Category: Atticus Finch

The Finch family has been living in Maycomb since it was a settlement. One of the members of this long dynasty of land-owners and farmers is Atticus Finch, a man who breaks the tradition of staying at Finch’s Landing, the family’s antebellum house, to study law and practice in the city as a lawyer. Atticus Finch is many things, a father, a widower, but most importantly, he is a man who knows right from wrong. He is intelligent, humble, and compassionate.

In the Maycomb courtroom, Atticus shows his intelligence by asking questions of the witnesses with precision to get exactly what he wants out of them. When Mr. Tate, the town sheriff, is called as a witness, Atticus knows what to ask to get the answers he needs. When Atticus asks Mr. Tate in which eye Mayella was struck, he answers “The left”. This response is not the one Atticus needs to make his point, so he further prompts with “Wait a minute, Sheriff…Was it her left facing you or her looking the same way you were” (Lee,168). This causes Tate to change his answer. Atticus’ intelligence is one of his key character traits. He thinks ahead, and knows what to say and when.

Atticus’ humility makes his character almost divine in nature. He keeps his cool in adversity and never holds his accomplishments over anyone. Evidence of this humility can be found in Scout’s reaction to her father shooting a rabid dog with pinpoint accuracy. Scout is shocked. She did not know her father had such skill. After seeing how surprised Scout was, Mrs Maudie says “ Forgot to tell you the other day that besides playing the Jew’s harp, Atticus Finch was the deadest shot in Maycomb County in his time.” (Lee, 98). Atticus had been so humble that he never bragged to his kids about his marksmanship.

Arguably, Atticus Finch’s most important character trait is compassion. He is friendly and nice towards those who are both above and below him in society, and even to those who are mean and cruel to him, such as the Ewells. One of the best examples of Atticus being compassionate is found in his dialogue with Scout after Aunt Alexandra chastens her. She tells Scout to be more lady-like and remember that the Finch’s are of a high social class and that Scout should act accordingly. This makes Scout feel unappreciated, misunderstood, and alone. When Scout goes to Atticus for comfort, he says “I don’t want you to remember it. Forget it.” (Lee, 134). Atticus’ compassion comforts Scout.

Though Atticus is one of the most virtuous in Maycomb, he does not consider himself above or better than others. His intelligence, humility, and compassion make him the perfect person to defend a man under the constant criticism of society, and to protect that man from the racial injustice found in the court system of the time.

In Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, the reader is introduced to an admirable father figure within the first chapter. Atticus Finch, a single father of two, lives in rural 1930s America working as a lawyer and state legislator. Being older than most parents in Maycomb, his children perceive him as not doing anything of particular interest; nevertheless, he remains attentive to their needs and takes their frivolous concerns seriously. Atticus is seen as honorable and principled by all members of the community, from poor rural farmers to municipal officials and businessmen. One day in his casework as a defense attorney, Atticus encounters a seemingly unwinnable case due to deep-seated prejudice among the community populace, yet he takes the case anyways due to his innate sense of integrity. Throughout the novel, Atticus Finch presents himself to be an ardently ethical lawyer, a deeply compassionate friend to all, and a patiently loving father.

This story consistently depicts Atticus as a man of ethics, and this is very clearly shown by his work as a defense attorney. Atticus’ morals can be reflected in the fact that he took a case he knew wasn’t going to win; nevertheless, he persevered and took the case to defend an honorable man wrongly accused due to racial tension in his area. As a state legislator, it can also be said that he used his values to accurately represent every citizen of Maycomb–not just white males–as he believes that every person has goodness at heart. A prime example of Atticus’ dedication to justice can be seen immediately before Tom Robinson’s trial. This indirect characterization takes place in a conversation between two prejudiced townspeople saying:

“Lemme tell you somethin‘ now, Billy,” [one man] said, “you know the court appointed him to defend [that man].”

“Yeah, but Atticus really aims to defend him. That’s what I don’t like about it.” (Lee 165)

These events highlight Atticus’ role as a just lawyer, making the reader more inclined to find him one of the most respectable characters in the novel. Lee describes in detail how Atticus chooses to see the good in every community member and goes out of his way to care for his community as well, regardless of skin color. The Finch’s family caretaker, a strict-yet-loving woman of color, Calpurnia is highly valued among the family, yet when Aunt Alexandra questions her presence, Atticus defends her, even stating, “Calpurnia’s not leaving this house until she wants to” (Lee 138). Atticus’ outgoing personality can be observed in Chapter 8 when he goes into Miss Maudie’s burning house to retrieve her favorite wooden chair. The most poetic example, however, of Atticus’ kind spirit is outlined in Chapter 11 when he sends Jem and Scout to read to Mrs. Dubose. As a morphine addict who wished to be sober in her last moments, Mrs. Dubose was particularly nasty to members of the Finch family, yet Atticus saw through the insulting words and chose to have his kids read to her every day for comfort. Through all of these actions, Atticus continually proves himself a humble man who remains kind and caring to all members of the community, no matter what they have said about him.

