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How Does Atticus Finch Show Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Atticus Finch, a loving father once said “ It’s not okay to hate anybody.”(Lee 282) In the book “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, the protagonist Jean Louise Finch(Scout) is living with her brother Jeremy Atticus Finch (Jem) and her widowed father Atticus Finch in the town of Maycomb County, Alabama. The book takes place during the Great Depression. The story is told by Scout’s point of view. Atticus Finch, her father and a lawyer, is defending Tom Robinson a black man who is accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman. This is during the times of segregation and racial discrimination. The novel represents the importance of setting high moral values, as it teaches us that inequity against others often results in the occurrence of social/emotional …show more content…

To Atticus this case resembles chance. He believes that everyone should have a fair chance to speak out for what they believe in. As Tom Robinson’s trial took place, Atticus was determined to prove Tom’s innocence as his testimonies prove that towards the case but is declared guilty. This has occurred because Tom Robinson felt sorry for Mayella when Atticus was questioning Bob. This has lead the jury not to believe that a black man could feel sorry for a white woman. Their prejudice had lead them to convict Tom of being guilty. Atticus knows that when it comes to a trial between the white’s and black’s, the whites always win because those are the facts of life. In this coming of age novel, Atticus Finch is proven to be a modern day hero who fights for the rights of other people. Atticus Finch acts for the greater good and not for himself. He believes that in life if he does not try to help others, he can no longer live with himself. Atticus Finch is defined by his actions, not his potential. Atticus stands up for what he believes in and what he thinks is right for the better of his society. Atticus Finch exhibits courage in the face of …show more content…

His beliefs leads him to stand up for what he believes in and what he thinks is right for the better of his society. A mad dog has been found in the Finch’s town and Atticus acts to save his family as they are his weak spot and would do anything to protect them. Atticus was considered the best shooter in Maycomb so he acted and shot the dog. Jem was confused as to why Atticus had started hunting again and Miss Maudie began to say “ I think maybe he put his gun down when he realized that God had given him an unfair advantage over most living things.”(Lee 130) Atticus had a huge belief in fairness and respect. If Atticus thought he had an unfair advantage over killing an animal, he would not do it unless it was completely necessary. He believes that being a noble person who treats others with kindness and respect is far more important that shooting a gun correctly. Atticus had the opportunity to shoot the dog in an instant but because of his beliefs and morals he had waited until it was absolutely the correct time. Atticus soon decides to teach the kids a life lesson. Atticus sends Jem to go and talk to Ms Dubose after he cut all the flowers in her garden. Scout is worried for her brother so when her and Atticus were sitting on the couch he told her:
This case, Tom Robinson’s case, it’s something that goes to the essence of a man's conscience. Scout i couldn't go to church and worship God if i didn't try to help this man.

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By looking at Harper Lee’s novel ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’, one can see through Lee’s use of characterization of Atticus Finch, standing up for what he believes in is an admirable trait, which is important because in today’s community, there are people who are afraid, and decide to conform to societal norms. Throughout the novel, Harper Lee uses the scenarios where she illuminates Atticus’ courage in many forms. Due to the whole neighborhood watching, Heck Tate stated that this has to be done in one shot and gives the gun to Atticus and he shoots the dog. Scout and Jem have excitement and curiosity beaming out of them as Ms. Maudie informs them: “He’s civilized in his heart.

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In Maycomb County, the Negroes are viewed as inferior, and in addition, the Jim Crow laws are enforced to ensure segregation. As a result, they do not have equal rights as the other citizens. When Atticus is asked to defend Tom Robinson, a Negro man accused of raping a white girl, he accepts. To the community this was improper. The community’s disgust at Atticus’ decision is expressed when Scout is irked by Cecil Jacobs, a boy in her class, when he announces that, “Scout Finch’s daddy defended niggers.”

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“‘I haven’t shot a gun in thirty years’… ’Atticus Finch was the deadest shot in Maycomb County…he decided he wouldn’t shoot till he had to, and he had to today. ’”(109-112) In this dialogue, the reader can see that Atticus shot the dog because he had to. Even though he believed that he had an unfair advantage, he knew he needed to do it to protect the people close to him.

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Even though Atticus does not like guns and has not used a gun in about thrity years he still has the courage to shoot down a dog that was in pain and in need of help. Atticus went out of his way to protect those that lived in Maycomb county with out letting his worries get the best of

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Our whole lives growing up we are told to follow the “Golden Rule”. This rule is defined as to treat someone the way you want to be treated. In the book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch a lawyer in a town called Maycomb in Alabama tries his best to be a role model for his two children. In the quiet town of Maycomb Atticus is given the job to defend a black man named Tom Robinson. Atticus wants to teach his kids Jem and Scout life lessons at an early age so they grow up as respectable people.

