Examples Of Atticus Finch's Conscience In To Kill A Mockingbird

“The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience” (140). In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus defends an African American named Tom Robinson in a rape case. Tom is accused of raping a young white girl from a poor farming family (or A young white girl from a poor farming family accuses tom of raping herself). This decision goes against the majority of people in a racism-filled Maycomb County, Alabama. all of this takes place in the 1930s, a time when these actions would be looked down upon by others and even cause some trouble for him and his family (or a time when others would look down upon these actions and cause trouble for him and his family). Although Atticus goes against his community, he takes a stand

He does what he thinks is right even if it goes against the majority of people. Since Atticus is a moral and ethical person he does what he thinks is right and he must have a clear conscience. “But before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself” (140). Atticus says that he has to approve of his own actions before others do and that the conscience does not abide by majority rule. In addition, Atticus is not one to give up, especially when he is making a change this significant. “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win” (101). He has determination that he can accomplish the so-called impossible, beat racism, and If Atticus has the slightest idea that he can make a change he will try his hardest to. There are many things that Atticus believes are right and when he believes in things, he follows them to the best of his ability and wants others to follow them

Deriving from the Golden Rule, Atticus thinks that you should treat people the way you want to be treated because it is only fair to you and others. Atticus wants people to understand others and act how they would want to be treated. “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” (39). Treating people fairly and using Empathy are really important to Atticus. Even though some people are lower status than Atticus he still talks to the normally and formally because if he were in their place that is how he would want others to talk to him if he was in their position. “Tom, did she ever speak to you?” (255) and “Miss Mayella” (242). Racism, discrimination and inequality are some of the things Atticus ignores when not patronizing Tom, Mayella or any other people he talks to. Everyone is Atticus’s equal when talking because if he were in that position that is how he would want people to talk to him. Therefore, Atticus defends Tom Robinson because he is a true believer of the golden rule and If Atticus were in that position, he would want someone good to defend