Compare And Contrast Gorbachev And Atticus

Atticus and Gorbachev, Men who stood alone

Throughout history, in each era, countless numbers of brave and smart people. They bring change to the world, some improve the world around them while others stand up against inequality. Atticus Finch was a lawyer in the town of Maycomb, Alabama who fought and struggled for the rights of the African American society. Mikhail Gorbachev, the eighth and last leader of the Soviet Union , on the other hand, fought for greater freedom and human rights, liberating the people from the horrific legacies left behind by the former Reign of Terror of Stalin. And both, despite being opposed against by the majority, and were met with heavy resistance in their efforts, persevered and attempted the unthinkable in their

era and culture. Both, despite being opposed, continued their efforts. Eventually Atticus’ children and Gorbachev himself, were put in danger by extremists. Regardless of their encounter with harm, They persisted their courses in attempt to making the world a better place.

Both Atticus and Gorbachev stood as symbols of change in a conservative society. Both are men with morals, courage, and selflessness.

Atticus was a lawyer in the county of Maycomb. He is a courageous and honorable man respected by most. Atticus took a case of an unfortunate young African American named Tom Robinson, accused of raping a white woman. And soon after, the town of Maycomb mocks and treats the Finches cruelly as seen by Cecil Jacobs publicly making fun of Atticus and saying “Scout Finch’s Daddy defended Negroes” (Lee 99)Such behavior can also be seen in many other characters. In their time, it is considered a dishonor to simply to defend a member of the African American race, however Atticus is a courageous man and proceeded to defend Tom Robinson in spite of the negative reaction from the town people. An example of Atticus’ morals can be shown in the instance when Atticus and Jack were conversing about the children. “Right. But do you think I could face my children otherwise?”(Lee 117), he is driven by the incentive of morals, that if he didn’t stand up against the challenge, he would lose the respect of his children. Atticus took the case of defending the young African American. “...Lemme

tell you somethin’ now, Billy,’ a third said, ‘you know the court appointed him to defend this Negro.’ ‘Yeah, but Atticus aims to defend him. That’s what I don’t like about it.’”(Lee 218), Even though he was appointed to defend Tom, to which some might comment that he was forced to defend Tom, he had the best intentions in his heart of saving the young African American. It shows how Atticus is a man with morals and is willing to fight for the minority. “In ones and twos, men got out of the cars. Shadows became substance as lights revealed solid shapes moving toward the jail door. Atticus remained where he was. The men hid him from view.” (Lee 200).To show An example of Atticus’ selflessness and courageousness can be shown, when a mob in Maycomb decided to visit the county jail where Tom Robinson was being held and attempted to enforce vigilante justice. Despite being outnumbered and unarmed, Atticus stood his ground, showing his resolution and his courage. And purely by chance his children decided to assist him and defused the situation. Although the situation did resolve in peace, he stood up against potential harm without having an alternative plan. Atticus is a selfless man with morals and courage who will do the right thing regardless of its cost and hardship.
Mikhail Gorbachev was the eighth and the last leader of the Soviet Union. The previous dictator Joseph Stalin left the Soviet Union the legacy of a corrupted and regressive government. Gorbachev, similar to Atticus Finch, according to Encyclopedia of World Biography “He represented a new generation of Soviet leaders, educated and trained in the post-Stalin era and free from the direct experiences of Stalin’s terror which so hardened and corrupted many of his elders” (3) Just like Atticus, he stood out because of his progressive and different ideologies compared to his place and time. As a child, he witnessed the brutality of Stalin’s regime, he used his intellectual talents and quickly rose up through the ranks of the Soviet government. Ultimately seizing power in 1990. He wanted to bring in a new, refreshing “spirit” into the U.S.S.R. “Many people contributed to the happy bloodless outcome, but if one person has to be singled out, it is Mikhail Gorbachev, how despised as a traitor by most of his countrymen and remembered elsewhere- unjustly” (independent.co ) This shows how he was the scapegoat for all the dissatisfaction and hatred of the collapse of the Soviet Union. He truly believed in what he thought was right or he would not have been as motivated as he was. The third evidence, according to Encyclopedia of World Biography, being “In August 1991, a group of communist party conservatives captured Gorbachev while he was on vacation in Crimea, and moved to seize power.”(5) After committing to a lifetime of reforming the Soviet Union, conservative extremists who were dissatisfied with his new ideologies staged a coup. Just like Atticus, Mikhail Gorbachev faced a life-time of hardship and was put in peril due to his efforts to do what he considered right.
Both Atticus Finch and Mikhail Gorbachev are men with courage, morals, and selflessness. These qualities hold self-evident as examples above and actions taken by these men resemble each of these qualities. Atticus had morals and courage because he did what he believed was right, despite resistance from the their community, even when he had no reason to. He was selfless because he puts himself in the way of harm without a second thought if it meant doing the right thing. Gorbachev, just like Atticus, showed signs of courage and morals when he decided to make an impactful choice he thought right when his countrymen didn’t. And his actions also put him in peril, thus showing his selflessness. In both cases, their actions stood out from the rest and symbolize change.