Preview

Atticus Finch Qualities

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
521 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Atticus Finch Qualities
Atticus Finch was a very well-liked man in the small Mississippi town called Maycomb, but after being chosen to be Tom Robinson’s defense attorney, he was highly persecuted by the town that loved him so much. Atticus was a very well-liked member of Maycomb, he was very respected by his peers. As Miss Maudie once said, There are some men in this world who were born to do unpleasant jobs for us, (Lee 215). Of course, Atticus was one of those men, which in the blink of an eye, turned the town against him.
It all started when Bob Ewell, the white scum of Maycomb, beat his daughter and blamed Tom Robinson for raping her. Mayella, Ewell’s daughter, confirmed this accusation, of course, because she was afraid of her father beating her again. Since Tom was black, he was arrested with no further questioning. That is where Atticus comes in. The judge wanted Tom Robinson to have a fair trial so he didn’t have him get represented by a court-appointed attorney, he appointed Atticus. Atticus, being the noble person he is, accepted the job. This decision proved to be a bad one
…show more content…
Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it. This applies to Tom Robinson so well, because everyone believed the rumors about him because he was black but if they just knew the hatred he feels just because of his ethnicity. The fact that Atticus was one of the few that recognized this speaks volumes to his character. Another thing that speaks to Atticus’s character is when he said, As you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men every day 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

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Atticus Finch is a smart man worthy of being lawyer. In the fictional novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee that tells the story of a young girl Scout Finch, who is coming of age. Scout in the beginning of the novel did not have much tolerance and soon as the novel progressed she came to decide that not everyone will agree with her. Scout who is always around Atticus makes up a part of that impact in her life. The advice given for Scout help to build her to be good well being. To being told that everyone is equal. Atticus is a brave, intelligent, and responsible man.…

    • 688 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In the book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch is a lawyer defending a African American man who was falsely accused of rape. The story is set in the South during the Great Depression. Atticus Finch has been very well known for three main traits being bold, being fearful, being able to think outside the box. These traits caused others to be effected by him and his actions. Atticus is considered a good role model by the way he carries himself ,by the way he treats his kids and by the way he treats other people that he encounters.…

    • 451 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Through the setting of the story I understand that Atticus’ decision to defend a black man and take a black man’s word over a white man’s was a noble and courageous thing to do. Set in the 1930’s in the Deep South Alabama it was deeply segregated. Racism against blacks was common and legal. Laws such as the Jim Crow laws were put into place to segregate black people from white people in public facilities. It was known that the white race was superior to the black race; the Maycomb community had stereotypical views on blacks labelling them as dirty liars. Despite this Atticus chose to ignore the community’s idea of the black race and follow his own which was to properly defend his client to the best of his ability no matter his colour or position. As a result of Atticus’ decision many people in the community looked down on Atticus and belittle his dignity. An example is Mrs Dubose saying to Jem “Your father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for”. Despite this Atticus carried on believing that it is wrong to cheat a black man as it is inhumane and goes against the basic human rights that people are entitled to. In doing this Atticus shows courage in the form of fighting evil and prejudice in his community and having the moral courage to go against the expectations of others. As a reader I see Atticus as a strong willed character with strong moral values. He out of…

    • 1128 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus Finch Quotes

    • 436 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In To Kill a Mockingbird, the protagonist is Atticus Finch, a father of two children named Jem and Jean Louis “Scout” Finch. His wife died when his children were very young. Atticus is quite an old, wise, white man. The book was set in the early 1930’s and it was very common for white men and women to be very racist towards others who aren’t the same race as them. But, Atticus was not like most of the white men and women. He was very kind to everyone not matter what their race was. It seemed as if he didn’t believe in racism. In the book, Atticus was a lawyer for a black man named, Tom Robinson, who was falsely accused of raping Mayella Ewell. He did everything he could to win that trial. But, deep down Atticus knew he would not win because Tom Robinson wasn’t a white man. After the trial ended, he still had to stay strong for his children even though he was worn out.…

    • 436 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    As one starts by reading throughout the first few chapters of this book, He will soon realizes the nobility that Atticus possesses. It is clearly shown in a court house during a trial. Tom Robinson a black man who has a trail, who is defended by Atticus because he believes weather you’re black or white you have done wrong before, Atticus states, “Which, gentlemen, we know is in itself a lie as black as Tom Robinson’s skin, a lie I do not have to point out to you. You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men are not to be trusted around…

    • 625 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Tom Robinson Stereotypes

