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How Is Atticus Finch A Good Role Model

839 Words4 Pages

Bella Duel
Mrs. Thilken
Period 4
18 May 2023
Folks are Folks
“All men are created equal” - Thomas Jefferson. Society has evolved in abolishing racism and standing up to prejudice. People who have the character of Atticus Finch pave the way for change. The historical fiction novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, uses Atticus Finch as an inspiration and role model for defending racism and prejudice. He takes on the challenge, no matter what his town's standards Atticus keeps his head held high. Atticus Finch challenges prejudices and racism in Maycomb society, displaying courage when accepting a difficult court case, treating people of color equally, and bringing up his children well-rounded. Against society's standards, Atticus adopted …show more content…

Innocently charged with the alleged rape, Tom Robinson is appointed with the lawyer Atticus to defend his case. Bravely, he takes on the case and leaves everyone in a state of shock. Due to Tom’s race, the common prejudice assumes he is guilty yet Atticus stands up in his defense. Even though Atticus knows he will lose and “licked a hundred years before we started” he believes that it is, “no reason for us not to try and win”(Lee 87). Lee’s use of the allusion “licked a hundred years before we started” references a historical loss in the South in the Civil War. Atticus made a connection and compared himself to the Confederate forces. They both knew they were “licked” before they started, but still fought with everything they had. Atticus knows very well that he has no chance of winning this trial. Even though he is aware of the soon loss, it does mean that Atticus is going to try his very best to fight for Tom. During his closing argument in Tom’s defense, Atiticus challenges the judge and the jury to forget about the social prejudice at the time. He reminds them that inside the courtroom all prior judgments and preconceived notions must be left outside the door, “But there is one way in this country in which all men are created equal- there is one human institution that makes a pauper the equal of a Rockefeller, the stupid man the equal of an Einstein, and the ignorant

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Unlike Scout, he is under the influence of the prejudiced townspeople. Due to Scout’s curiosity and impotent fury to defend Atticus even if she is unaware of what the word means. After being told what the word means and briefly informing her on the case, she decides to ask Atticus if he will win the case and he responds, “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.” (Lee 87). In this quote, Lee indirectly characterized Atticus as strong willed, determined and courageous.

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491 Words | 2 Pages

In To Kill a Mockingbird, a black man named Tom Robinson was accused of raping a white woman. Although Atticus had helped Tom Robinson as his lawyer, Tom Robinson had not received a fair trial, because he had no witnesses to back him up. Since the jury was not impartial, it made the trial even harder on Tom’s part. When explaining the trial to Scout, Atticus tells her, “’ Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started.

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1664 Words | 7 Pages

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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551 Words | 3 Pages

“Simply because we were licked for a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win” (Chapter 9, page 101). With this quote, Atticus is attempting to elicit the idea that white people have a distinct social advantage over black people and that the court is representative of that. By Atticus taking this case it demonstrates his goal of proving the prejudice to be wrong and ending the trial in favor of Tom. Regardless of the outcome, the point and the perspective will be shown to the people of

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1033 Words | 5 Pages

“Sell a country! Why not sell the air, the clouds, and the great sea, as well as the earth? Did not the Great Spirit make them all for the use of his children?” This quote describes when the colonies wanted to kill the American Indians that settled in part of America so they could expand east from west and colonize. Tecumseh says this because the great spirit didn’t make the country of united states for the Indian Americans, both elderly and infants to be killed and taken away from their homes.

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722 Words | 3 Pages

“He also is willing to stand up against the odds-he knows he’s ‘licked’ before he even begins” (Text 2). Atticus knows he will not be able to win this case even if Tom Robinson is innocent. Unfortunately the town and the jury are corrupt and will not give Tom a fair trial. Almost anyone can see that Atticus Finch defends Tom Robinson to show compassion through the “Golden Rule” and set an example for his children.

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865 Words | 4 Pages

The children feel it was unfair, but then again they are naïve to the racism. Atticus appears unmoved at the verdict. Atticus, a lawyer at Maycomb, supports Tom Robinson and feels as if he is innocent. Taking on the job to help defend Tom was an act of courage, seeing how everyone else was so opposed to this man because he was black. "It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.

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1079 Words | 5 Pages

Atticus knows justice will be upheld by defending Tom. He knows that if he did not defend Tom, he would no longer maintain self-respect since he knows a man’s life is at stake. This characterization shows how Atticus follows the morally right thing, compared to the socially right thing. He displays empathy by acknowledging the fact that he will be judged, but chooses to defend Tom anyway because he would rather follow what is right than be socially accepted. Additionally, Atticus

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638 Words | 3 Pages

In Harper Lee's classic novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird," Atticus Finch serves as a compelling embodiment of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream of a just and equal society. Atticus is a principled, wise, and compassionate lawyer who, in the racially charged setting of 1930s Maycomb, Alabama, stands as a beacon of moral integrity and racial tolerance. He not only supports the ideals of equality and justice but also demonstrates them in his actions and interactions with others. One of Atticus’s main ways in which he embodies Dr.King is through his commitment to treating everyone with respect and fairness, regardless of one's race.

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888 Words | 4 Pages

Even if Atticus can’t win the trial he fights hard because he wants to be a role model to Jem and Scout. Atticus believes Tom is a mockingbird, meaning his innocent and a victim of racism. For him to take the case makes sense.

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545 Words | 3 Pages

Atticus knows there will be a lot criticism from people all around the town of Maycomb; a heavily white populated area. Nevertheless, Atticus does not care and tries everything he can possibly do, to save Tom Robinson’s life. Thus shows, that not all people of white color are prejudice and racist, because there are beings like Atticus who have chosen to fight against the crowd and bring society an inch closer towards equality. Throughout the story, not only does Atticus have to suffer from hateful people around the town, but his two children also have to deal with boat loads of mischief, that comes with having a white father as lawyer, that is defending a

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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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794 Words | 4 Pages

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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477 Words | 2 Pages

In 'To Kill A Mockingbird' the idea of living according to one's beliefs requires courage through the character of Atticus Finch. As a moral compass in the novel, Atticus embodies the importance of following one's conscience despite societal pressures. When defending Tom Robinson, a falsely accused black man, Atticus declares, "Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win" (Pg 76). This quote highlights Atticus's unwavering commitment to justice, even in inevitable defeat. His willingness to confront the deeply ingrained racism of Maycomb County exemplifies the courage needed to challenge prevailing opinions.

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820 Words | 4 Pages

In Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, the character Atticus Finch is different from the other men of Macomb in many ways. One major difference is him displaying positive qualities not seen in Macomb's other men. It can be argued that Atticus represents a new concept of masculinity because of his personal qualities. There two are qualities that strongly support this argument; Atticus is respectful to all people and he does not do the daily tasks that the other men do, although some people argue that his behavior is only because he is under pressure to set an example for his kids. Atticus one of the few respectful characters in To Kill A Mockingbird which sets him apart from the other Maycomb men.

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