The Unlikely Hero: Atticus Finch

Although they are critiqued, some people do whatever they can do to improve our society. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch proves himself to be a hero. This small-town lawyer exhibits bravery, strength, and modesty when faced with objection during Maycomb’s quarrel for justice. Without a doubt, Atticus proves that anybody can stand for what he or she believes is right.

Atticus has the choice to defend Tom Robinson. Atticus accepts the case and the town of Maycomb shames him. In the novel, Atticus says “But do you think I could face my children otherwise? … 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… I just hope my children come to me for their answers instead of listening to the town.”(117).

Many criticize Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockngbird, and the value it portrays to have versus the value it really has. Many believe that the novel is in no way, a proper representation of African American’s history and their oppression, and many believe that Atticus Finch, the father being portrayed as a hero, is not heroic at all. However, Atticus Finch is a hero for going against the racist status quo of Maycomb County and his children are the symbols of the future generation to make true change in the world and break the racial stereotypes in America.

Atticus Finch is arguably one of the most recognizable characters in literature. Although he has a fairly one-dimensional character and undergoes no character development, he is easily recognizable as a hero in To Kill a Mockingbird. He serves as the epitome of justice and doing what is morally right. He displays various traits which justify his identification as a hero. A hero is defined as “a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.” All of these are the basis of Atticus's character. Through his actions is he able to create this image for himself. Some of his characteristics defining him as a hero are his parenting, his steadiness in his morality and other beliefs,

Atticus' strong morals make him a great lawyer. Firstly, Atticus is compelled by his morals and belief to take Tom Robinson’s case. While talking to Scout, Atticus says, "Tom Robinson's case, is something that goes to essence of a man's conscience—Scout, I couldn't go to church and worship God if I didn't try to help that man … but before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself"(120 Lee). Furthermore,

Atticus Finch could be the man to change Maycomb’s outlook on Tom Robinson and the rest of his community. Atticus didn't ask for this case, but was given it because of the respect of the court he possessed. Atticus would do his best to allow Tom Robinson to acquire the respect he deserved. No matter the color he was nor what he was accused of Atticus accepted Tom and his case with open arms. In Mr. Finch’s closing statement he said, “We know all men are not created equal in the sense some people would have us believe - some people are smarter than others, some people have more opportunity because they are born with it, some men make more money than others, some ladies make better cakes than others… But there is one way in this country in which all men are created equal… That institution, gentlemen, is a court.” (205). Atticus had shown everyone in the courtroom that this man, that they disqualify as an equal to their society because of his color, shall be

He specifically, as a man in Maycomb, is respected for both his occupation and personality, so when he chooses to represent Tom Robinson, who is black man charged with “supposedly” raping a white woman, outrage breaks out in the town itself, and as a result Atticus is repeatedly scrutinized and even threatened for representing Tom. From the case’s initial conception, Atticus knew what the final ruling was to be, but he chose to keep representing Tom despite knowing the case’s true outcome. Tom’s innocence is evident from the “get go” but due to the racial bias that was present in the courtroom itself, Tom was at a severe disadvantage when it came to truthfully revealing his innocence. Mayella chose to go along with her father’s (Bob Ewell) plan to accuse Tom, because Bob Ewell did indeed “rape” his daughter and because Tom had the closest “relationship” with Mayella, she chose to blame him for something her father

Atticus Finch is a man who will not let himself be tainted by the opinions of other people. It was against common culture to simply let a black man be guilty of any crime in this time of the novel, however Atticus knows that the justice system should be fair to every man. He uses all of his time and energy to make sure that Tom Robinson has the fairest trial that he can possibly have. At one point Scout finally makes a huge realization: “Then Mr. Underwood’s meaning became clear: Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men’s hearts Atticus had no case“ ( 241). This proves that Atticus was determined to fight for what he believed in even though he knew as soon as he was assigned the case he would lose.

