Atticus Finch Heroism Analysis

In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee presents Atticus Finch as a principled lawyer, committed but single father to Scout and Jem, and a law-abiding citizen. Atticus is a respectable gentleman in society and a role model for his children. Throughout the book we see evidence of his honorable intentions, though he doesn’t seem to reap the rewards. He is morally upstanding, even-keeled, and daring. Because of these things, Atticus is a man who deserves great respect and admiration.

Every individual has a different perspective on what makes a person a hero, for it is not limited to a certain concept; determination, altruism and a hint of hardship and bravery can always birth a hero. Although many acts of heroism are seen and made everyday, the levels of these attributes vary. Abraham Lincoln and Harriet Tubman are both philanthropic, noble individuals that willingly spent their lives as abolitionists of slavery, and both are great examples of the highest levels of selflessness and heroism.

In today's standards a hero is a man who fights crime or beats up bad guys, maybe even a person who kills the bad guy. In the book though Harper Lee uses Atticus to show that heroes can be found anywhere, and that you don’t need to fight someone to be a hero. Atticus is the hero of this story, yet he didn’t fight anyone, he didn’t kill anyone, and he didn’t beat up any bad guys. He showed the reader that hero doesn’t always mean violence. A hero is someone who shows courage. Atticus says at the end of chapter 11 that “...I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway…”. He demonstrates this by representing a black man on rape charges in a time of racism and inequality. He knew he wasn’t going to win, but he did it anyway, that is a true

One assertion about Atticus Finch is that he is a courageous man, who believes in what is right even when it may not be popular. In chapter 17-20, he proves that he is a courageous man when he’s forced with a court case, in which he has to defend Tom Robinson. A black man that was accused of raping a young white girl. The case occurs in the small town Maycomb, where the racial tensions are high. Atticus is a white man and since he is lawyer he has to defend Tom, he knows he cannot win, but he does what is right and goes through with it. That’s why he is courageous, willing to go against all the odds, and do what’s right. Another reason that Atticus is courageous is when Mrs. Dobouse says, “Atticus is a niger lover” (100). This also shows that everyone in the town is against him. They were all once his friends and now because of him defending a black man, now all of the town is against him.

Throughout the novel we see Atticus being heroic multiple times. One example of his heroism is when he decides to defend Tom Robinson. An innocent black man, who got accused of raping a poor white man’s daughter, by her father who is racist and rude. The town they all live in, Maycomb, is very racially controlled. For example when a white man would accuse a man of colour of a crime, more often than not the white man would win the case. For him to defend a man of colour (Tom Robinson) against a very racist town, he knew he would be facing a mouthful from the town from doing so. Moreover, when he went out the to the jail the night before the trial, he checked on Tom Robinson just in case something had happened to him since he knew he too would be getting a mouthful from the town. As he was waiting at the jail, a number of cars arrived. All of which were full of men who had bad intentions with Tom Robinson, possibly kill, possibly just beat him up, all of which Atticus did not want happening to him. So he went there lonesome with intentions to attempt to protect a coloured man in a racist town knowing that he would get beaten for it. However there may have been times where he was a hero, but there too were situations where he was less of one.

Atticus is a hero and doing more than is required of him because he always tries to see things from a different point of view, he never loses his temper, and he always stands up for what is right. These are all very important parts of a hero and this is why Atticus makes such a great

Merriam Webster’s Dictionary defines a “hero” as “a person admired for achievements and noble qualities”. Atticus Finch based on the historical novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is considered to be the number one hero of all time. This is because Atticus is selfless, caring and brave. Also since Atticus killed a rabies infected dog named Tim Johnson to save others in maycomb country. Secondly he is a hero because when spat in his face he maintains his composure. In short Atticus Finch is a hero because he treats others kindly with respect is and he is willing to put his life after others.

In Harper Lee’s novel, although Mrs Dubose’s admirable qualities and choices were truly courageous, it is Atticus himself who, undoubtedly, deserves the title of To Kill A Mockingbird’s real hero. The term ‘hero’ itself defines as someone who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities, and it is Atticus Finch, the father of two, the lawyer who fights for justice, that best fits the description. Atticus remains true to his values and beliefs despite being faced with judgement from society. Teaching his children to be both humble and courageous shows his honourable qualities. Atticus’s unwavering sense of justice is also why he is viewed as the true hero of the novel.

Atticus showed allot of heroism when he defended tom robinson even when the whole town was against him and when he shot the rabid dog and made his children aware that he had a past with guns.

In the beginning of To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus demonstrates his heroism with his wisdom and logic by not being violent and being truthful to the Maycomb society. An example of this is when Atticus is having a mature talk with Scout when he brings up, “ You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view” (Lee 30 ). This illustrates how Atticus uses his wisdom to explain to his kids that you cannot jump to conclusions about a person because you do not truly understand them if you not in their shoes, you do not know what is on the mind. Therefore, this idea is important because he is teaching a lesson about judging book by its cover and it is not ethical since you have not seen the inside of them only

Although Atticus is displayed as heroic, (as mentioned in the previous paragraph) he does not see it necessary to exploit and show off his talents. This is evident in the scene

n the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch seems to be the only adult that was not corrupted by the racism and inequality of his time. He is respected by the rich and poor because of his kindness, intelligence, and patience, although he loses some of this respect after trying to battle the racial inequality of his town. He tries to teach his children the good values he has,

The Allenton house fire, The murder of April Jones, The Glasgow bin lorry crash. I'm sure, just like me, you have read about these cases in a newspaper. These are just a sprinkling of the many cases that galvanized my bias for Law. I truly admire many attributes of Atticus Finch from To Kill A Mockingbird. He is fair, just and willing to defend someone who perhaps is not worthy of defending. In my opinion, these are key qualities that more criminal lawyers need to have today and that I feel I can offer. The law acts like the cogs within society, ensuring everything goes accordingly and that there is no malfunctions. I am keen to delve into the world of criminal law and and learn more about evidence vs inference. Why? This is a question I have asked from

Every famous literary character has one thing in common, a side character that manages to reveal the best qualities in them. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the esteemed and distinguished Atticus Finch is balanced out with the straightforward Heck Tate. This foil relationship illuminates the meaning of the work, demonstrating how everyone needs a watchful protector.

As a attorney and precessional Atticus Finch is a prominent member of the community of Maycomb. Atticus’s relationship to the rest of Maycomb, most of the people in that small town there relationship with Atticus, they respected him as well as him respected them. Atticus is a good man, he goes for what’s right. Even though they know he is stubborn sometimes. They respected him because he is a wise, and very mature man, he is also very caring and kind. He is friends with most of the people from Maycomb, but still hated by few. Members from the town who respected him and known him for a long time, such as Mrs.Dubose and Miss Stephanie criticised his decision to defend Tom Robinson to his face or behind his back. Many of the town disagrees with him for defending Tom Robinson. He was Immediately called a “niger lover” by a lot of people but he didn’t care. He got a lot of hate after that but he is a calm guy, he met with a lot of criticism. Atticus is the voice and reason and justice for the entire town of Maycomb and his family as well. There was a mob, Atticus stands up to them saying that Tom Robinson will have a fair trial, and with the help of Scout who had a technique to just talk to Mr. Cunningham personally. A technique she had learned from her father. The mob left after scout talked to him him personally. One thing I like Atticus he is fair, he sees and treats everyone equal. In spite of the controversial issue of defending Tom Robinson, Atticus takes the case, telling