Atticus Finch's Suicide

This parody was constructed in the contemplative moment when Atticus Finch considers the implications of his decision if he decides to defend Tom Robinson or not. In the most important decision of his career, his tone exhibits wariness due to lack of popularity in the support for Negroes which can compare to Hamlet’s extraordinary conclusions on afterlife that poses significant questions as to if he should escape to the unknown. Contrary to Hamlet’s selfish motives, Atticus bases his decision by his selfless character to protect the wellbeing of Jem, Scout, and Tom Robinson, but Hamlet only focuses on what’s best for him which in this case is drawing the pros and cons of suicide. Regardless of what their motives are, these soliloquies define

Being fortunate enough to afford education, Atticus not only possess the “necessary intellect and unwavering morality” (20), but he is a renowned lawyer who understands that his skills should be put to better use than to encourage the exploitation of Negroes from the “negligence of unscrupulous racists” (3). In doing so, he understands the extra precaution needed to avoid “the storm of persecution” (4), and this personification manifests the growing hatred directed towards Atticus as the Maycomb community divides greatly enough to distinguish two groups of people that are for or against the actions of Atticus. Despite the incoming threats, Atticus ignores their efforts to stop him because he personally knows what it’s like to “be licked by low grade men” (16), and knowing what it’s like, he doesn’t favor the opinions of the majority over his own conscience which can be quite daunting. But unlike Hamlet who just prates about how he should just commit suicide, Atticus sees “through it no matter what” (27) because he already has a preconceived notion that he would fail so that he doesn’t go into grief if he