Atticus is the town’s most respected lawyer. He is not wealthy, but he is well off in the community and is very kind towards everyone. As a single parent, he faces the world, raising his two children with his maid, Calpurnia, who experiences better conditions and responsibilities than other African Americans of her time, due to Atticus’ beliefs. He has a reputation for being an open-minded, fair man, and a unique personality that is overflowing with honesty. He has been assigned a case of defending a black man who is apparently accused of rape. Now Atticus is both loved and unloved by the townspeople. Since they live in the South during the 1930’s, Atticus gives a lot of advice to his children, Scout and Jem. Atticus tells Scout and Jem that they should not say anything about a person especially when they do not know that person. Atticus describes what he means in a quote “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view – until you climb into his skin and walk around it”(Lee 39). Atticus defends a black man named Tom Robinson, who is accused of raping a girl. Atticus has the confidence and the courage to defend Tom and prove that he is innocent. Scout does not believe that her father is nice enough or has the courage to defend Tom. Atticus proves that

Everyone has a person that they look up to and see as a hero in their life.In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, many people that affect society and the people in different ways can be portrayed as heroes. Some of these heroes affect people by being a warrior and some affect people through tragedy. Atticus Finch, the father of the main character, can be seen as a warrior hero and Tom Robinson, a black man accused of rape, can be seen as a tragic hero are two of the “Heroes” in the story. They are both faced with extremely difficult odds and they both pull through and are seen as changers of the way people think and how they act at home and in public.

Atticus Finch never enjoy criminal law, but he agrees to be appointed to Tom Robinson's case by the court, in spit of the fact that he will lose the trial. It takes courage for Atticus to do the right thing, despite knowing that he will ostracize himself and his family from their own community in the process. “It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what” (pg. 149) . Atticus believes in Tom's innocence and knows that many of the whites living in Maycomb want to see Tom Robinson, an African American, accused of raping and beating a white woman. The townsfolk turn their anger toward Atticus for defending Tom, but that doesn't stop Atticus from doing everything he can to ensure

Atticus is a well educated man as he demonstrates outstanding habits through his actions. After, Scout asks why Atticus is defending Tom Robinson he say, “For a number of reasons, 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. […] Scout, simply by the nature of the work, every lawyer gets at least one case in his lifetime that affects him personally. This one's mine, I guess" (Lee 56). Atticus, a man of great knowledge proves how respected he is in Maycomb County. He points out that only men with knowledge and education are able to take on a big responsible such as the one he is given. The purpose of this quote is to signify the importance of education and how it lead him to such a high position in society. Compared to Bob Ewell, Atticus contains the sification of how to action in times of importance. This affects the way people view Atticus because now he’s accepted and known as “ The Lawyer for Tom Robinson.” For example, after scout tells Atticus she doesn’t want

Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird tells the story of a man with strong morals regarding equality. The citizens in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama do not accept the African American culture. Although, there are a few highly respected members who stand up for the rights of everyone. One man, Atticus Finch is well known for his opinion with defending everyone’s background and he strives for the community to do the same. Throughout the novel, Lee exemplifies Finch as an egalitarian to establish that when society casts judgements on others it is one’s duty to voice the rights of everyone.

In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird the citizens of Maycomb reveal the unjust treatment of members of the their community. Atticus Finch, tries to break all barriers by defending Tom Robinson, a black man who is accused of raping and assaulting a white female, Mayella Ewell. He wants to be able to teach his children Jem and Scout the truth about life and the importance of doing what is right. Atticus Finch’s decision to defend Tom Robinson reveals that he values justice.

Was Atticus Finch the true hero of To Kill A MockingBird? I believe Atticus Finch was the true hero of the story because he did many things throughout the book to help everyone no matter what color skin they where. Atticus had courage such as when he was at the jail late at night fighting off the mob and when he offered to take the case of Tom Robinson. Harper Lee’s To Kill A MockingBird narrates the journey of Scout Finch from a young feisty girl to an older more relaxed person. Scout is the daughter of Maycomb’s lawyer Atticus Finch who is defending an African American named Tom Robinson who is wrongly accused of rape. Scout thinks her dad Atticus is an old coward of a person but when he was given the gun by Mr. Teck Hate to shoot the rabid dog Scout was amazed when Atticus shot the dog because she thought that he wouldn’t be able to do it. Through the eyes and experiences of Scout. Lee explores the themes of such as when Scout and Atticus where at the front of the jail holding off the mob so they wouldn’t do anything to hurt Tom Robinson. In To Kill A MockingBird Atticus is certainly one of the hero’s of Maycomb but he is not the only hero, Scout also shows heroism on a range of occasions throughout the narrative just like when Scout went to go help her dad Atticus Finch fight off the mob at the jail the night before the trial. However, Bob Ewell wasn’t much of a hero for instance when Jem and Scout where walking back home and he tried to kill Scout and Jem.