    • 966 Words
    • 4 Pages

    This was not his choice or decision. When Tom Robinson was accused of committing a rape, every person knew that no matter how good Atticus’s arguments were, Robinson would be found guilty simply because he was black. Blacks were considered as flaws in a wannabe-utopian society. They were treated as if they were rodents, some inferior animals that were not human because they had a dark skin tone. Being a black man, Robinson lived with this stereotype his entire life. Even though people treated Robinson worse than they would treat an animal, Robinson felt no hate towards these people. He was very polite towards them; he was always willing to lend a helping hand. Unfortunately, Tom Robinson could not change the outlook of the…

    • 966 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    One of Atticus’ best traits is his fairness to all people. He treats any man no matter young, old, skinny, fat, ugly, beautiful, or even ethnicticity. Although the best thing for himself to do was not to take Tom Robinson’s case, he knew it would not be fair so he…

    • 772 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus goes against the values of society. At the time period, blacks and whites were segregated and wanted nothing to do with each other. When a black man, Tom Robinson was accused of raping white girl, Mayella Ewell, tension grew among Maycomb. Atticus goes against the town's values and beliefs about blacks and decides to take Toms side. He believes Tom is innocent and supports him while society takes Mayella's side. Atticus demonstrates how skin color should not matter.…

    • 444 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “I speak to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the president of the university” - (Albert Einstein). These words reflect the way Atticus Finch, protagonist, attorney, and father in Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, lives his life. There is no difference to him in regards to race, social status, or gender. Atticus Finch is an admirable gentleman who demonstrates intelligence and respectfulness throughout the Tom Robinson trial and his interactions with people who despised the fact that he was taking the case. He strongly believes in respect for people of color and passes his belief down to his children by taking the Tom Robinson case. Although he is at times too trusting of people, his words and actions continue to prove to his children and community how a real gentleman behaves.…

    • 667 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus Finch, stood by Tom Robinson for a year because it was the right thing to do, even though everyone in the community said it was wrong, “Scout, simply by the nature of work, every lawyer gets at least one case in his lifetime that affects him personally. This one’s , mine i guess” (Lee, 101). Atticus takes this case into a deep emotion knowing how the community and family…

    • 735 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus Finch Role Model

    • 779 Words
    • 4 Pages

    To Kill A Mockingbird was and still is one the first novels I read as a teenager, that led me to wonder about society and the judgement's we place on individuals. That it is easy to assume and believe the rumors, rather than being the template in pursuit of factuality. Scout was that person. She was a very small child and when you don't know or understand something due to your age, you have to believe what others do and say is in fact, acceptance. She had no choice but to accept what she was told. As the story goes on, Scout listens and learns, much more than she could have imagined.…

    • 779 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    "To Kill A MockingBird''

    • 681 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Second of all, Atticus suffers injustice from the fact he commits into taking Tom’s case. He is regularly persecuted for this decision. “ You’re father is no better then the niggers and trash he works for!" (102) This makes Atticus work even harder to win the case. He tries to ignore the threats and harassments and keep the community happy. But tries to keep the law in…

    • 681 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Atticus Finch is one of the major characters in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird written in 1960. Atticus is a lawyer in Maycomb, the representative of Alabama in the State Legislator and the father of Scout and Jeremy Finch. The major themes and ideas Lee emphasizes in the novel are social inequality and intolerance, education, legal justice and bravery are represented in one way or another through this character. Atticus Finch is a man of principles who is consistent in his views and deeds throughout the novel. He has an arguable type of personality because many people back then would call him ignorant, but he still fought against his doubters. Although he is criticized and mocked by many characters in the novel for his tolerant attitude…

    • 1410 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus’ decision to defend Tom Robinson shows a ton of courage. Since the story takes place during segregation, a white man defending a black man is frowned upon. Atticus still accepts the case even though he knows he will receive hate from the racist townspeople. Atticus represents Tom Robinson because his conscious makes him feel like it is the right thing to do. He also wants to set a good example for his children and teach them that all people deserve to be treated fairly.…

    • 448 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus shows great compassion and tolerance when he stands up for the Negroes. He stands up and represents Tom Robinson because he believes that everyone should be treated equally in the court of law. He knows that because Tom was a Negro there would be a slim chance of winning. That fact never discouraged him though because he says that the main reason he is representing Tom is because, “ if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature” (75). He recited a speech, which clearly states that Tom Robinson is not guilty. In that speech he says, “our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal” (205). He believed that prejudice and stereotyping is wrong and he tries to teach these morals to Scout and Jem.…

    • 660 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays