Atticus Finch Monologue

Atticus explains to Jem that “in our courts, when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins” (Lee 295 ). Atticus explain the justice system’s flaws to Jem, shows readers how racist people were in the 30’s. Therefore the novel does show some of the oppression that people of color were being forced to go through. During the trial, Tom Robinson says he ran from the Ewell house because “[he] was scared [he’d] hafta face up to what [he] didn't do” (Lee 265). Tom’s confession of his worried feelings of court prove how terrible and bias the southern justice system is. Even though Tom’s life before the trial was never mentioned in the novel, readers can still get a glimpse of the racist views in the south through his trial. Also at Tom’s trial, readers can “see the town of Maycomb in its worst light, willing to execute an innocent man for a crime he did not commit rather than question their belief in black inferiority and their social taboos about interracial relationships” (Felty). The trial truly shows the racist beliefs and the horrible lives African Americans were forced to live through with no freedom and fear of each new day. The novel does show some of the daily difficulties that African Americans went through and for that reason it should be looked upon as an example of racism in the south. Overall, the

* Jem still thinks that juries are a crock of @#$%, and Atticus tells him that if the jury had been made up of Jem and others like him, Tom would have been acquitted. He goes on to say that the jury left behind the written law to follow the unwritten one – that the white man always wins.

There was no room at the public hitching rail for another animal, mules and wagons were parked under every available tree. The courthouse square was covered with picnic parties sitting on newspapers.” (Lee, 160). The Ewells, Negroes and the defendant, Tom, represent the lower classes, the trial made it clear that when a black man’s word is against a white, the white, no matter the social status, always wins. Atticus understands the fact that winning the trial is very slim to none and he explains that you just can’t give up “They’ve done it before and they’ll keep doing it again and when they do it-seems that only children weep.” (Lee, 213). Despite the man Tom is, the jury must accuse someone of the crime and choose the easiest man to blame, Tom Robinson.

Atticus is appointed to defend a black man named Tom Robinson who has been accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman. She is a member of the Ewell family, who is looked down upon by Maycomb society and referred to as "white trash." Atticus knows that Tom has almost no chance because he is black and will be tried by an all white jury. Nevertheless, he wants to help him reveal the truth.

During this time, Atticus, who is a lawyer, takes on a very difficult case. He is defending Tom Robinson, who is an African American man being charged with raping a white woman named Mayella Ewell. At the trial, Jem and Scout try to find seats, but they are all taken. Reverend Sykes, the reverend of the African American church, runs into Scout and Jem and tells them “There’s not a seat downstairs. Do you all reckon it’ll be alright if you all came to the balcony with me” (186)? The children happily take his offer and travel to the balcony where “Four negroes rose and gave them their front-row seats” (186). As time passes, Jem becomes very engaged in the trial. Scout says that “Jem seemed to be having a quiet fit. He was pounding the balcony rail softly, and once he whispered, “We’ve got him” (202). Jem is very confident that they have won the case, and thinks that Tom Robinson will not be convicted to be guilty. Later in the book, when they take a break from the trial, Jem

“ People generally see what they look for and hear what they listen for.” by Atticus Finch. Atticus Finch is just one example used by the Author Harper Lee in the book To Kill a Mockingbird. There are many powerful people in this book but some of the best are the quiet but impactful ones. They have many opportunities to speak up and share their opinions like everyone else but instead choose to stand out and say it in their own ways. The quietest people are often the most powerful. Some people might disagree and say because they are quit they don’t have anything good or powerful to say.

I can infer the Scout is very naive by trying to make conversation with Mr. Cunningham but at the same time she is trying to apply what she has been taught by Atticus. She states, "Atticus had said it was the polite thing to talk to people about what they were interested in." Once she noticed that he did not show any interest regarding his son, she than thinks, "I tackled his entailment once more in a last-ditch effort to make him feel at home." As the reader, I can tell that she is trying to be as compassion as she can to a man who might not show compassion to others.

Do you ever read a book and that one character just reaches through the pages and connects with you? Well this is the exact thing that happened to me when I was reading To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus Finch is a passionate and fighting character in this story, I chose Mr.Finch to do my analysis over because he is a character that I connect with. Atticus Finch is willing to do anything for the people he loves and cares about. In my character analysis I will be showing this be giving evidence and quotes.

Atticus Finch is a lawyer in Maycomb County. He took a stand for Tom Robinson during the trial against Mayella Ewell. Despite him knowing that he is going to lose the case, he still has the courage to take a stand for him. Because of his great acts, it makes sense for Atticus Finch to take stand for Tom Robinson.

Have you ever wondered what person truly represents the meaning of courage and strength? That person is Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird. The reader appreciates and looks up to Atticus because he demonstrates his mental endurance and courage through standing up to society and doing what he thinks is right, and the song “I Won’t Back Down” buy Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers explains that these qualities are admirable which is why Atticus is such a likeable and relatable character.

Atticus Finch from “To Kill a Mockingbird” possesses obvious character traits that influence others in a positive manner. Evidence of this can be found in nearly all of the chapters. His positive lessons and reasonings rub off on all of his peers but mostly his kids. Three solid examples of Atticus influencing others in a positive way are how he teaches integrity, empathy and courage.

Text 1: In To Kill a Mockingbird, the jury convicts a black man, Tom Robinson for the alleged rape of a girl. Despite having an accomplished lawyer Atticus, to defend him, the outcome of the trial was known from the beginning. It was understood through the evidence that it would have been truly difficult seeing Tom had an accident when he was “12 years old” this meant he could have used his “left hand”. As long as Tom was black, the jury found him guilty despite all the evidence put forward which showed that he didn’t do it.

Today in Maycomb County, there was a trail against a local African American man named “Tom Robinson.” He was accused for raping and beating up a white girl named “Mayella.” His lawyer is “Atticus Finch” is facing off against “Mr. Gilmer” the district attorney. Judge Taylor, appears to be sleeping through out the trial, yet pays attention and tends to chew his cigar. The supposed crime occurred in Mayella’s home, when Tom Robinson went to fix something and then he raped her.

The prejudice in Tom’s trial is also visible by the segregated seating arrangements of the whites and the blacks in the courthouse. The portrayed segregation not only takes place at the Maycomb court of law but had appeared through out the novel in all aspects of Maycomb life. This segregation is illustrated by Harper Lee through imagery and is strengthened through the realist aspect of the novel. The author shows prejudice through this segregation by revealing the two contrasting places where the ‘white and blacks’ lived and even where they went to separate churches. The author paints a vivid picture of the blacks living in a ghetto

I sat in my chair with a mug of tea nestled in my hands. The missionary ladies had all left for their homes, which left me with silence around the house. The sweet aroma of tea relaxed my taut body. It had been a long day - too long.