Although Scout and Jem tend to view Atticus’ age as a downside, Atticus is able to use his age to his advantage, utilizing his time and knowledge to both patiently answer their trivial questions and teach valuable life lessons; moreover, it can be said that he treats both of his children with respect. The most blatant example of Atticus and his children’s mutual respect can be found in that he refers to both of his kids strictly by their first names; similarly, they call him ‘Atticus,’ rather than ‘Dad’ or any other endearing term. He also answers their continuous questions and even teaches them how to make compromises with him, as modeled in a conversation of his with Scout one day after school. One of the first distinctions we first draw with Scout when compared to her peers is the fact that she is incredibly literate, going on to read stock-market quotations and articles instead of struggling to read through the alphabet. Her elevated abilities show that her father’s age is really an advantage, as he is able to read with her on a daily basis. One can find Atticus passing down his fatherly wisdom to Scout by saying:

“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.” (Lee 30).

Although Scout and Jem can see the downsides to Atticus’ age, his wisdom has helped them in many ways, and his mutual respect with them is one of the things they like best about him.

In this story, Atticus can become one of the reader’s favorite characters due to his critical roles as a respectable lawyer and representative, an outgoingly kind friend to the community, and a devoted father figure. Even after Tom Robinson’s controversial trial, Atticus still remains a well-regarded man in Maycomb because everyone in town knows that he holds his morals close. After remaining true to his beliefs during such a trying time in America, one could say that everyone could learn something from Atticus Finch, even in present times as his work remains an embodiment of racial equality for all.

In to kill a Mockingbird, a strong character that shows envious personality traits is none other than Atticus Finch. Atticus is generally seen as a character that is hard-working, smart, and strict. However, personality wise he is much more than that.

First of all, a good quality trait he processes is conscientiousness. He often shows a great amount of self-discipline and awareness of his responsibilities. He is a person with good morals who doesn’t judge, belittles, or insults people because of their skin color. In the town of Macomb being a lawyer, at the time wasn’t considered as prestigious in comparison to other jobs in town. This played a part on why he was often taken for granted by Scout. In the beginning she wished he was more like the rest of her classmates’ fathers. In reality this was very ironic since most of them were racist and judgmental (opposite of who Atticus really was). Ch.10 Pg.89 “Our father didn’t do anything. He worked at an office, not a drugstore. Atticus did not drive a dump truck for the county, he was not the sheriff, he did not farm, work in a garage, or do anything that could possibly arouse the admiration of anyone.

Secondly, another positive quality trait he processes is being good-natured. When it comes to his children, they are the most important thing to him, and he makes sure they are good, polite, and responsible. This explains his current strictness towards them, he mostly only does that though because he wants them to be successful in life. Also, he treats his helper Calpurnia with much respect and gratefulness who happens to be an African American woman. Another way he demonstrated his unique quality trait was when he took over Tom Robinsons case. Since he was a black man accused of a very serious crime his case was neglected by many. Atticus however believed in his innocence and showed compassion and empathy towards him. Even with all the criticism and insults he faced by defending him. He didn’t give up and fought as hard as he could to demonstrate Tom’s innocence. Ch. 17 Pg. 177 “I’ll repeat the question,” said Atticus. “Can you read and write?”

Lastly, Atticus processes intelligence. This trait is shown among various chapters throughout the book. A very good example of this was when he was defending Tom Robinson in court. He was able to make connections between the statements made by the Ewells to solve the case. Another example of his intelligence was when Bob Ewell insulted him and spit on his face outside the post office. He didn’t let that get in his head and instead of fighting him, he simply ignored him and walked away from the problem. Ch. 23 Pg. 217 “I wish Bob Ewell wouldn’t chew tobacco,” was all Atticus said about it.

Atticus Finch is the very definition of a man, not only physically but mentally. He unlike many others is able to tell right from wrong, fights for what he believes in, and most importantly respects people for who they are and makes sure his family is always good no matter what. This is why his character will forever be viewed by many as an exemplary human being.

Atticus Finch from Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird responds significantly to injustice many times throughout the story. There are many examples where Atticus made an attempt to change something, or do something because he felt like what was happening was wrong. Atticus was always the person in maycomb that was given the tough jobs that no one else wanted to do, and he did them because he didn’t think that it was right just to let it be.

An example of a time when Atticus responds to injustice is earlier on in the story when Jem, Scout, and Dill were playing Boo Radley, and Atticus said, “Stop tormenting that man.” (Lee 65). Atticus was very upset when seeing this, and he felt like he had to do something to stop it. Atticus wanted to jump in to stop what was happening because he believed what they were doing was being rude to the Radley household. Atticus’ attempt to stop injustice in this case was somewhat successful; Dill, Jem, and Scout stopped playing Boo Radley at the time, but they were still attempting to interact with Boo after this happened. Although this seems to have little significance at the time, it hints that Atticus will not let something that’s wrong happen in the future.

Another part of the story when Atticus was responding to injustice is when Jem was angry at Mrs. Dubose and ruined her yard. Atticus, after seeing this decided that he would make Jem go over to Mrs. Dubose’s house and apologize for what he had done. Atticus made Jem apologize even though Jem’s reason for getting angry was because Mrs. Dubose insulted Atticus. Although Atticus did not like being insulted, he knew what was right, and what was wrong, and no matter what the reason was, he was going to make Jem go to Mrs. Dubose’s to read to her. Atticus could have easily not punished Jem at all, and just be mad about what Mrs. Dubose said, but that’s not the type of person that Atticus is, and he knows that and wants to stay that way.

