Civil Right and Atticus Finch Relation In To Kill a Mockingbird, some civil rights defenders were Rosa Park, Martin Luther King Jr., and a few presidents like John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B Johnson; blacks were also involved along with whites who supported them; those who fought with the blacks were known to be similar to Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird and were often discriminated even though they were white. Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. were a few of many who fought for civil rights in this nation. Rosa Park is known for her bravery “after refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a Montgomery city bus” (The Civil Rights Movement) and was arrested for refusing to give up the seat. “Following her arrest, the NAACP, local…
He then goes in deeper explaining to scout that she might hear some “ugly talk” (Lee 63) but to keep her head up. Finch is represented as a man who does what is morally right. He is a single father of two who tries his best to raise his kids despite the opinions of others. Judge Horton and Atticus Finch are very similar they both participated in cases that would be hard to win for the defendant. When FInches daughter asked if he was going to win the case he answers honestly with “No honey” (Lee 63).…
In To Kill a Mockingbird, social class is crucial to everything, from respect to survival, especially during the crude 1930’s in the southern state of Alabama. With the country still recovering from World War 1, The Stock Market Crash of 1929, the Great Depression and even the Civil War, nobody is in the clear of tough economic times, crime, and for most, poverty. However, caucasians with a more reliable profession that contained no manual labor such as Atticus Finch, a wise, noble, reliable and very much respected father and lawyer who represents the Tom Robinson case, Judge Taylor, the judge of the Tom Robinson case, along with Miss Maudie and Miss Stephanie, who had no stated profession, had this stronger respect because of their higher…
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…
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.…
Atticus Finch and Bobby DeLaughter knew that our society was not going to improve itself if no one was willing to take a step. Despite fifty-years between Atticus Finch’s case and Bobby DeLaughter's, racism was present in both communities, and threats still transpired. Both Atticus Finch and Bobby DeLaughter faced a community who seemed stuck; they were fixated on the idea that African Americans and whites were not, and could never be, equal. Parents openly talked about their disapproval towards…
“To Kill a Mockingbird” takes place in 1930’s Alabama, where racism and segregation were accepted as social norms. Lawyer Atticus Finch defended “Negro” Tom Robinson in court, whom Mr. Ewell accused of raping his daughter. People considered defending a black man in court against a white man as a disgrace to the lawyer, his family and community. While Atticus talked to his brother Jack, he mentioned that “The only thing we’ve got is a black man’s word against the Ewells‘. The evidence boils down to you-did—I-didn’t. The jury couldn’t possibly be expected to take Tom Robinson’s word against the Ewells”. (Lee, 116-117) Atticus tells Jack that they don’t have enough data to prove Tom’s innocence in the case. The Ewells were not as respectable people as Tom Robinson, but according to the social hierarchy, dishonorable white people were above…
Individuals are always taught that the golden rule is to treat others how we would like to be treated. But everyday people in society treat others differently or making judgments for how they look or what they believe in. Sometimes people don't realize they are treating these certain people that way or making those judgements . People in America are known to treat people very differently depending on the color of their skin or their certain beliefs. Although our society suggests to treat others how all would like to be treated, there is still a tendency where people treat others unfairly or differently for various reasons.…
“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.…
Atticus Finch, the best lawyer in Maycomb, was sitting nervously in his chair as he waited for the town Judge to arrive in court. Tom Robinson, Atticus’ client was sitting next to him, equally angry as he was scared. “They can’t send me to jail, just because of rumors” he thought “ I really can’t, just because I’m colored don’t mean they can send me to jail, and now my lawyer is a white man and is nearly here for the pay out!” A snarled look came to his face. Atticus saw this gesture and shuddered in discouragement. Atticus was always a true believer in justice for all, feeling everyone should have a fair trial. He was one of the most loved lawyers in Maycomb, that is, before he sided with a black man, over a white. He honestly believed him when he said he didn’t do it. He looked at the townspeople and jury, anger and hatred for Tom and Atticus peered onto their faces. “ Calm” Atticus whispered “they’ll get their own soon Tom, but I know you didn’t do it, and I fought for your rights.” Tom smiled “It’s okay, Mr. Atticus, you did your best, maybe my children will grow up in a better, less racist place” Atticus saw the…
This is a point made very evident when Atticus served as the defense attorney in the Tom Robinson case. Atticus Finch shows tremendous levels of real courage throughout the novel; his first sign of true bravery was when he was appointed to defend Tom Robinson, and he agreed to take over the case. Atticus did not believe in racial segregation or discrimination, and this pushed him to fight for Tom Robinson’s innocence. A white man defending a black man’s honor was nearly unheard of, and the people of Maycomb made impudent remarks, even to the point of Mrs. Dubose expressing, “Your father’s no better than the ni****s and trash he works for” (pg. 135).…
The protagonist Atticus Finch is placed on a trial of which he has to defend a black man, Tom Robinson, during a time where black people were seen as separate from white people. Atticus takes this trial, and instead of not caring, he defends Tom as if he were any other client. Throughout the rising action of the novel, Atticus shows how great of a man he is because even though everyone in town is treating him differently, he stays true to himself and defends Tom Robinson with all that he can. In the climax of the novel, Tom is proven guilty, however, the jury took a very long time to come to this verdict, which shows that Atticus did have an impact, if only ever so small, he still pushed them to see Tom's side of the story a little. Since Atticus was in his integrity, people had more respect for him, and saw that he did not conform to society. He is a perfect example of how difficulties bring out the great side of…
In the book “To Kill a Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee, the character Atticus Finch is a single father, and a lawyer bringing up his two young children the best he can. A courageous act he performed was protecting the kids from a rabid dog. (Page 96) Atticus, being as blind as he is killed the dog with one shot surprising his children. He was particularly brave when he accepted to defend Tom Robinson. During this time, colored beings were harassed and treated unfairly, as if they had no rights. When Tom Robinson, a colored man, was accused of raping Mayella Ewell. He was dubbed a “Nigger-lover,” as were his children. He ignored their taunts and carried on defending Robinson even though it was highly unlikely that he would win the case. It takes a courageous man to bravely face the negative pressures of the society within which he presides. He is willing to risk his social standing, professional reputation, and even his physical safety in order to defend a poor, black laborer falsely accused of raping a white woman. Unexpected by most of the residents of Macomb, Atticus succeeded in proving his client innocent.…
Imagine how hard life was for colored people back then. How one couldn’t even receive a fair trial because of someone’s color or ethnicity. How is was virtually impossible for them to receive a fair trial without people using stereotypes to structure their judgment. To Kill a Mockingbird demonstrates many conflicts, one being the beating and rape of a white woman by a black man, which back then was punishable by death. With this case, a man by the name of Atticus accepts to defend the man who is accused : Tom Robinson. Atticus has to endure what the society throws at him, along with his two children : Jem and Scout. To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee reveals, by using characters and characters’ actions and choices, it is morally correct to stand up and do the right thing. Without someone pointing out what is wrong with the society, things will never change for the better.…
In this novel, it was clear that Atticus hadn’t wanted to take on Tom Robinson’s case 100%, and was “pointed [to] and [told], ‘You’re it’” (117). With that being said, although Atticus hadn’t been all for the case, he had to accept it in order to be true to his convictions. Along with that, Atticus’s acceptance of the task demonstrated his point of view on equality among all races. In a time such as the 1930’s in Harper Lee’s novel, believing in equality would definitely cause chaos. And while Atticus had been clearly aware of that, he remained courageous and stood by the quote “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view-“ (39). He was well aware that his integrity and courage would help what he would end up fighting for be worth so much more in the end than the fear of the town’s hatred.…