable. One reason that Atticus should defend Tom is because Atticus is selfless. After Atticus moved to Maycomb he paid for his brother’s education. “During his first five years in Maycomb. Atticus practiced economy more than anything for several years thereafter he invested in his brother’s education” (Lee 5). This shows that if a family member is in need of something then Atticus will support them in what they do. In chapter 9, Atticus makes the decision to defend Tom official in a conversation with Scout Atticus says a lot about the client that he is currently working with. “‘Do you …show more content…
defend niggers, Atticus’ I asked him that evening. ‘Of course I do. Don’t say nigger Scout it’s common’” (Lee 99). Another reason, Atticus is taking a stand for Tom is because Atticus is reliable.
When Scout and Jem go looking for Atticus the night before the trial they find him sitting outside the jail that Tom was placed in for safety reasons. “In the light of it’s bare bulb, Atticus was sitting propped up against the front door”(Lee 201). This demonstrates that Atticus will defend and protect Tom no matter what. Atticus did not have to go to the jail but he chose to so that he could keep an eye on the jail incase anyone tried to harm Atticus. In chapter 8, Atticus wakes up to help a neighbor whose house is engulfed in flames. “By then he did not have to tell me. Just as birds know where to go when it rains, I knew there was trouble in our street. Soft taffeta-like sounds and muffled scurrying sounds filled me with helpless dread”n (Lee 92). This shows that Atticus will wake up to put a fire out and to keep his children safe from the fire next
door. Some people think that Atticus should not take a stand for Tom. It is true that Scout and Jem have to go through a lot with people picking on them and making fun of them because of what Atticus is doing. When Scout is at school a fellow classmate makes fun of her because Atticus is defending a nigger. “‘You gotta make me first!’ he yelled,’My folk say that your daddy is a disgrace”(Lee 102)! This shows that the kids get yelled at and get in fights with other classmates because of their father’s actions. However, this also shows that Atticus is selfless and reliable because he doesn’t care about what others think and he continues to support Tom. Atticus, Jem, Scout, Tom, and the whole county have to go through a lot before the court ruling. Atticus needs to defend Tom because he is selfless and reliable. Atticus gets made fun of just because he is doing the “unmentionable” at the time that the book was written. Everyone suffers from the trail even the kids at school. Atticus is trusted in many different ways and have several responsibilities in Maycomb.
At this point, Atticus receives his call to adventure and has to determine whether to take the case or not. In the beginning, Atticus realizes the attention that this case will bring and what it’ll mean for his family. He knows that it will expose his children to the cruelties of society that he’s tried to protect them from. Atticus comes to the conclusion that if he refuses the case, there will be no one else to take it and he’d essentially be declaring Tom guilty from the start. He knows that the chances of Tom getting off innocent is slim, although he needed to try for the sake of his own conscious and for everything he tries to instill in his children. This is where the psychological journey for Atticus and his family begins as they battle their own morals against the widely held prejudice in the
Atticus has countless positive and negative characteristics, but there are two that stand out the most. The first character trait is that he acts a lot older than his age. Jem said that Atticus loved playing keep away and that he was never too tired, but when Jem went to tackle him, Atticus blurred out, “‘I am too old for that, son’” (Lee 118). Jem had never gotten that reaction from Atticus before. Atticus had to wear glasses, because without them he would not be able to see black on white with his left eye. Jem and Scout never see Atticus doing anything, he does not hunt, he does not go on walk, or he does not even travel. The only thing Jem and Scout see Atticus do is sit in the living room and read. Atticus is always on good terms with
Tom is a nice young man who needs to go to court for being accused of raping a young girl named Mayella, although he did not go threw it alone. He had his lawyer Atticus Finch. 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.
Atticus Finch is a lawyer and father of two children whose names are Jem and Scout. In the novel, Atticus chooses to defend a black man named Tom Robinson who is accused of raping a white woman, even though most of Maycomb is against Tom Robinson due to its racist time setting. He understood that racism was inhumane and innocent people must be defended no matter what race they are. Atticus holds his ground and tries his best to defend Tom Robinson in court, despite the community being against him. Atticus even reminds his children to steadfast during this time of challenge regardless of what other people tell them.
In addition to being a lawyer, Atticus enjoys being a father to Jem and Scout. When Jem and Scout found out that their father would be defending a black person, they knew immediately that there would be much controversy, humiliation from the people of Maycomb and great difficulty keeping Tom alive for the trial. It was not long when Atticus had to leave the house very late to go to jail, where Tom was kept because many white people wanted to kill him. Worrying about their father, Jem and Scout sneak out of the house to find him. A self-appointed lynch mob has gathered on the jail to take justice into their own hands. Scout decides to talk to Walter Cunningham, one of the members of the mob. She talks about how her father Atticus thought that "entailments are bad "(154 ) " and that his boy Walter is a real nice boy and tell him I said hey"(154). Upon hearing this, the mob realized that Atticus cannot be all bad if he has such a nice daughter as Scout. Atticus, with some unexpected help from his children, faces down the mob and cause them to break up the potential lynching of the man behind bars. Having gone to a black church earlier, the children found out that Tom is actually a kind person, church-going and a good husband and father to his children.
