Examples Of Atticus Finch A Hero In To Kill A Mockingbird

Most people in the world nowadays describe a hero as a superpowered human saving the world from an evil grimace. Unfortunately, since those kinds of heroes aren’t real, we have heroes that come in the form of people helping others, people doing things they wouldn't usually do for others, and spreading kindness and respect. With that in mind, there are fictional characters as well in literature that are also heroes just in their own way of fighting for what is right, just without their hands. For example, the character Atticus Finch from the famous novel “To Kill A Mockingbird” is an iconic hero and fits this kind of hero perfectly. While in real life there is a hero named Mike Matheny who coached baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals and many

Mike Matheny wants himself and his baseball team to show compassion, he does this by telling the parents of the team that “The boys are going to show respect for their teammates, for the opposition, and for the umpires-no matter what” (Matheny 14). Henceforth, Matheny tells his team's parents that he wants his kids to give compassion and admiration even if they lose or win. He wants everyone to be treated properly and respectfully, just like Atticus Finch does in the courtroom. Atticus definitely shows a lot of compassion for all characters throughout the novel. He does it a lot at the end of the book and in court, but one stood out to me which was when he told Jem that ‘[Mrs. Dubose is] 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 115) Atticus tells Jem to do compassionate things to deal with someone who annoys him. Just as Matheny did his to the team about playing ball and dealing with the

Mike Matheny pushes respect and morality hard on his players not to just “make them better players”, but to make them better people of tomorrow. He goes on to tell parents that “Regardless how young they are, they know a lack of self-control when they see it. Then, when the kids make errors … then express their anger by throwing equipment or cussing … they get benched.” (Matheny 42). Similarly, that is all that Atticus wants to do with his kids and the people of Maycomb. Him and Mike Matheny want to set examples and help people/kids understand how morality plays a lot in being a good person in life. Similarly, Atticus teaches his kids to put themselves in other people’s shoes and not to be quick to judge. He also always wants what is right and fair just as he explains to Mr. “Link, that boy might go to the chair, but he’s not going till the truth’s told.” Atticus’s voice was even. “And you know what the truth is.” (Lee Chapter 13). With that being said morality can span many different meanings such as the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior. Clearly, Mike and Atticus show and do both throughout their life. Atticus shows more of the right and wrong sides by doing the right thing and wanting the truth to be let out for his client. While Mike talks more about the behavior side of things with his team of kids and making them better