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Atticus Finch's Unshakable Morals In To Kill A Mockingbird

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To begin, the reader sees Atticus Finch’s unshakable morals in his fight against racial segregation in Maycomb. Firstly, even though Atticus is given an option to not take Tom Robinson’s case, he still takes it to help him. There are numerous reasons why Atticus Finch is Tom Robinson’s attorney, but, “the main one is, if I didn’t, I couldn’t hold my head up in town, I couldn’t represent the county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again” (Lee 86). Atticus is stating that he could not live with himself if he did not help and defend an innocent man. This proves that Atticus has unshakable morals and is against racial segregation as he is fighting for a innocent black man who has been wrongfully convicted …show more content…

Secondly, Atticus knows that Maycomb is a racist town and that he will not win the trail but he still defends him to create change in the community. As Scout does not understand the racial segregation in Maycomb, she asks “Atticus, are we going to win it?’ ‘No, honey’ ‘then why-’ ‘simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win” (Lee 89). Even though they have a small chance of winning the trial, Atticus will take that chance because he wants to make a change which is removing racial boundaries. This proves Atticus has unshakable morals and is against racial segregation because Atticus does not want coloured people to be such poorly treated and is defending a coloured man to show this no matter what people say. Finally, Atticus knows that if he does not defend Tom Robinson no one else will and Maycomb will remain racially segregated. Atticus knows that “The one place where a man ought to get a square deal is in the courtroom, be he any colour of the rainbow, but people have a way of carrying their resentments right into a jury box” (Lee 252). Atticus is stating that coloured people should at least have equality in the courtroom, but they do not as the jury is all anti-black

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Atticus decides to take the case in defending a black person, something nobody in the town would have done. Most of the residents of Maycomb do not believe in equality and have hatred towards black people. If an African-American is charged for committing a crime, he is automatically believed to be guilty because of their skin color. Atticus says, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view” (39). To clarify, Atticus took the case because he believes there is a chance of Tom being innocent.

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Atticus knew the consequences of supporting tom because of his skin and how bad segregation was in his town. He knew the community of Maycomb would dislike his actions and call him and his family names like “negro lover”. Scout asks Atticus why he was defending Tom he says“ The main one is if I didn’t I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again”(Lee 86). Atticus could not live to know that he did not serve justice in his county, and that even though he would be called names or looked at differently, Atticus would still be doing the right thing.

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"The one place where a man ought to get a square deal is in a courtroom, be he any color of the rainbow, but people have a way of carrying resentments right into a jury box. " By seeing Tom through the lense of their own ignorance, resentments, prejudices, and opinions, Tom faced a trial in which he could not win, no matter how strongly the evidence proved his innocence. The inherent racism of Maycomb's society prevented the existence of a fair trial for any person whose skin was not

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(100), here, Atticus knows even if everyone knows Tom is innocent and Tom’s opponent is white trash and ignorant, everyone understand that he will suffer racial discrimination and will be labelled guilty no matter the proof. Racial segregation will be the main factor as to why no one will choose a black man’s side over a white’s. No matter how much evidence there is, the mindset on blacks in Maycomb is nearly impossible to discard. “Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men’s hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed” (276), it is no surprise when Tom tries to escape the prison and dies doing so, because everyone knew there was no hope for him once a white accuses him.

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Atticus knows that “there’s been some high talk around town to the effect that [he] shouldn’t do much about defending [Tom Robinson]” (100). However, even though his family and friends my disagree, may even think less of him, Atticus’ interaction with this case gives his cause to think greater of himself because he is fighting for what he believes in. This kind of situation is difficult when you’re opposing you’re enemies, but even harder when you are up against your friends. Even so, Atticus on the path he knows is right, risking his popularity and status among the town. Atticus tells Scout, “you just hold your head high and keep your fists down.

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In the story To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch has completely different views from the rest of Maycomb, who are heavily influenced by rumors and racism. He takes on a huge role in defending a black man, Tom Robinson, and faces many issues from other people by doing so. Atticus knows his client,

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Atticus has very proper and true experiences with racism, due to how Tom’s case went and was examined by the judge and jury. By Atticus saying this to the courthouse he is giving the jury a better idea and opinion of how racism is alive and awake in Maycomb. Atticus is speaking the accuracy of how adversity is unleashing awful discrimination upon the people of

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During the 1930s the south was still raging with racism, and the thought of a black man raping a white woman lead to no further investigation whether it was true or false, he was simply sentenced to death. Atticus Finch, Toms adept lawyer, believed Soulfly in equality and justice for all and was more than happy to defend Tom Robinson with all his heart no matter his race. The Finch family felt very different than the majority of people in Maycomb Alabama. When Tom Robinson has accused the entirety of the town flocked to the courthouse to view the trial. Some with hopes for justice and liberty but most unapologetically hoping for an unfair sentence.

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Martin Luther King Jr. gave one of the most significant speeches in American history. Atticus Finch, one of the main characters in Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, gave a closing argument in a court trial that caused an uproar in the south during the 1930’s. Their speeches were given several decades apart, but talked about the same social issues that come from deep-rooted racism. Both of them used rhetoric that challenged the majority opinion around them.

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Furthermore he defends a black man in court. At the time (and maybe still even now) Maycomb, Alabama, is from our perspective a really racist county, and in this culture it takes a lot of courage to go against the tide and not to judge a black man merely of his skin colour or origin, but instead to put his worries before ones own. Most people in Maycomb, who believe black Tom Robinson is innocent, also believe that there is no chance of winning the case and they lack the courage to risk getting a bad reputation with nothing to gain from it. Atticus is probably the only one whose moral views forbid him to look

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He is not only doing it for Tom Robinson, he is doing it for himself as well. Secondly, Atticus stands up for what is right because the moment he is asked to take Tom Robinson’s case he doesn’t think twice. He knew that someone who is innocent should not have to go to trial for something they did not do. He thinks racism should have an end. By taking this case he not only opens the eyes for his children, he opens the eyes of his peers and community members.

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Atticus fears that "There's something in our world that makes men lose their heads—they couldn't be fair if they tried. In our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always wins” (Page 224) Atticus confirmed that Maycomb won’t have a just system due to white men’s words to black men. This would only make Maycomb welcoming to white people and unwelcoming for black people. Maycomb is unwelcoming and unjust for the prejudice view for black

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In the quote it demonstrates how Atticus has to simply explain to the Scout, you should never look at someone differently based on how much money they have. You should look at them for who they are. Some people are not as fortunate as others, it is not there fault, but like they Cunningham 's, they find a way. Atticus did not only open the kids eyes to how you should not judge someone, but also, to stand up for what you believe in, despite what others might say. When Atticus is presented with the Tom Robinson case, without much thought, he says yes to being his lawyer.

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Though most of the town Maycomb feels negatively and discriminates the African-Americans, characters like Atticus show us how one person can impact his surroundings if he has high morals. Although he couldn’t change the mindset of the other town residents , he made sure that his own children didn’t discriminate people, purely on the basis of their skin colour. Racism can be seen even in the first few chapters of the book. These racist comments by nonracist children typify the culture in which they were growing up.

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