One of the biggest, and most important parts in the story where Atticus responds to injustice is during the Tom Robinson case. Although almost nobody there wants Tom Robinson to win the case, Atticus still tries his best to prove him innocent. During the trial he was not only trying to prove Tom Robinson innocent, but also prove that Mr. Ewell was responsible for what happened. One of the first things that Atticus asked about during the trial were Mayela Ewell’s injuries; Both Officer Heck Tate and Bob Ewell agreed that she had a black eye on the right side of her face. After learning that, Atticus gave Bob Ewell a piece of paper to write his name on. When Bob Ewell was writing, Atticus noticed that Bob was writing with his left hand. Atticus did not say that if you were punching someone with your left hand, it would hit the right side of their face, but it is implied, and people notice why he was trying to point out that he was left handed. When asked to point to the person who raped her, she pointed to Tom Robinson. After Tom stood up, scout said, “His left arm was fully 12 inches shorter than his right, and hung dead at his side. It ended in a small shriveled hand” (Lee 248). Knowing that Tom only had one working arm, Atticus had trapped Mayella.

When Atticus started asking questions about how Tom had done all of that with one arm, Mayella stopped answering his questions. This was a clear sign that Mayella was lying about what actually happened. Atticus put a lot of effort into proving that Tom Robinson was innocent, and he did this because he knew that Tom was innocent and that he didn’t deserve any punishment. In Atticus’ eyes nobody deserves to be punished for something that they didn’t do. Atticus knew that Tom Robinson being locked up, or even killed for a crime that he didn’t do would be an injustice, and he was willing to fight for Tom because of that. If Atticus thought that Tom Robinson was guilty, he would not have defended him like that, but because Atticus knew that he was innocent, and that it would be wrong if he was proven guilty, he tried his hardest to prove to everyone that Tom Robinson was innocent. Although Atticus did try his best to defend Tom Robinson, his search for justice was not successful. After it had seemed clear that Tom was innocent, he was still said to be guilty.

Although Atticus did not succeed in proving that Tom Robinson was innocent, it was very important to the story as a whole. During the Tom Robinson case, we saw how hard Atticus was willing to fight against what he believed was wrong, no matter how hard it was to do so.

Throughout the first half of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch, the father of the main characters in the story demonstrates the golden rule that one should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself with his words and actions of empathy. He teaches his children, Jem and Scout, how to be respectful and understanding towards others. Atticus shows them that there is value in having respect and a caring attitude for one another in different troubling situations.

In the beginning of the story when Scout starts going to school, she complains to Atticus that she wouldn’t go to school anymore because of all the afflictions she went through during her day. Scout explains that her teacher, Miss Caroline, said that Atticus taught her all wrong, and that they shouldn’t read anymore. Atticus remains calm and tells Scout that there is a “simple trick” to getting along better with everyone. He says that “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view 一 until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (Lee 30). This shows that Atticus considers different perspectives in a situation while having compassion for others different than him.

Another example of Atticus using the Golden rule is when he interacts with their short-tempered neighbor, Mrs. Dubose. Scout says that whenever Jem and Scout passed by Mrs. Dubose, the “meanest old woman who ever lived,” (Lee 35), they would be given an angry stare, or when they would try to greet her nicely, she would yell at them to be polite. Jem would often get angry at what Mrs. Dubose said to him. However, Atticus continues to show his respect towards Mrs. Dubose. Atticus tells Jem that he needs to be more considerate and sympathetic towards others. He says, “Easy does it, son. She’s an old lady and she’s ill. You just hold your head high and be a gentleman. Whatever she says to you, it’s your job not to let her make you mad.” (Lee 100). When they would visit Mrs. Dubose, Atticus would sweep off his hat, wave politely and said “Good evening, Mrs. Dubose! You look like a picture this evening” (Lee 100). Scout says that “It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived.” (Lee 100). These events indicate that Jem and Scout look up to Atticus and is good-hearted towards everyone.

Atticus always respects others regardless of who they are and incorporates the Golden Rule in how he interacts. He is one of the biggest role models for Jem and Scout, so he often influences the two children’s actions. Atticus’ words and actions of empathy towards others establishes the rule that people will get treated depending on how they treat others. In showing and feeling respect for another person, Atticus is exercising the golden rule.

How would you describe a hero? Many people when they think of heroes, they think of superman or batman, a police officer or a firefighter. A hero is described as a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. In literature, a hero can be a principle of the character of those heroic features for example like Beowulf and Hercules or in this case Atticus Finch. Atticus Finch is considered a hero in literature because of his exemplary moral qualities, his bravery and compassion for equal rights. Throughout the novel in “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch is a well-respected lawyer he shows many qualities of a hero but primarily his moral courage comes at forth. Atticus finch first takes up a pro bono case of a black man named Tom Robison accused of raping a white women, with such little evidence Atticus knew that he was innocent but due to the racism in Maycomb he knew it was going to be difficult case to win. He wanted a fair trial for an innocent black victim. He said to his children, ‘I’m simply defending a Negro his name’s Tom Robinson,’ (Lee,75). By choosing to defend Robinson, his character shows that he cares about people’s lives because he knew that Tom Robison didn’t have a chance if he went to trial. With that being said, Atticus has a strong sense of morality that he induces to his children throughout the novel we see that he speaks to them directly about moral behavior and he also teaches them about it. Atticus tells to scout “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win,” (Lee,76) meaning it is a person’s right to stand up on what he or she believes in even if it’s not the popular choice they can’t just give up. Finch is teaching scout a life lesson and most importantly he leads by example showing her that it is important for a person to do the right thing. By standing up for what he believes in, he also stands up to the people in Maycomb as well as the people in the courtroom. By taking the case he knows that he is putting his family in danger. This causes scout and Jem to be constantly harassed by other children and other adults but instead of stopping he explains to his children to learn for themselves to stand up for truth and justice no matter what the consequences. Atticus spreads moral courage without even realizing it. With that being said scout and Jem finally see the harsh reality of segregation and they see the prejudice side of Maycomb.