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To others, it is natural for him to do the deed because of his talent, however, it is very difficult for Atticus to shoot the dog because of his hatred of both guns and his natural talent because it gives “...him an unfair advantage over most living things” so he “...he decided he wouldn’t shoot until he had to” (130). For him to be able to finish the job means that he set aside his very strong sense of morals and his goal to teach his children morals in order to protect his town. Since the dog represents the racism of Maycomb, Atticus both symbolically rose up against racism by killing the dog and literally by defending a black man. When the rabid dog came to Maycomb, everyone in the town cowardly ran into the safety of their house and locked everything up, except for Atticus. No one stands up to the evilness of racism even if they do not agree with it, such as Mrs. Maudie, who had clear opposition to racism.

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Despite racial inequalities in the South, Atticus sticks to his own morals and agrees to be the defending lawyer for Tom Robinson, a black man being accused of raping a white woman. Although Atticus’ defense in court was thorough and clearly proved Tom’s innocence, the jury was prejudiced towards black folks and convicted Tom as guilty. Nonetheless, Atticus is still a hero despite losing the case. He has the courage to stand up for what he believes in, fights with reason rather than guns, and has utmost determination, making him a hero despite being just an average human being. Ultimately, his thoughts and actions set the stage for major changes in the meaning of equality throughout Maycomb County, changing lives of numerous people.

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In the ways, he is involved in being a lawyer and supporting a African American in court and experiences prejudicism in Maycomb, as a single parent. Atticus Finch wanted to display that everyone deserves a chance and that people are all equal, however the townsfolk of Maycomb discriminate if one is different in any form. Atticus Finch wanted to express his thoughts towards racism despite all the controversy, but Atticus was very much ahead of his time and many people in the town did not see eye to eye with him, yet he expresses his beliefs towards Tom

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A hero may not be seen with a cape, but one who has the qualities such as persistence and justice seeking. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, to be considered a hero , the qualities of seeking justice and persistence are needed because these traits help with the well being of others in the world. Atticus Finch shows these qualities when he fights for Tom Robinson and passes his morals to his children. Furthermore, Martin Luther King Jr. highlights these qualities when he stands up for others despite the risks. Seeking justice is one of the most important qualities Atticus has, so he is considered a hero.

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Without thinking twice, Atticus responds that he defends Tom Robinson. Atticus also treats him the same as all of his clients, with just as much respect and works just as hard to defend him. Also, the mere fact that Atticus defends Tom Robinson, a black man, shows how much he advocates equality. Atticus goes against all odds just to defend Tom

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So don’t let Mrs. Dubose get you down. She has enough troubles of her own” (pg. 124). Consequently, this short sentiment displays Atticus’ unfailing desire to find everyone agreeable despite the circumstances and does well as an example for his growing children. Furthermore, he presents his unconditional love by following, possibly unconsciously, the commandments of the Bible where it lies said, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). Not once in the pages of the To Kill a Mockingbird novel does Atticus result into severe and unfair disciple toward Jem and Scout, rather he determinedly instructs them in the ways of tenderness.

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In this key passage, Atticus is giving his final speech of the Tom Robinson case. This is a key passage because it ties together the main conflict of the story, as well as the central assertion. From this speech, it is evident that Atticus Finch believes all human beings should be given an equal chance, and this passage is his attempt to convince the jury of his viewpoint. While this central assertion is easy to conceptualise and perceive today, it was unheard of and near impossible for black to be treated equally as whites, and this is seen through their final decision to convict Tom Robinson. In addition, the passage reveals much about Atticus’s character, his viewpoints and ideals, and the strength of his moral codes.

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The mockingbird in the title of Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird," symbolizes a number of characters throughout the novel. In order to fully understand why these characters symbolize killed mockingbirds, one must first understand what the title represents and why it's wrong to kill a mockingbird. The idea that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird was first mentioned by Atticus Finch (the protagonist's, Scout, father) when he saw the children shooting things with BB guns. As he knows that soon they will go after birds, he tells them: "Shoot all the Blue jays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird”. As Miss Maudie (the Finch's next-door neighbour) explains to Scout, it's a sin to kill a mockingbird because

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In our society, innocent people, known as mockingbirds, experience prejudice in their lives. A/T: In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Background: Tom Robinson is a black person who’s was accused of raping a white girl named Mayella Ewell which he has never done. For this reason, Atticus Finch was appointed to be his lawyer. As a result, Atticus takes a stand for him by approving his case and standing up for him, but Tom was still found guilty.

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In Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, the mad dog is used as a reflection of many different struggles faced by specific characters as well as society as a whole. Foremost, the dog represents everything Atticus is facing in the novel. He has internal struggles, like many main characters, such as having to choose between right and wrong as well as fighting more physical things such as the jury. This leads into the next point: the dog represents discrimination and hatred itself in the novel.

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