The author George Elliot once said “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Appearance can be very misleading, and you shouldn't prejudge the worth or value of something by its outward appearance alone. This philosophical idea has been included in many works of literature, including the timeless classic To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee. The novel takes place in the town of Maycomb, Alabama during the 1930s. Many citizens of Maycomb tend to make judgements based on outward appearances alone. In the novel, Lee uses minor characters such as Boo Radley, Mrs. Dubose, and Tom Robinson to convey the book’s theme of prejudice.
Atticus shows great compassion and tolerance when he stands up for the Negroes. He stands up and represents Tom Robinson because he believes that everyone should be treated equally in the court of law. He knows that because Tom was a Negro there would be a slim chance of winning. That fact never discouraged him though because he says that the main reason he is representing Tom is because, ' if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature'; (75). He recited a speech, which clearly states that Tom Robinson is not guilty. In that speech he says, 'our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal'; (205). He believed that prejudice and stereotyping is wrong and he tries to teach these morals to Scout and Jem.
Furthermore, Atticus showed true bravery when he went against Maycomb, a generally prejudice town, in order to defend Tom. He understood that taking the case would make him an object of scorn and ridicule. That no one would forgive him for believing in a black man's word rather than a white man's. Even his own sister expresses disapproval of his decision, practically telling him he was bringing disgrace on the family. But, no matter how much his reputation suffered, he did not change his mind. Standing up for his convictions was more important then what people thought about him..
Atticus was appointed to defend Tom Robinson in a court trial. Tom was a black man that was being incriminated for allegedly raping Mayella Ewell (Lee 86). Her father, Bob Ewell, accused Tom
It makes sense for Atticus to defend Tom Robinson. A large part of Atticus's character involves following the Golden Rule. 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 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.
Some might say that Atticus is putting him and his family in danger.Someone in the mob said,”You know what we want...Get aside from the door” (202). That proves that the mob meant businses and that they were will to “get rid” of Atticus if needed. But,lucky Scout jumped in and saved his life before his life needed saving. Even if Atticus did not have Scout to save him, he would have reasoned with the mob and brought them back to their senses.
Atticus is a good man, a just man. He upholds his morals, and judges by his conscience. He is shaken but not moved by the town of Maycomb in their gossip and hypocritical ways. When offered Tom's case, Atticus knows he will take it on. He won't just stand there with no proper defense for Tom, but he will let the truth be known, and prove that Tom is innocent. "...that boy might go to the chair, but he's not going till the truth's told."
Atticus was incredibly courageous taking on tom Robinsons case against the prejudice of Macomb County and he shows incredible courage when he says, "Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try and won." He wants the people of Maycomb to hear the truth about Tom Robinson, "That boy may go to the chair, but he's not going till the truth's told." Chapter 15, Page 146. He was against the whole white community including his own sister practically said that he was a disgrace to his family Atticus tells scout when she asks him why he is taking the case he says "For a number of reasons. The main one is, if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature, I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do something again.
Keeping a mouth shut doesn't hold the world shut out, it opens up new doors to things that would never be expected. In To Kill A Mockingbird written by Harper Lee, there is are two character that is are an eternal mystery for the readers. Boo Radley, though the reader nor Scout and Jem know anything about the character all they want is to learn about him. Boo becomes a mysterious figure that many see as creepy, ghostly, but also reasonably wise. The one-time Boo appears the readers learn he is a sagacious, powerful man. Little do Scout and Jem know is that their father is also a rational being as well. The two crucial character in the story helps support the
Not only did Atticus protect Tom in court, but he also kept him from being killed before the case appeared in the courtroom. While awaiting his trial, Tom Robinson lived in the county jail. Atticus feared that Tom would be killed before the trial started if he did not step in to protect him. And he was right. One night Atticus left home late to stand watch at Tom’s cell. Several men accosted Atticus at the jail trying to kill Tom. But Scout, Jem, and Dill (their friend), showed up, and Scout talked to one of the men, Mr. Cunningham, and got them to leave. “‘Entailments are bad,’ I [Scout] was advising him [Mr. Cunningham], when I slowly awoke to the fact that I was addressing the entire aggregation… ‘Well, Atticus, I was just sayin’ to Mr. Cunningham that entailments are bad an’ all that, but you said not to worry, it take a long time sometimes. . . that you all’d ride it out together. . .’ … ‘What’s the matter?’ I asked. Atticus said nothing. I looked around and up at Mr. Cunningham, whose face looked equally impassive. Then he did a peculiar thing. He squatted down and took me by both my shoulders. ‘I’ll tell him [his son, Walter] you said hey, little lady,’ he said. The[n] he straightened up and waved a big paw. ‘Let’s clear out,’ he called, ‘Let’s get going, boys.’”(Lee 174-175). Also, he protected the people of Maycomb from a rabid dog. Tim