Furthermore, another way that Atticus finch shows his heroic features throughout the novel is his bravery. One of Atticus’s most courageous acts is his taking on the defense of Tom Robinson. Even though defending a black man is dangerous in Maycomb due to racism and prejudice, he does so because he knows it is just and his ethics demands it. Additionally, Atticus provides an exemplary example of bravery in the modest manner of which he shot the rabid dog. He hasn’t shot a gun in years. He almost wants to hide his talent that he has but he explains to his children what he did, ‘I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do.’ (Lee,112) He is trying to explain to them that it doesn’t take a man with a gun to be manly. His choice to never shoot a gun relates to what real bravery is, and to be a gentleman who would never take advantage of any living thing is manly in his way. Shooting and killing animals didn’t appeal to him and either any form of violence. He gains the respect of Scout and Jem, they see that their father in a new light that he is brave and manly in his way.

Finally, his heroic features don’t stop there. Atticus also displays his compassion for equal rights throughout the novel displaying his moral sense. Atticus tries to attempt getting all of Maycomb County to see that Tom is a person, nothing less, nothing more. In his closing argument speech, he tries to persuade the jury that all the bad things that are traditionally said about black people apply equally to everyone else. Atticus is a fair, objective, and impartial mediator when it comes to people and their equality. He sees neither rich nor poor, black nor white. Atticus reminded the jury to make their decision based on the facts and not from any racial bias. In his closing argument speech he comes and says to the jury, “ Now gentlemen in this country our courts are the great leaders. In our courts, all men are created equal. I’m no idealist to believe firmly in the integrity of our courts and of our jury system. That’s not ideal to me. That’s is a living, working reality!” (Eidenmuller). In his speech, Atticus is saying that people are not born equal that is simply impossible, But in the courtroom, everyone should be treated equal because the justice system treats everyone the same. You can see that Atticus is the few people of Maycomb that believes in racial equality. Atticus makes excellent points in his speech on how Tom Robison is not guilty. Nevertheless, This is the most important quote from the book, ‘It’s a sin to kill a Mockingbird’ (Lee, 90) it’s a sin to kill a Mockingbird because it is only trying to bring peace it isn’t bothering nobody, it is not a pest. This quote symbolizes Tom Robison because he is innocent and shouldn’t be killed just because of the color of his skin.

Overall Atticus Finch shows numerous heroic qualities in “To Kill A Mockingbird” you can call Atticus a hero because of how he views his moral qualities. Not to mention because not only he tries to save Tom Robison but because of how he is a gracious person he is. Once again, a hero is defined as a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. He is someone that fits that description, Atticus is someone we could look up to, and seek to follow in our attitudes and conduct. He is a thoroughly admirable individual. The residents in Maycomb respect him and throughout his journey in the whole book we see that finch is modest. His ways and his actions set good examples as to how a man should be and how he raises his children in which he guides them. They view their father as someone who is different in general with an unprejudiced mind and someone they look up to. Atticus Finch has many heroic qualities his morality, his bravery and compassion for equal rights are what make him an inspiring hero in literature history.

Harper Lee’s fictional bildungsroman novel, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird (TKAM), published in 1960, depicts America’s discriminatory historical period of the 1900s. It entails the perspective from a reflection of the author’s childhood and it also includes the racial prejudicial ways of the past. The novel was positioned in the small old town of Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930s. The cultural assumptions and beliefs in the novel influence the moral nature of the characters, whether people are honest and law-abiding or dishonest and immoral. These assumptions are primarily to position the characters, Bob Ewell as our antagonist and Atticus Finch as our protagonist. The novel demonstrates those assumptions through the beliefs and actions of all the characters in the novel. These ideas about either Atticus or Bob are derived from the unfair justice system, social hierarchy or status, and the good or evil views they have in the community, which leads to prejudiced perceptions that underpin these characters.

The discourse of community perception or position within the social hierarchy in TKAM constructs the character of Bob Ewell throughout the novel to be seen as our antagonist, who opposes the protagonist, Atticus Finch. As the antagonist, Bob Ewell is undoubtedly positioned by Harper Lee to be the “white trash” and worst person to live in the town of Maycomb. This can be shown when Atticus is discussing the topic of justice and race and says,’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 trash” (pg. 243). Harper Lee uses the literary device of metaphoric language in this particular quote to position Bob Ewell as the lowest in society. It also is a derogatory term that emphasizes the reference to poor white people and repulsiveness due to repugnant behavior. This demonstrates to us that Harper Lee wants to position the character of Bob Ewell in a negative view and that he represents the uneducated and racist sector of the town. Bob Ewell knows that Tom Robinson (wrongfully accused rapist) is innocent, but Ewell takes advantage of his superiority over him for his own benefit. “Maycomb’s usual disease’ describes the prejudiced attitude against African-Americans around Maycomb, and therefore Bob Ewell reflects this perception. The use of the metaphors “Maycomb’s usual disease” and, “white trash” is part of Harper Lee’s social commentary. The effects of these statements make the reader feel guilty and sympathise with the African-Americans being falsely convicted. It also provides the audience with an understanding of problems within the community and makes the reader believe Bob Ewell is a selfish man that doesn’t appeal to people’s justice unless it’s for his own benefit. The majority of people in Maycomb live with injustice and it reflects on the character of Bob Ewell, through his unfair accusations on a mistreated black man. When Jem explains Maycomb’s caste system he says to Scout, ‘There’s the ordinary kind like us and the neighbors, there’s the kind like the Cunninghams out in the woods, the kind like the Ewells down at the dump, and the Negroes” (pg. 230). This proves that the communities perception and social hierarchy categorises Tom Robinson only slightly below Bob Ewell due entirely to Toms’s skin colour. This, therefore, concludes our character, Bob Ewell, is seen as our antagonist through the community perception and his position within the social hierarchy, a guilty man, above an innocent and good-willed “black” man?

