To Kill a Mockingbird

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Atticus Finch Was a Role Model Ahead of His Time

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Atticus Finch Was a Role Model Ahead of His Time Essay

Atticus Finch a citizen of Maycomb during the 1930's was a role model ahead of his time. He had some advanced beliefs on life with the following downfall; the people of Maycomb simply did not understand these futuristic thoughts he possessed. Atticus should have been the most outstanding role model as he was not racially prejudice, also not socially prejudice, then he was the perfect parent with polished parenting techniques and finally he was the flawless citizen with good values, morals and principles.

Atticus Finch was a firm believer in equilibrium. During the novel, he was faced with the toughest challenge; defending Tom Robinson, who was an innocent Negro, charged with the raping of a white girl. "Every lawyer gets one case in his lifetime that affects him personally. This is mine." Atticus put his heart and soul into this case, desperately trying to make people give him a fair trial, "in our courts all men are created equal." Even though Tom was charged with rape, Atticus has presented the strongest possible case possible and at least the jury would have gone home thinking `did I really make the right decision?' Atticus also knew that in his lifetime that people wouldn't get rid of their racist beliefs, "In our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always mins. They're ugly, ut those are the facts of life." If it wasn't for people like Atticus, people who didn't judge you on your appearance

Another reason to why Atticus was somebody that should have been looked up to by the Maycombe citizen was because he simply wasn't socially prejudice. This quality was something that his sister Alexandra did not possess. When Scout asked Aunt Alexandra if she could invite Walter Cunningham, a nice but poor boy to dinner, she made some nasty comments something Atticus would never do. "They're not our kind of folk... The thing is, you can scrub Walter Cunningham till he shines you can put him in shoes and a new suit, but he'll never be like Jem. Finch women aren't interested in that sort of people... He is trash, that's why you can't play with him." There is a distinct difference in the views that Atticus and Alexandra have on the Cunningham family. Atticus was always kind and gave people respect. He believed that the Cunningham family were people you should respect highly, he didn't judge them on their social status, he judged them on who they were as people, this being another predominate reason why people should of looked up to him more.

Atticus was a fine example of the perfect parent. He was the single parent of his two kids; Jem and hot-tempered Scout. Atticus was patient, understanding, never talked down to his children, explained the truth in all occasions and was always somebody Scout and Gem could look up to. "When a child asks you something, answer him, for goodness sake. But don't make a production of it." This was a short piece Atticus gave to his younger brother. Atticus was also clever in the way he choose to parent his children. An example of this was shown when Scout went through a stage of despising school and refused to go. Atticus could have done a numerous things in this situation but he did something very clever, he made a compromise with her. "If you'll concede the necessity of going to school, we'll go on reading every night just as we always have. Is it a bargain?" It certainly was! Atticus was also the person Gem and Scout could look up to, and aspire to be like. "Atticus is a gentlemen just like me!" His children were under-way to understanding the greatness of Atticus, but they were not fully there yet, as Atticus simply was a role model ahead of his time.

Atticus was just made up perfect attributes. He was the flawless citizen, with the best possible morals, values and principles. At the beginning of the novel his children thought he was too old, boring and didn't have an exciting job like a garbage truck man. But after a grim experience with a dog with rabies his children thought different. One-Shot-Atticus was revealed, "Atticus Finch was the deadest shot in Maycomb County in his time... If your father's anything, he's civilised in his heart. Shooting is different from playing the pion or he like. I think maybe he put his gun down when he realised that God had given him an unfair advantage over most living things. I guess he decided he wouldn't shoot till he had to, and he had to today." These were the wise words of Miss Maudie, who was equivalent to the female version of Atticus, and perhaps was the only person who completely understood his advanced beliefs on life.

In conclusion the verdict remains that Atticus was a role model ahead of his time.