Atticus Finch Hero

The core character of a novel is responsible for maintaining the stability of society within the novel, exhibiting qualities of a true hero, and constantly emphasizing the novel’s central themes. Atticus Finch serves as this core in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, a novel written by Harper Lee. The story, set in the 1930’s, was written in a time when racism and discrimination to those who were different was rife in America, namely the southern states. Lee’s novel presented the problem in a new eye to the public, and slammed the people, the world even, by showing them what such discrimination was like. Atticus, father of two and a local town lawyer, proves to be one of the main characters used to express Lee’s points. The ways in which Atticus, or
An example of this is Atticus’ compassion to Mrs. Dubose, the neighbour who, at the time, is going through a morphine withdrawal. He feels pity for her condition and pride for her ability to go through all the pain and suffering. He understands why Mrs. Dubose is so grouchy and tells Jem and Scout that “She’s an old lady and she's ill. You just hold your head up high and be a gentleman. Whatever she says to you, it's your job not to let her make you mad” Mrs. Dubose is a clear example of how Atticus works in his community, showing his compassion and care for others, and expecting nothing less from his children. When Mrs. Dubose died, he does not retreat his stance on her, “Mrs Dubose won all ninety-eight pounds of her. According to her view, she dies beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew.” This is yet another example of how Atticus displays empathy to those around him, working with them and trying to create a better place. This creates a well being and well nurtured environment for those around him, displaying yet even more traits of the hero who is Atticus