The injustice of Maycomb is represented by the antagonist Bob Ewell, although the protagonist serves as the justice in the community through his moral nature, community perceptions and social status. Atticus Finch portrays the respectable character of our protagonist and Harper Lee used a number of techniques to structure it that way. There are multiple examples throughout the novel that portrays the fairness and good-nature of Atticus Finch. This is expressed when Atticus gives Scout some moral advice, “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. 30). The literary device used is yet again an example of a metaphor. It positions the reader to think about the phrase and develop a viewpoint from a different perspective. The above statement to Scout is a crucial piece of advice that governs her development for the rest of the novel. The words of wisdom from Atticus reflects the manner in which he guides himself by and is the sole principle of his beliefs. Other characters also learn valuable lesson from Atticus because of his principled and ethical ways. The town of Maycomb believes that justice is only expected if you are a ‘normal, acceptable part of society and your status is determined by the way you are treated in the community. The above quote from Atticus demonstrates that Harper Lee wants the reader believe Atticus has only good intentions and the effect of metaphors makes the reader reconsider the way people should be viewed. Bob Ewell makes use of his undeserved power over Tom Robinson who supposedly raped his daughter and this set the stage for primary conflict with Atticus, who represented Tom at his trial. This is another example of Atticus serving the community with decency even though he risked being put down in a Maycomb he lived by his morals and did what was right. The citizens of Maycomb view Atticus as an intelligent, moral man, who has a positive demeanour and refuses to be controlled by the corrupted and prejudiced community. Atticus’s community members and neighbors trust him because Miss Maudie openly says to Scout, “Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public streets” (pg. 52). This implies to the reader that Atticus is very straightforward, with no secrets or hidden agenda. Harper Lee most certainly places Atticus Finch as the protagonist in TKAM as he is respected by the community, acts with moral decisions and the communities perception of status and power also positions him this way.

To conclude, Harper Lee has used a number of techniques to pressure and construct the characters of Bob Ewell and Atticus Finch to display opposite perceptions. This also incorporates the cultural assumptions of the highly prejudicial 1930’s, which consisted of the mistreatment of black people, the injustice in Maycomb, and the unfair social status gained from the communities immoral and unethical values. The characters of Bob Ewell and Atticus Finch have conflicting outlooks on the approach of how people should be treated and their ways of life. This exposes them to have collision and Harper Lee shapes the readers to believe that Atticus Finch is the protagonist and Bob Ewell is the antagonist.

What does it mean to be an outsider? On a personal level, the thought of being excluded from a group to me, made being labelled as an ‘outsider’ seem negative. However, Harper Lee, through her thought-provoking yet engaging novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, places a whole new perspective on what an ‘outsider’ truly is. This new and intriguing perspective is conveyed through the character Atticus Finch, the hero of the story. A character who stirred admiration within my heart as he faced opposition concerning justice, equality/egalitarianism, and respect. Without a doubt, Harper Lee ingeniously created a novel having a lasting effect not only on the views accepted by the world but also on the views accepted in one’s heart. To Kill A Mockingbird – the novel of a lifetime.

To Kill A Mockingbird is set in Maycomb, a fictional small town in southern America of the 1930s. The use of this setting is quite clever because the community conformed to the acceptance of racism believing that ‘white’ was superior and ‘black’ was inferior. It would take an ‘outsider’ to challenge these beliefs. Atticus Finch, being the great man he was, chose to be this outsider. And it was this decision which led to scathing criticism, an impossible-winning courtroom case, wild threats and even more; all a part of a gripping tale about what it takes to establish humanity. So, Atticus Finch is a key character who represents a perspective applicable to everyone but who exactly is he and why is he so admirable? Atticus is a competent lawyer and an aging loving father of two children, Scout and Jem. Having moral attitudes, he has a very strong desire to always stand up for what he believes in which takes a great deal of wisdom and courage.

Furthermore, while Atticus has a good sense of justice, he also is an excellent father figure who shows compassion and understanding not just to his children but to everyone. For example, Scout perceives him as an understanding person when she states, ‘When Jem an’ I fuss Atticus doesn’t ever just listen to Jem’s side of it, he hears mine too’ (9.92). It is obvious from this analysis that Atticus is indeed an admirable character who suits the role of the hero in the novel. Atticus Finch – admirable, wise, courageous and just – is both a hero and an outsider because he upheld strong righteous values and beliefs which opposed the values and beliefs of the community. The main values and beliefs that underpin the representation of Atticus Finch as an outsider include his support for egalitarianism, his respect for all people including the African American race, and his understanding and maturity.

