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Examples Of Atticus Finch A Hero In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Is Atticus Finch a Hero or Disgrace?

To Kill a Mockingbird Essay

“Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.” (Lee 101). Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird wrote an inspirational story that discusses racism at the time of the Great Depression. In To Kill a Mockingbird, there is a character named Atticus Finch, who is given a difficult task to be the lawyer of a black person, Tom Robinson, who was accused of raping a white women. Atticus Finch is known through Maycomb, Alabama as a man who is always respectful and true to others. He has two children, who he loves, and teaches them moral lessons that will get them through life. It is reasonably accurate that Atticus …show more content…

When Atticus is explaining to Scout the possibility of outcomes associating the case, he tells Scout that he wishes that she and Jem will learn a valuable lesson. “‘All I can say is, when you and Jem are grown, maybe you’ll look back on this with some compassion and some feeling that I didn’t let you down.’” (Lee 139). What this quote demonstrates, is how Atticus wants his children, and the people of Maycomb to learn the importance of this case and the moral lesson it teaches. In chapter three, Atticus teaches Scout, how to view things from another person’s perspective. “‘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 39). This shows that Atticus wants Scout to not judge anybody by how they seem on the outside. In chapter 20, Atticus describes to the Jury that not all black people are the same. “You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men are not to be trusted around women- black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men.’” (Lee 273). This confirms that Atticus is trying to convince the jury that not all black men are the same. Atticus wants to send a positive message to his children and Maycomb, that color doesn’t define a person. Just as Atticus was doing the right thing, others would take to account that there were some downfalls that harmed Atticus and his

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565 Words | 3 Pages

ESSAY Cherilynn tilley Atticus Finch from the novel to kill a mockingbird is great father and role model to his two children Gem and Scout by setting a good example for them by being courageous, intelligent and a fair man. Atticus is very courageous all throughout the book. For example, when, he shoots the mad dog. Or when he represents a Tom Robinson; a black man in court when in Maycomb, the town he lives in is very racist towards black people at the time.

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697 Words | 3 Pages

(182). In Maycomb African Americans (like Calpurnia) were not treated as equals by many Caucasians. Atticus however can see pass skin color and see just another equal human being. He has accepted her into the family as his own, “‘... and another thing, the children love her’” (183).

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236 Words | 1 Pages

Within the first ten chapters of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the characterization of Atticus Finch is made clear. One example of his characterization is how his children refer to him. The first example of this is on the first page of chapter one “..so we consulted Atticus. (3)” Scout and Jem, call Atticus by his name.

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631 Words | 3 Pages

Maycomb County, located about 20 miles away from Finch landing. The place that the Finch’s receive their social class status from of being higher and more elite than most. Social class and racism back in the early 1900’s caused many to become snobs, not all, but many. The work as a whole is shown thoroughly through the character of Atticus Finch, a model of integrity to lawyers all over, all in favor to the surroundings he grew up in around the early 1930’s, which ultimately shaped his morals traits as a racial hero in Harper Lee’s novel. Years after the Civil War ended and slavery in the United States was over, racism was still looming large over the country, especially in the South where American’s highly supported slavery.

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422 Words | 2 Pages

The oppressive feeling of racism has touched all in maycomb. None can ignore it. The effect of it is very obvious, corruption. Atticus’s goal is to stop his children from “catching Maycomb’s disease” (117 need citation) in hopes that Jem and Scout will grow into people with morals that all are equal, you don’t have to follow society's predetermined standards. Atticus sacrifices his reputation, safety and when undertaking the responsibility of defending a black man.

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497 Words | 2 Pages

Mahatma Gandhi once said “A true hero is not defined by their strength, but by their ability to inspire and lead others.” In the novel “To Kill A Mockingbird”, by Harper Lee. Lee shares the story of how Atticus Finch, a lawyer and single father of two, defends a color man named Tom Robison who is wrongfully convicted. He defends himself knowing he will get backlash from his home town of Maycomb. He protects Tom from the harsh, racist people of the town.

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739 Words | 3 Pages

Since he raises Scout not to be racist, at one point he says, "As you grow older, you'll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don't you forget it—whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash (Lee 23-40).” He says this because of how many whites in Maycomb views blacks, and he wants Scout to see that cheating a black man is never okay. Atticus deals with racism in a socially just way, by using his own morals against the majority. While defending Tom Robinson at the trial, Atticus outsmarts the Ewells and makes Mayella Ewell angry. Outsmarting them and trying his best to win the case is one way he shows his wisdom in an attempt to save Tom.

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1166 Words | 5 Pages

Atticus Finch is very courageous and this is evident when he stands up for what he believes in despite the prejudice of other people in Maycomb. Since he goes against the status quo, he gets discriminated against. Other people criticize his actions behind his back, and

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891 Words | 4 Pages

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.

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313 Words | 2 Pages

Atticus Finch is one of the main characters in To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus plays an important role in this book, teaching his children important lessons and always doing what’s right. Atticus is my favorite character in this astounding novel by Harper Lee. To Kill a Mockingbird is about a young girl by the name of Jean Louise Finch, or Scout. Scout matures throughout the book by help from her brother Jem, her dad Atticus, and a few other characters.

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554 Words | 3 Pages

Atticus Finch is very intelligent and well-respected by many. He is a good father to Scout and Jem. He is a man who’s going to fight for what he believes and sticks to it no matter the outcome. Atticus is very influential not only in his community but on his children as well. Atticus strongly believes that all should be treated equally.

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1010 Words | 5 Pages

Atticus believes words can't hurt him, because he is following his morals., which would be to defend who is right. Although, Atticus thinks that it won't hurt him, Scout knows that everyone in the town hates Atticus, for defending a Negro, and realizes how hard it is for Atticus to defend a black man. Scout learns more about the racism in Maycomb during the trial. Atticus knows why he lost and explains it to Scout how "people have a way of carrying their resentments right into a jury box"(220). The opinions of the white men in the jury box, are hateful for black people, and jurors won't listen to Tom Robinson's story one bit.

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847 Words | 4 Pages

In the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird”, many heroes were expressed throughout the novel. One in particular is the narrator’s father, Atticus Finch. Atticus did many things throughout the novel that influenced his life, and everyone around as well. Atticus was not only an amazing father to a son and a daughter, Scout and Jem, but he was a lawyer and a man as well. Atticus had many opinions, thoughts and quotes that were expressed well throughout this novel.

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125 Words | 1 Pages

As Atticus has explained to Scout many times, Atticus values justice and equality. He also believes that everyone is equal. Just because Tom Robinson is black, that doesn’t mean Atticus shouldn’t defend him simply for that reason. As Atticus says to Scout, if he defend Mr. Robinson, then he couldn’t tell his children, Jem and Scout, not to do something. He says and does this to set an example for his children to follow, because if he expects them to do or follow something, then he must display it to them first.

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528 Words | 3 Pages

To Kill a Mocking Bird Literary Criticism Hero; a man who is admired for courage and bravery. Atticus Finch is established as this “hero,” in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, a book illustrating the setting for the mid 1930’s in the Deep South. The writer, Harper Lee portrays a different type of hero. A lawyer defending an African American. Some propose Mr. Finch was not a man of fortitude.

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