“‘Well, Dill, after all he’s just a Negro.’ ‘I don’t care one speck. It ain’t right somehow it ain’t right to do ‘em that way. Hasn’t anybody got any business talkin’ like that-it just makes me sick,’”(Lee, 266). In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird author Harper Lee lays out the story of the Finch family consisting of two siblings, Jem and Scout, along with their widowed father Atticus. This family is faced with a tough break when Atticus get appointed a case to defend an African American (Tom Robinson) in the time of extreme discrimination. Growing up shapes and builds minds to what will fully become of them in future years even though there may be obstacles to endeavor through the process.…
Atticus defends his client Tom Robinson with all his heart, despite Tom being black. Although slavery has long since become abolished, in Maycomb, whites still discriminate against blacks, but Atticus has a different outlook on men. He defends Tom the way he should... fairly. Scout, Atticus' daughter, does not understand why someone would falsely accuse an innocent person. Atticus then explains to her that "... You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view..."(Lee 30). Explaining that there has to be a reason for everything, even if it was considered unjustified.…
Defending a black man accused of rape in front of a jury made up of white men, raising two children on his own with the help of a maid, and still having the strength to hold his head high when the rumors in the small, tired old town of Maycomb county Alabama seemed to thrive among its citizens. What many would consider to be numerous adversities, is Atticus Finch’s everyday life. The story of the courageous Atticus Finch in Harper Lee’s bestseller To Kill a Mockingbird truly begins when Atticus is asked to defend a black man accused of raping a white woman. Being the respectful, and determined man that he is, Atticus accepts his fate and takes on the case of Tom Robinson. Despite knowing that his chance of winning the case is very slight,…
With this word, Atticus encourages Scout to think about the impact that all of her friends and neighbors had on her life. In addition, Atticus is shown to have a kind, patient tone, which emphasizes his role as a father figure in this book. With this quote, readers can understand the malevolence that is being shown towards the Finch family due to the Tom Robinson case. However, when Scout is upset about her neighbors’ disrespectful comments regarding this case, Atticus reminds her that they are not her enemies but rather, her friends and Maycomb County is still their home. Most of all, this quote foreshadows the building tension that is to come as the court trial for the Tom Robinson case…
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.…
During the trial, Atticus argues calmly but adamantly for Tom Robinson’s innocence, but also for the jury to give him fair trial. In his closing argument, Atticus reminds the jury that the “case [was] as simple as black and white” (Lee 207), and he also dispels the “evil assumption—that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women, an assumption one associates with minds of their caliber” (Lee 208). For Tom Robinson, the case would have never gone to court if he was not black. This is a clear critique on the racism of Maycomb, which is only supported by the fact that Atticus had to remind the jury that African Americans are human beings of the same moral…
The remarks about Atticus helping Toim Robinson were arising from all over Maycomb County. Family, adults and even children who repeat whatever their parents say talk about Atticus in a poor manner. For instance, in the process of Francis aggravating Scout, he explains to her that Aunt Alexandria had said that Atticus was, “ruinin’ the family”, because he’s turned into a “nigger-lover”, and therefore they’ll, “never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb County”. If the people of Maycomb County put themselves in Tom Robinson’s shoes and showed empathy towards him, then the community wouldn’t shame him as much as they do now. In addition, in this particular case, empathy for Tom Robinson wouldn’t only justify and clarify the prejudices people have towards him, it would also stop the rants against Atticus Finch, because since Tom Robinson is being represented in court by Atticus, he often gets kicked out of the…
“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.…
Books filled with controversy rarely get recognition for shaping people’s lives; however, To Kill a Mockingbird overcomes this stereotype by showing the good in an otherwise not so good community. This community, known as Maycomb, exemplified traditional racial views that southerners held during the 1930’s. Most of the community, and most of Southern America, shared these same racial views, but Atticus Finch’s beliefs differ from those around him. Throughout the book, Atticus stands up for people of all races despite what those around him think. The courage shown by Atticus has greatly impacted all aspects of my life, including my faith, and demonstrates the determination that I wish to possess.…
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…
As the moral voice, Atticus desired to understand a person before he formed his opinion about them unlike many in his town. He put himself in the public eye, ready to face judgment from others just so he could be Tom Robinson’s lawyer and do what was right. Plus, he taught his children that fighting with their smarts is a better choice than with physical violence. Unmistakably, the author portrayed Atticus as the courageous hero in the midst of prejudice and conflict; therefore, demonstrating the good in the center of the…
In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee illustrates determination through Atticus Finch’s ability to do what is right at all costs because he wants to set good examples. First of all, Atticus defends those who aren’t able to speak for themselves or for those who aren’t understood. Evidence of this assertion from the book is, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view-until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”- (pg. 39) Atticus defended Miss Caroline when Scout told him about Burris Ewell; Atticus told Scout to look at things from Miss Caroline’s perspective. Atticus knew that people shouldn’t tease Arthur Radley, so Atticus made sure his children didn’t make fun of Arthur. Atticus defended Mrs. Dubose and explained to Jem how she was the bravest person he ever knew. Second of all, Atticus accepts the trial of Tom Robinson even though the town is against him. Evidence of this second assertion is, “This case, Tom Robinson’s case, is something that goes to the 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.”- (pg. 139) Although Atticus knew that Tom Robinson was going to be guilty, Atticus still wanted to defend him. If Atticus couldn’t hold up his head in town, Atticus couldn’t represent this county in the legislature. He couldn’t even tell Scout or Jem not to do something again because Atticus could never ask them to mind him again. The town was against Atticus for defending a black man, but Atticus didn’t cave into the negative comments they were saying about him. When taking the case of Tom Robinson, Atticus took the responsibilities of protecting Tom. One of the times when Atticus protected Tom was when Atticus sat outside the jail late at night with a gun to protect Tom. Last of all, Atticus makes wise choices in regards to his children. Here are two evidences of this last assertion. “You might hear some ugly talk about it at school, but do one…
Atticus Finch shows a remarkable amount of moral courage by defending Tom Robinson in Court when accused of raping a white woman. This act takes courage, as Atticus already knows the small town of Maycomb has found Tom guilty. The intolerance and racism that has been widespread among southern society for hundreds of years may not be eliminated by this case, but Atticus will fight anyway.…
An accusation based off of circumstantial evidence, a charismatic witness, and a life-changing conviction were only a few of the elements that caused major tension in the courtroom on July 19th. If you’re one of the few that didn’t come out to hear the gossip material of the year, we have all the juicy and intriguing details.…
“If you shouldn’t be defendin’ him, why are you doin’ it? To kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Atticus is a white attorney living in Alabama, who was appointed to defend Tom Robinson, a man accused of raping a white women. At the time there is inequality between whites and blacks. Despite Atticus's complexion, because he's an attorney & it’s his job is to fight justice, he is reasonable and determined to take a stand for Tom Robinson.…