The scathing disapproval he receives for upholding these values and beliefs is shown when Atticus’ young nephew, Francis, quotes ‘Grandma says it’s bad enough he lets you all run wild, but now he’s turned out a nigger-lover we’ll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb again’ (9.90). Overall, Atticus Finch was an outsider in a biased white community because he upheld respectable strong values and beliefs which Harper Lee used to communicate her perspective about what it means to be an outsider. This perspective, to be an outsider means to be a hero, is also represented through the manipulation of generic conventions such as aesthetic features and stylistic devices. There is a key event that occurs in the novel that, in my opinion, “makes the story’.

This event is the trial scene. Tom Robinson – kind, humble and honest – was falsely accused of raping Mayella Ewell – lonely, spiteful and emotional – and it was up to Atticus Finch to instigate justice. An innocent defendant, a brilliant defender and convincing evidence – an easy win, no? However, there was one big thing that enabled the opposition to have the upper hand … Tom Robinson was African American. Although this disadvantage was known, the reader would have assumed that the ‘good guys’, Atticus Finch, would win because it is a common literary pattern. However, the ‘good guys’ did not win in this circumstance. This is known as literary variation and would have appealed to the reader. Moreover, this stylistic device indicates how unjust the justice system in the southern states of America was at that time; further supporting the perspective that to be an outsider is positive. Aesthetic features such as metaphors also are used effectively by Harper Lee to communicate that being an outsider is being a hero.

Metaphors are effective in communicating this perspective because they evoke a sympathetic and admirable response from the reader. For example, As Atticus explains why he feels that he must defend Tom Robinson, he uses metaphors such as “If I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this country in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again” (9.82). This and many more aesthetic features used throughout the novel hint on the morality of Atticus’ character which helps the reader to understand what the qualities are of being a hero. Martin Luther King who fought for equality and was an inspiration to millions; Jesse Owens who never stopped fighting for his dream and proved the Nazis wrong; Malala Yousafzai who was a young schoolgirl and became an example to the world to fight for equal rights and education. All alike unto Atticus Finch, all role models to society, all outsiders. It was these ‘outsiders’ who made a difference to society, who made this world a better place. What I’m trying to say is that To Kill A Mockingbird indeed conveys a true perspective that being an outsider is not negative but positive. Succinctly, through the excellent use of generic conventions, To Kill A Mockingbird encourages all that read it to have the courage to stand out, be different, and be a light to all those around you.

Introduction to Discrimination in “To Kill a Mockingbird”

Discrimination has been present throughout human history for centuries. In Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird, there is a narration of happenings during the Great Depression and how discrimination was evident between black and white communities. Due to its instant success, a film adaptation was produced approximately two years later in 1962. The novel To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in the fictional small town of Maycomb, Alabama, Using different complex characters, the novel centers around the protagonist lawyer Atticus Finch, and his two children, Jem and Scout. Atticus was well known in Maycomb for representing African American clients. On one occasion, Atticus Finch represented an African American named Tom Robinson, who was falsely accused of raping a white girl. This propelled the animosity towards blacks and increased the simmering racial tensions in the town of Maycomb. There is also the element of gender roles and discrimination from people from Northern states, as witnessed in the case of Scout and her teacher. Robinson is seen as a scapegoat in essential issues compared to the charges made by Bob Ewell, and this raises the need to assess other issues of racial biasness raised in the narrative. How does discrimination play a role throughout the novel, and to what extent does it affect the fate of the characters?

Racial and Gender Discrimination: A Deeper Look

Even though racism is the most dominant form of discrimination, there are other forms present in the novel. For instance, Scout is mocked for being a tomboy, and this affects her self-esteem and her relationship with the other characters. Scout and Jem were taken care of by their black housekeeper, Calpurnia, who despite her differences in opinion and perspectives on life, still provided quality care and taught them how to live with others in a society. The children did not believe that the housekeeper could make an impact on their lives because of her identity. Even though Atticus Finch actively fought against prejudice and racism, and even though the children were not raised with preconceived notions of bias, the effect of the town’s racism has altered their frame of mind when it comes to black workers in their household. When they attended Calpurnia’s church, they realized she could speak two languages and were amazed. “The idea that she had another life outside our house was a novel one, to say nothing of her having command of two languages (Lee 143)”.

During the time of the narration, Midwestern states like Alabama had to endure the effects of the Dust Bowl, which destroyed most of the crops. Because of this, most in Maycomb were struggling financially and emotionally. “Why does he pay you like that?” I asked. “Because that’s the only way he can pay me. He has no money” (Lee 23). The nature of payment stresses on how racism dominated and also brings out the idea of how poverty shaped the minds of young children and how people had to improvise to survive with the low payments. In the text, the barter system was utilized when Atticus was given crops for payment of his services, which demonstrated that money was scarce. Most people were struggling, but Jim Crow laws made it even worse for African Americans. These laws were created with the specific purpose of separating the black and white people in the South. According to “To Kill a Mockingbird” 1962: Lawyering in an Unjust Society, Atticus Finch, by putting an earnest defense forward, was violating the rules of the racially segregated community. One of the commentators narrates that To Kill a Mockingbird advocates for courage in the face of prejudice and outright racial remarks.

