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Atticus Finch Personality

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To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is an iconic novel that displays the social tensions of the South during the 1930’s. Atticus Finch is one of the characters that pushes against these societal issues with kindness and acceptance. He is a lawyer and the father of two curious children who throughout the book learn many things from him. His moral lessons strongly affect the kids’ perspective of life, especially when he is given a very controversial trial defending a black man (Tom Robinson). This causes the town of Maycomb county to not only shame Atticus, but his children as well. He pours his heart into the trial and despite the fact that he loses, he essentially proves Tom innocent. He always does what is right and kind, not what is …show more content…

Even though he was appointed the case by a judge, he sincerely attempted to win. He knew what he was doing was right, despite what others told him and his children. When Jem is upset about the trial outcome, Atticus explains to him the sad truth of discrimination. “‘As you grow older, you'll see white men cheat black men everyday 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”’ (220). Many people wouldn’t have said these things during this time, especially in Maycomb county, but Atticus was above his time; he did the right thing rather than the white thing. Atticus’s progressiveness is also very present in his respect towards Calpurnia (Cal), his black servant. Most people would have treated her like a servant and given her little appreciation, but not Atticus. He always treated Cal as family, rather than a depreciated employee. When Aunt Alexandra is trying to get rid of Cal, he does not hesitate to defend Cal. "Alexandra, Calpurnia's not leaving this house until she wants to. You may think otherwise, but I couldn't have got along without her all these years. She's a faithful member of this family…”’ Atticus sees the qualities of Cal, not the color of her skin. He recognizes her as a part of the family and a good woman who is a great

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