Midsummer nights dream

What Makes An Archetype An Archetype? "There are some men who were born to do our unpleasant jobs for us", (pg. 288). To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. You may categorize these distinct individuals under the column of people who we know as archetypes. Archetypes are people who are role models, leaders, captains, and the best at what they do. The archetype focused on in this novel is Atticus Finch, the archetypal lawyer who in incomparable to any other ordinary lawyer. The reason why Atticus is the archetypal lawyer is because he defends every innocent person with every effort he has, It is because out of all of the lawyers you may have heard of, none of them come close to the amount of respect and dignity Atticus treats everyone in the courthouse with, and lastly, as a lawyer, Atticus makes his decisions with and by the law no matter how difficult the situation is. Atticus is classified as the archetypal lawyer because unlike other lawyers, he will defend any innocent man he is appointed to without hesitation and with every bit of effort he has with justice in his mind and heart. He even defends a black man, Tom Robinson, a negro accused of rape. Back in the 1930's, a white man defending a black man literally a crime which no ordinary lawyer would dare to do aware of the consequences. During the case, Atticus proves that Tom is innocent, but due to being black, Tom loses be default and is sent to jail. Atticus knew from the start that Tom was going to lose but Atticus believes that proving Tom's innocence, he hopes he can slowly change the minds of people and help change the cruel idea of racism against black people. By Atticus defending Tom, he realizes he is going against society, against white people, but due to his astonishing amount of courage, he is prepared to face society, the insults and the challenges thrown at him and his family. As Atticus states on "I'm simply defending a negro" (pg. 100). He says this to Scout when she questions him about defending a black man, this quote shows his bravery to defend a black man and also admit it in public and in the streets receiving many negative insults and yet he has the ability to convince himself and his children that he is doing the right thing, and that, is something no ordinary could manage to do. Atticus also says "If I didn't, I couldn't hold up my head in town”, (pg. 100). This quote is very effective in explaining why Atticus is the archetypal lawyer because he says that if he did not have the courage to even defend a negro, he simply would not be able to live with himself and he also would not be able to tell others what is right and wrong in their actions. It also displays that hypocrisy, which exists in many lawyers, does not exist within Atticus because he would not be able to commit the sin of not defending an innocent man because he is black, and at the same time tell his children what is right and wrong. These actions and quotes show and are very self explanatory when it comes to proving why Atticus is the archetypal lawyer and how he is much different than the ordinary lawyer. Another reason why Atticus is the archetypal lawyer is because he treats humans with the dignity that belongs to a human. Atticus is kind, civil, respectful, pure-hearted, and he also treats everyone in the courthouse with those qualities, including those who oppose him. He treats humans with the dignity a human deserves even when that human feels that he has been lowered to the level of an animal that is abused and outcasted by her family and society, and the person who is treated in this manner is Mayella Ewell, the woman who accuses Tom of raping her. Mayella says "Long as he keeps callin' me Ma'am an sayin Miss Mayella, I don't hafta take his sass" (pg. 243). This quote takes place during Tom Robinsons trial when Atticus addresses Mayella with the title "Ma'am" and "Miss". Mayella is not often addressed in a form of respect and gets angry at Atticus because she thinks Atticus is making fun of her by treating her with dignity. This proves Mayella being treated very lowly, without dignity, respect, or any love from her father, she is almost like a slave to her father and her family. This quote really proves why Atticus is the archetypal lawyer, it is because he recognizes Mayella's surroundings and conditions that she is forced to live in and comply by, but he still believes that every human has the right of dignity no matter how much evil they have committed. By doing this, he also makes Mayella feel more like a human, less like an animal and more recognized for the woman she is and that is also why Atticus is the archetypal lawyer, it is because he treats her in a certain manner knowing what she lives like and to treat a criminal with that level of respect is something no ordinary lawyer could ever manage to do. Judge Taylor also says "Mr. Finch is always courteous to everybody" (pg. 243). This quote further proves Atticus's archetypal qualities because he believes that everybody deserves the respect and dignity which includes Mayella in this case. Atticus being able to and willingly act in this manner to everybody around him proves why he is the archetypal lawyer more than any other lawyer that existed. And lastly, the reason why Atticus is the archetypal lawyer is because he lives his life by the law and makes his judgements and decisions best according to it. The final reason proved to why Atticus is the archetypal lawyer is because he makes the hardest life decisions with his best judgements and decisions according to the law, and he lives and acts upon those decisions he makes. Although no man is perfect, which includes Atticus, Atticus always uses his best judgements of what is right and wrong to make very difficult decisions and those decisions he makes is always by the law. By Atticus knowing the law better than anyone, he must abide by the law in all situations to set examples for others, and many times in life, lawyers make decisions that are against the law, and that is what makes Atticus the archetypal lawyer. Because he can and does abide by the law at all times when many lawyers around him do not. Sometimes, obeying the law can harm people close to you, but rather than taking the easy way out by avoiding the law, Atticus will make the harder decisions by the law that may not benefit and will most likely anger those closest to him, but being a leader, Atticus will not take the easier path but will go by the law no matter what. This argument is proven when Atticus says "Before Jem looks at anyone else, he looks at me, and I've tried to live so I can look squarely back at him" (pg. 366). He says this to Heck Tate, when Jem is faced with the deed of killing Bob Ewell, and although Jem did not commit the crime, Atticus believes Jem did and demands that the law be withheld and the right action be enforced. Atticus realizes that by taking action with the law may anger Jem, but Atticus knows that avoiding the deed is a crime and even though Jem is Atticus's son, he will not accept a story to be made in a cover up for it. By taking an action against his own son, Atticus proves that he is the archetypal lawyer because when it comes to those people who are closest to you, any lawyer would choose their family over the law but Atticus chooses what is right deep down and is proven the archetypal lawyer for doing it. Another example to further prove Atticus abiding by the law is shown on when Miss Stephanie states "Atticus didn't bat an eye, he just took out his handkerchief and wiped his face" (pg. 291). She says this when recalling the event where Bob Ewell spits in Atticus's face after Atticus goes against him by defending Tom. Any lawyer in a situation like this would almost be guaranteed to strike back in blind rage and hatred, but Atticus, being calm and civil, just stands there and takes it doing nothing for revenge, and that is why Atticus is the archetypal lawyer. Even though Bob expresses one of the worst forms of disrespect, Atticus knows it would be uncivil, stupid, and unlawful to strike back because to strike back would only create more violence, messes and chaos, Atticus would have also gone to trial for assault and being a law abiding person, he does nothing. The ability to remain calm in a situation like this is the ability only an archetypal lawyer could ever possess, and that is why Atticus is proven to be a lawyer like no other. Atticus is internationally known as one of the best lawyers in existence, he is known as the archetypal lawyer, and will be throughout many generations that come by, and go on. He is the archetypal lawyer because he possesses, qualities that are rarely every possessed by a lawyer, which is unwavering sense of justice for all races of men, it is because he treats even the lowest of low with the dignity that humans deserve, and finally, because he lives his life and makes every single decision with, and by the law. If Atticus Finch was alive and existed with us today, how do you think he could make the world a better place for the current generation today like he did for the generations of racism in the 1900's?

Lee, Harper. "To Kill a Mockingbird." J.B. Lippincott Company, 1960.