Legal Injustice and Racial Prejudice

Racial discrimination against people of color dominated the 1930’s to the extent that they were not allowed to interact with and intermarry with the whites. The white majority were superior and exercised supremacy of the minority as the latter only engaged in manual jobs. This affected the blacks since they were the dominant ethnic population within the white society; there was a sense of oppression and slavery (Macaluso 282). Dolphus Raymond becomes an outcast for working with a black woman who has an interracial child. Because of this, Raymond is expelled from society because of something considered as a radical act at the time. Having an open relationship with a black woman was considered a grave offense. Until the mid-20th century, a law prohibited interracial relationships and marriages. Around the 1860s, the term miscegenation was introduced. Miscegenation means a mixture of races. The law that prohibited interracial relationships and marriages was introduced to enhance and maintain the purity of the Anglo-Saxon race. In this case, the relationship between black and white was a subtle issue around the time of To Kill a Mockingbird. In a remote town like Maycomb, it was considered as an unacceptable act to against social norms, particularly concerning race. Raymond, aware of the consequence of his actions, avoids interacting with the town, and the only way he could manage this was to pretend to be a drunkard. “It ain’t honesty but it’s mighty helpful to folks. Secretly, Miss Finch, I’m not much of a drinker, but you see they could never understand that I live like I do because that’s how I want to live.” (Lee 228). People saw him as an outcast of society and Atticus was also ashamed for interacting with African Americans even within his role as an attorney.

Interracial Relationships and Societal Norms

On the other side of the black and white relationships, blacks were oftentimes seen and treated as sex objects. This further exemplified how the black community was oppressed within the context of the novel. For instance, Mayella Ewell, Bob Ewell’s daughter, engages with Tom in an uncomfortable and sexual manner and tries to scrutinize Tom for avoiding a relationship with her (Smykowski 55). Even though Tom resisted her, she had damned him regardless. Bob Ewell beats his daughter and convinces her to testify against Tom; this provides evidence of yet another form of racial discrimination and prejudice. During the 1930s, racial segregation was at its peak, and black people usually did not interact with the white in any way. If a black man was accused of rape, they were lynched or punished severely. Bob Ewell was aware of this and took advantage of the high level of racism of the townspeople to shift blame onto Tom and avoid consequences.

Atticus, as the moral character in To Kill a Mockingbird, stressed on how law and justice was used biasedly in the novel. The law was used to propel racial discrimination, as evidenced in Tom Robinson’s case. Justice is meant to be blind, but even in the court system, the black community had designated sitting positions. There were elements of racial discrimination in this context. In Tom Robinson’s case, Atticus provided valid and robust evidence to prove instances of lies. Still, since the jury was all white, they are blinded by racial prejudice and ignored some of the most fundamental facts presented, then go ahead and punish Tom. The jury’s decision was biased and influenced by the racial affiliation rather than the weight of the evidence provided in the court. The novel was written in the 1960s, giving a reflection of what happened during 1930, the same time as the Scottsboro trial in Alabama. As Tom Robinson was falsely accused of raping a white woman, the nine black men in the Scottsboro trial were also charged with rape (Miller 25). The incident created chaos in the justice system, questioning the integrity of the American courts. The men were forced to spend years in jail while the case was handled. In the process, Atticus used all the available resources to free Tom Robinson, but in the real sense, there was no case because the jury had already decided. Racial discrimination affected the justice system and influenced how courts made decisions.

The jury, together with the society at large, failed to listen to Tom despite the fact that he lives an honorable life. They instead believed the words of Bob Ewell, a man known for telling lies (Osborn 1139). The jury and other people in Maycomb took his word because of his skin color. In the end, Tom is killed for trying to escape from prison; he believed there was no justice within the American court system. However, there have been significant changes in the court system since, and the verdict of a case is now decided based on the available evidence. Symbolically, Atticus advocated for justice and morality in the society while Bob Ewell represented racial discrimination and ignorance. In fact, Bob Ewell’s full name is Robert E. Lee Ewell, a name given in reference to one of the best-known commanders of the confederate army. The army represented slave states that advocated for the expansion of slavery and promoted racism.

The Court System and the Failure of Justice

Although Harper Lee’s novel emphasizes the plight of blacks, she also touches upon other forms of discrimination and predisposition. Scout is criticized by women because of her physical appearance and a result, gets into a fight with other kids. The perception of other people affected her relationship with her father, who was only focused on ensuring she acquires education and grows to be a fair and kind person. Jem also criticizes Scout for acting like a girl but not being girly enough. His statements were influenced by other people’s views even though he was not aware of the gender concept. The existing perceptions of gender troubled Scout.

Another form of discrimination that Scout encounters is displayed by her teacher, Miss Caroline Fisher. She comes from Northern Alabama with a college degree eager to teach the children the “right” way. Scout was already academically ahead and was facilitated by Calpurnia, the housekeeper, who helped with the homework and other academic assignments. Scout knew how to read in her class, but Miss Caroline could not appreciate the talent, Instead, she is scolded for learning how to read before her classmates. Furthermore, Miss Caroline assumes that the only person who taught Scout to read must have been her father and that he taught her incorrectly. “Your father does not know how to teach.” (Lee 19). Even though Atticus was not the person who taught Scout to read, as a licensed lawyer, teaching his daughter letters and words would have been well within his abilities. This shows that the teacher, Miss Caroline, had preconceived notions and prejudices towards people she deemed of lower stature than herself.

