Atticus Exaggeration In To Kill A Mockingbird

After Scout confronts Atticus about “defending negros”, Atticus replies on how this decision is for his own dignity: “‘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 county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again.’” (123; ch.9). Out of the lots of prejudice in Maycomb County, Atticus is one that looks passed race and gender. He holds equal respect for those who abide by the laws of being human. Not much of population consist of people like Atticus, who is not just fighting for Tom for the sake of the town, but for his own virtue. It takes a lot of integrity to stand up for what is right during that time and that is exactly what Atticus is making an effort to do.

The reason that Atticus is defending Tom in which he explained to Scout many times before ; the reason he is defending Tom Robinson is because he believes in justice and that everyone is equal you can just say he believe in equality . He is not just defending Tom because he is black . He told Scout that if he does not defending him he could not be a man that he wants to be he would just be a man without anything : for example we would lack respect for himself . He just would not be the man that he wants to be.

You can not truly understand a person or a group until you consider it from their point of view. Atticus introduces this idea to Scout in the beginning of the book, he says “‘ You never really understand a person until you consider things from their point of view… until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.’”(39). Atticus says this when Scout comes home with a problem from school. She tried defending the Cunningham boy because her teacher didn't know much about their town yet. Scout was upset about this because she didn't think she deserved to get in trouble, but Atticus explained that she should look at it from her teachers side and understand the teacher wasn't well informed on the people in Maycomb. Later on in the novel, Scout uses this lesson she learned from Atticus This is when she puts Boo in the darker area of the porch. In the text it says, “... I led him to the chair farthest from Atticus and Mr. Tate. It was in deep shadow. Boo would feel more comfortable in the dark.”(364). In this situation, Scout takes Boo’s needs into consideration, she thinks what would be best for him. She noticed how he hid in the dark corner and how eventually Atticus moved outside where it was darker for that reason. This is because Boo felt like an outcast and felt more comfortable where less people could see him. Also, Scout takes Boo’s point of view in a

Atticus, however, was a brave Christian man with moral values. He was polite and humble, and saw everyone as equals. Scout said of her father, “It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived.”Atticus shows that he is above the people of Maycomb when he took Tom Robinson’s case, rather than sharing their racist feelings. However, he still respected their choice; “They're certainly entitled to think that, and they're entitled to full respect for their opinions... but before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience.” Even when he and his family were deemed as outcasts, he didn’t drop his case. He discouraged his

If Atticus didn't take the case than he knew he could never tell Scout and Jem not to do something. ¨...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.”(Lee, Pg. 100). If Atticus didn't take this case it would hurt him in a lot of different ways, he would be looked down in Maycomb county. He might also lose his job as a lawyer. But most importantly he would lose respect and wouldn't be able to tell Scout and Jem that they couldn't do something, just because he didn't take Tom´s case. Another reason it makes sense for Atticus to defend Tom Robinson is because Atticus is strong and tuff and can take threats and bad words being yelled at him, “...when Mr. Ewell approached him, cursed” him, spat on him, and threatened to kill him.”(Lee, Pg. 291). Atticus was tough and didn't feel threatened by Bob Ewell. Atticus would rather have Mr. Ewell take things out on him then his kids. The last way it makes sense for Atticus to defend Tom Robinson is because Atticus wants to be one of the first lawyers to defend a black man, “Do all lawyers defend n-Negroes, Atticus.”(Lee, Pg. 100). Atticus wants to show that all people are equal and that he should be able to defend anyone he wants if he believes they are

Atticus said “Simply because we were licked 100 years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win”(Page 101). He is saying that no matter the circumstance you should do what is right. Atticus says “I hope and pray I can get Jem and Scout through it without bitterness and most of all without catching Maycomb's usual disease Why reasonable people go stark raving mad when anything involving a Negro comes up...”(Page 117). This is saying that Atticus believes that people should not be judged by skin color and that he hopes his kids don't become racist. Due to atticus believing that you should always do the right thing he should defend Tom

A primary reason for Atticus to defend Tom Robinson would be to set an example for Jem and Scout, who weren’t fully aware of racial stereotyping. In the courtroom, Atticus mentions that this case only exists because people can’t accept facts that go against their own stereotypes (Lee 273). In this instance, Atticus is not only supporting his defendant, but is showing that his views are that which are

When she goes to the trial of Tom Robinson, she realizes that even though there is no evidence and the witnesses are unreliable, the verdict is still guilty. She realizes that if Tom Robinson were white though, he would be released and might not have even gone to trial.”’They’ve done it before and they did it tonight and they’ll do it again and when they do it-seems that only children weep’” (page 285). Here, Atticus is explaining how unremorseful the jurors are about how they racially discriminate against African American people. Scout’s views on people changes after the trial as she realizes how their decisions are wrong and they shouldn’t judge people like

From this quote, it shows that Atticus has different perspective view than other. During 1930’s, defending an African American people and told not to be racist to African American was very hard and risky choice. However Atticus taught Jem and Scout that it’s not right to discriminate others. This shows that from To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus’s perspective view taught Jem and Scout a valuable lesson that they needed for their

Evidence for this is when Scout asks Atticus why he is defending a Negro. Atticus says, “If I didn’t I couldn’t hold my head in town” (Lee, 75). By defending a Tom Robinson, Atticus is making a statement about how he cares about equality. Atticus steps up to defend a Negro because he knew no one else would. Atticus knows that he will get a lot of hate for standing up for Tom Robinson since most of Maycomb is racist, but he does not care because he knows that Tom Robinson is a person too that deserves equal rights. Atticus is also very wise. In this scene, Atticus talks to Scout about the importance of kindness. Atticus tells her, “You never really understand a person until you climb in his skin and walk around in it” (Lee, 30). It is an extremely smart idea to want to look at others’ situations from their point of view. If one person looks at another’s problem their perspective, they can get a better understanding of why they act the way the do. Finally, Atticus is very selfless. Evidence for this is when Atticus talks to Jem after the trial. He says, “See if you can stand in Bob Ewell’s shoes a minute. I destroyed his last shred of credibility” (Lee, 221). The fact that Atticus can still have sympathy for Bob Ewell after all he did to him shows how selfless Atticus is. Atticus cares about how others feel more than himself. He does not care if he feels sorrowful about something, he only worries

Throughout “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Atticus displayed his compassionate nature by explaining his sympathy through life lessons given to both Scout and Jem that they can easily apply to their everyday lives. During the second half of the novel, Atticus is chosen to defend an innocent black man accused of rape. Considering the Finches live in Maycomb, Alabama, much of their town is made up of prejudice people who believe that all African Americans are guilty and are to be blamed for any mishaps that occur in the small town; however, Atticus has a much different point of view. Instead of choosing to give up on the case, he believes that, “simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win”(Lee 101). By Atticus taking the case, proves his concern for others, even when everyone around him believes that the innocent man, Tom Robinson, is guilty. Instead of taking this case as a curse, he turned it into a lesson to Scout explaining to never give up and to always do

Also Scout asked why Atticus wants to defend Tom Robinson, Atticus says “For a number of reasons, the main one is if I didn’t, I couldn’t hold my head up in this town, and I couldn’t tell you and Jem not to do something again” (Atticus

He takes the case because he believes that Tom is an innocent man and that he did nothing wrong. When Atticus took the case, he knew he would get criticized about it because he was going to defend a black man in a racist and bias town. When Scout questions Atticus as to why he is defending Tom Robinson, he replies telling her that he is doing it, “For a number of reasons… The main one is, if [he] didn’t [he] couldn’t hold [his] head up in town…” (86) Atticus tells Scout that if he did not take this case and defend Tom he would not be able to go out and face the town because of the inequality and racism that is has. This proves that Atticus is a courageous man who will take any chances and risks to show the town what is right and

This shows that Atticus is an honorable and respectful man that is conscious that he needs to stay that way if he wants the townspeople and his children to trust and have an amicable relationship with them. Atticus preferring that option goes along with the case to prove innocent the black man, Tom Robinson. By accepting to defend a black man even though it could tarnish him. it upholds the themes of putting others first and that of not discriminating others and not taking away opportunities because of their color. While the case becomes the forefront of everything in that town and the nasty comments continue Atticus always remains cool and collected,but his children do not. That is why he advises Scout when he realizes she want to start a fight , “Try fighting with your head for a change”(101). As time passes Jem and her learn to adapt and not react in uncivil ways, enough so that Scout recognizes, “I had become almost accustomed to hearing insults aimed at

Scout lives in a society where justice means the majority chooses what is best for themselves or even the town. With the new Tom Robinson trial, comes a lot of opportunities for Maycomb to redefine what justice means to them. The first to do this is Atticus when he accepts the case. He knows he can not only change his own ideas, but also attempt to change others. During Tom Robinson’s trial, Atticus talks to the jury after all the