In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee portrays Atticus Finch as the sage archetype, presenting him as a wise and shrewd lawyer who confronts prejudice with tenacity while concurrently fulfilling his responsibilities as a parent to educate his children regarding the nature of society. Atticus Finch employs his knowledge and moral convictions to guide his children, Jem, and Scout Finch, as demonstrated when he urges Scout to "hold [her] head high and keep [her] fists down" while hearing the unpleasant remarks of others concerning the Tom Robinson trial. By using indirect characterisation, his words reflect his knowledge of the consequences for defending Tom Robinson, which will be reflected on his family; thus, he wishes to protect his family from the vexatiousness of the trial, enunciating the attributes of the sage archetype as he is understanding of morality, with which he guides his children, and is represented as a wise family figure. …show more content…
Furthermore, Atticus Finch's rational and stoic demeanour is revealed when he speaks of Bob Ewell, as "if spitting in [Atticus's face] and threatening [him] saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that is something [he would] gladly take," demonstrating Atticus's willingness to sacrifice his pride, as well as his understanding of the depth of Bob Ewell's rage, which will impact his children more than Atticus directly, confirming his empathy for others, and emphasising his moral values Lee's use of indirect characterisation and symbolism allows readers perceive Atticus Finch as the sage archetype, highlighting the knowledge and guidance he offers to