Other Forms of Discrimination and Conclusion

Discrimination played a major role in the novel and affected the fates of the major characters. Tom Robinson’s fate was prejudged before he even stepped into the courtroom. Atticus Finch started to have trouble with his townmates because of his representation of a black person. Arguably, Jem started developing preconceived notions defined by the townspeople around him. Scout is being influenced to be more girly and learn her place in the town. Harper Lee’s novel was not only an insight into the world of 1930 Alabama but a warning for us to recognize how our prejudice and preconceived notions affect our relationships and how they affect the relationships of people around us.

References

1. Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. New York: Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2006.
2. Macaluso, Michael. “Teaching To Kill a Mockingbird Today: Coming to Terms with Race, Racism, and America’s Novel.” Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy 61.3(2017): 279-287.
3. Miller, James A. Remembering Scottsboro: The Legacy of an Infamous Trial. Princeton University Press, 2009.
4. Osborn Jr, John Jay. “Atticus Finch-The End of Honor: A Discussion of To Kill a Mockingbird.” USFL Rev.30 (1995): 1139.
5. Smykowski, Adam. “Symbolism and Racism in To Kill a Mockingbird.” Readings on To Kill a Mockingbird (2000): 52-56.

Comparing Atticus Finch and Bob Ewell is like comparing God to the devil. No two characters have ever been so antithetical. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee does an acceptable job in showing the audience that they have opposite roles in their community, their actions and interactions with individuals are completely different, but the most significant difference is how they raise, teach, and treat their children. According to ideas.ted.com, a successful way to raise a child is to pay attention to them and show them that you value who they are as people. Upon reading this novel, the audience can clearly see that Atticus is the better father because he nurtures his kids, he respects others and tries to be a virtuous person.

Atticus Finch is a warm and friendly character that is kind to every person, no matter their race, religion, or age, and believes that just because people have a different skin color than him, they are still people. He doesn’t believe in the stereotype of all blacks being liars, and is an extremely moral man who strives to deal with everyone fairly, is not quick to judge, and has a well-defined set of values. One can see and respect that he cares who Jem and Scout will grow up to become, and he wants to be able to shape their childhood with a pathway to success. An example of this is Scout was constantly found in fights, and Atticus teaches her that there are other ways to fight that don’t involve her fists. “You just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don’t you let ‘em get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change” (Lee 87). It’s proven to every reader that Atticus is not just a father, he portrays himself as an equal to his children. He proves to Scout that there are smarter ways to win battles, and he helps set her on the right path. Using her father’s advice, she begins to understand what he means and proceeds his advice. Atticus is an outstanding character that focuses on his kids and their struggles, even as they are in the midst of something that will cause the town of Maycomb to turn on one another.

Bob Ewell is a treacherous man that does not offer his children a safe or stable home, does not offer them basic necessities, and is very racist and judgemental. Not only does he leave all the responsibilities of the children and the land on Mayella, he also abuses her. He uses his daughter to feel satisfactory, and he sickly thinks that that is okay. Bob is an evil, ignorant man that lives in “the dump” of Maycomb, and belongs to the lowest family in town. His indecency is portrayed through framing Tom Robinson, an innocent black man, of raping his eldest daughter. An example of his selfishness and lack of sympathy is shown when the Ewell children attend school on the first day. They are filthy, and clearly not taken care of.“The boy stood up. He was the filthiest human I had ever seen. His neck was dark gray, the backs of his hands were rusty, and his fingernails were black deep into the quick. He peered at Miss Caroline from a fist-sized clean space on his face” (Lee 29). Bob does not care that his children are filthy and shows the town that they should be categorized as trash. He is extremely selfish and very prideful of himself. The whole town knows of the atrocious way Bob raises his kids, and they bend the rules so that his children won’t hurt and suffer.

Atticus and Bob are opposing characters, but they are both single fathers who struggle to raise their children without a mother figure in their lives. They each have to step up and become not only fathers but a mothers and a friend to their kids. Adding to this, they are white men who live in a racist and segregated community. One of their last similarities is that they are both human, and they both possess weaknesses. The difference here is that Atticus’ weaknesses are his children, while Bob’s is alcohol. Another difference revealed in To Kill A Mockingbird is that though they live in a racist community, and the story takes place at a time where that is common and normal, Atticus still respects colored people as humans, and he never talks down to them or raises himself above them. Bob, on the contrary, believes in every stereotype about blacks and doesn’t respect them as humans. He believes that even though he is categorized as trash, he is higher than them because he is white.

As one reads this novel, it’s clear that Atticus is the better father because he nurtures his kids, he respects others and tries to be a virtuous person. Both love their children but show it in contrasting ways. Atticus is more open and treats them the same outside of his home as he does in their home. Bob Ewell, alternatively, is corrupt and dishonorable verified by his heavy drinking, and laziness. In conclusion, Atticus Finch portrays a better father figure than Bob Ewell in To Kill A Mockingbird.

Works Cited

1. Chen, Daryl. “How to Raise Successful Kids Without Overparenting.” Ideas.ted.com, Ideas.ted.com, 7 Nov. 2017, ideas.ted.com/how-to-raise-successful-kids-without-overparenting/.
2. Lee, Harper. To Kill A Mockingbird. New York: HarperCollins. 1960. Print.