In Harper Lee's classic novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird," Atticus Finch serves as a compelling embodiment of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream of a just and equal society. Atticus is a principled, wise, and compassionate lawyer who, in the racially charged setting of 1930s Maycomb, Alabama, stands as a beacon of moral integrity and racial tolerance. He not only supports the ideals of equality and justice but also demonstrates them in his actions and interactions with others. One of Atticus’s main ways in which he embodies Dr.King is through his commitment to treating everyone with respect and fairness, regardless of one's race. Atticus does something no one could imagine. Atticus takes on the task of defending Tom Robinson, a black man who had been falsely accused of rape, even though the chances of him winning the case are quite literally below zero. Atticus's belief in the fundamental equality of all people is evident when he tells his children, "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, 33). The quote emphasizes the importance of empathy and Atticus …show more content…
expresses his vision of a society in his speech saying, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." (Dr. King, I Have a Dream). A quote like this aligns closely with Atticus' fundamental beliefs he teaches to his children. The belief that all people are equal and that society must value integrity, compassion, and one’s character over one’s outward appearance such as race. Both Atticus and Dr. King shares the belief that justice and equality is only achievable if individuals rise above prejudice and understand the worth of every human. They both realize this change in society can only begin with learning to perceive and treat others based on their
Atticus takes a stand by standing up for Tom Robinson. He stands up for him when the mob tries to harm him. In Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird, In Chapter 15 of To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus goes to the jail to sit guard outside the night before Tom Robinson's trial, in the hope of stopping a lynch mob coming for him. At the end of chapter 15, Atticus and the children go to the office to guard Tom Robinson. Afterward, a group of anonymous men arrives at the scene to lynch the young African American man.
Isaiah says, “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression…” (Isaiah 1:17, ESV). Following God’s will by doing good and correcting wrong defines Atticus Finch, a lawyer in Harper Lee’s book, To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus defends an innocent black man, Tom Robinson, who was falsely accused of raping a white girl, Mayella Ewell. The trial takes place in the 1930’s in Maycomb, Alabama, a small racist town.
From the late 1870s through the mid-1960s, Jim Crow laws affected many African Americans. With these laws, blacks were given very limited rights and were often victims of unfair judgment. In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch, a highly educated lawyer, gets a case where he needs to defend a black man named Tom Robinson. Atticus faces many challenges, including judgment from the white community in his town and questions from his kids about the trial. Atticus demonstrates moral integrity, bravery, and empathy in response to conflict, which connects to the idea that one should achieve social justice by following morals, taking a stand when no one else will, and understanding other people’s perspectives.
In the 1930’s south, racism was at its peak, but one man with contrasting ideas, was willing to sacrifice his entire social standing to defend a negro. In Harper Lee’s, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Scout’s father, Atticus, taught her many things. He taught her how to shoot, not to fight, and most importantly, to stand up for her values. Atticus showed his children the importance of protecting their beliefs on a few occasions: when he took on Tom Robinson’s case, when he protected them from the mad dog, and when he raised them to judge upon character, not appearance. First and foremost, when Atticus took Tom’s case upon himself, he showed the importance of doing what you think is right, regardless of the consequences.
The character Atticus “In To Kill a Mockingbird” By Harper Lee is known for his unsee integrity and belief in the justice system. Atticus has to take on being a lawyer for Tom Robinson a black man who was accused of rape, Atticus is a reflection of a compassionate and committed Man. As the story unravels in “To kill a mockingbird,”. Attcuis has to face many challenges and obstacles as he defends tom Robinson, a black man wrongly accused of rape in a racist town named Maycomb despite the pressure from maycomb, Attcuis is still trying to defend Tom and is committed to justice and equality.
Throughout our reading from, “To Kill A Movkingbird” we as readers learn more about Atticus and who he is as a character. Atticus is one of the characters that we have learned the most about. Atticus in the novel, is the father of Jem and Scout Finch. On page 118 of, “ To Kill A Mockingbird” it states, “He did not do the things our schoolmates’ did: he never went hunting, he did not play poker, or fish or drink or smoke. We had readers can see from this quote that Atticus is a very enlightened father and how he concentrates in important things in life such as his children and job.
One of the most recognizable forms of social justice is the character of Atticus Finch in the 1930’s setting of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. In To KIll a Mockingbird, the author, Harper Lee’s ideas on social justice are revealed through detailed representations of wisdom, loyalty, and selflessness
until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (39). This quote is one of the most impactful ones throughout the story. Atticus displays that instead of automatically feeling rage towards the person, you should consider the other person’s point of view and understand their emotions. Atticus teaches another lesson about empathy, but this time, it was to Scout's brother, Jem. Mr. Finch was defending, Tom Robinson, the defendant, who was accused of raping a white woman by Bob Ewell and his daughter Mayella.
This book, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, is all about racism. There is one character that fights for equality, Atticus Finch. Atticus represents the desire for fairness. He proves some of it in his speech he gives at the courtroom. An example/quote, of his desire for equality is this quote, “…Gentlemen, a court is no better than each man of you sitting before me on this jury.
He is generally logical and keeps his composure under stressful situations. Atticus voluntarily decides to take up the case of Tom Robinson, an African-American man who had been accused of raping a white woman. Word of Atticus
In which ways is the character of Atticus important to the novel To Kill A Mockingbird? Atticus plays an important role throughout the novel because of his empathetic and moral character. The integrity Atticus expresses shows us that he is the moral conscience of the novel as his attitude has a big affect on most of the characters throughout. Atticus plays an important role as a father throughout the whole novel and his children, Jem and Scout are influenced by him.
The story, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee has a unique setting of 1933-1935 during the great depression period, in the small county of Maycomb, Alabama. Within the constructs of the story, it follows two characters who consist of Scout and Jem Finch while they live through the great depression and their father Atticus Finch. This story explores the themes of role models, prejudice, Jim Crow law, and morality. The two main characters within the few years that the story takes place experience many changes in their character development and morals by learning many lessons from people around them. However, the person that had the biggest impact on changing Scout and Jem's morals would likely be Atticus Finch, a role model for both of them
A hero is a person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. While anyone could be considered a hero depending on the circumstance, in the book, To Kill A Mockingbird, one character stands out for his achievements and additions to the greater good of the society he lives in. Atticus Finch, a lawyer in the 1930s who was tasked with defending Tom Robinson, a black man accused of assaulting a young girl in a society that was pitted against him. Atticus demonstrates the qualities of a hero throughout the conviction and trial of Tom Robinson by taking on his case and defending him even though he knew he wouldn’t win it, standing up to those who wanted to intimidate him, and trying to better the legal system
He fearlessly takes on the case of Tom Robinson, a black man falsely accused of a crime, despite knowing that he will face severe backlash from the racially biased society in which he lives . Atticus defends Tom passionately, arguing that all individuals should be judged based on their character and actions rather than the color of their skin. Atticus firmly believes that conscience and personal convictions should guide one's actions, even if it means standing against prevailing public opinion. Atticus's moral character is further revealed through his consistent treatment of others with respect and dignity. He models this behavior in his interactions with Calpurnia, the Finch family's African American housekeeper.
Throughout Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird," Atticus Finch serves as a model of tolerance. He consistently demonstrates his conviction that others should be treated with empathy and understanding. One of the most prominent examples of Atticus' tolerance is his defense of Tom Robinson, a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman. Despite the community's intense racism and prejudice, Atticus maintains his belief in Tom's innocence and fights for his rights in court. This shows his tolerance and acceptance of people of different races and his refusal to be swayed by the prejudices of others.