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Significance Of Atticus Finch In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Atticus Finch is used to represent the theme in to Kill a Mockingbird. Because of this a lot of misfortunate things happen to Atticus since he represents the theme.We see a lot of character development of Atticus in To Kill a Mockingbird and I feel that this is mostly because of him being used to represent the theme. Atticus has been used to represent the theme a number of times. One such time is on page 127 when the stray dog that had taken up residence in the neighborhood gets mad dog. The dog which everyone had nicknamed Tim Johnson had gotten sick and was wondering down the street. Atticus had to shoot Tim Johnson and put him down. This represents how Atticus did something he didn’t want to do because he knew that despite the fact he …show more content…

When Cecil Jacobs began calling Atticus a n***** lover. Atticus replied by stating that he does defend negroes but so does every lawyer. When Scout asked why Atticus did defend negroes Atticus replied that if he didn’t defend negroes then he couldn’t face his children whom he was trying to raise to have good morales. This represents the plot because it demonstrates how hypocritical the entire county of Maycomb is. The people there claim that they raise their children to be good law abiding citizens who respect everyone then they act mean towards african americans just because of the color of their skin. Another time Atticus represented the theme was when he encountered all the men at the jail on page 201. The men wanted to kidnap Tom Robinson and lynch him but Atticus wouldn’t allow them. We later found out that Atticus did this without being armed meaning he had no weapons of any kind. Even when the men made it clear that they were going to attack Atticus he still calmly stood their and began to talk them out of it and with some assistance from Scout all the men left and Tom Robinson wasn’t harmed. This represents how violence isn’t always the answer and that words can be the best

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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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Atticus Finch is portrayed by Harper Lee as a moral and selfless man in Chapter 9 of To Kill a Mockingbird through the use of an allusion. Currently in the book, Atticus is justifying his choice to stand up for Tom Robinson, an African American man accused of rape. Jack's response to Atticus when he describes the case's challenges is, "Let this cup pass from you, eh." The statement is a reference to the Last Supper, where Jesus begs God to spare him from the pain, agony, and persecution he will experience. The reference implies that Atticus' decision to stand up for Tom Robinson will cost him dearly, mirroring the suffering and tremendous sacrifice Jesus undertook by giving his life in defence of his faith.

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1100 Words | 5 Pages

Lee uses the mockingbird as a symbol of evoking empathy in the novel. She writes, “I’d rather you shoot a tin can in the backyard, but I know you’ll go after the birds. Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit them, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (Lee119). Atticus is explaining to Scout to not kill the mockingbird because it’s a sin. Lee evokes empathy by using the mockingbird to symbolize innocence.

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767 Words | 4 Pages

This shows us the symbol of evil because of what the court case did to Atticus because he was simply defending a negro. Bob Ewell had come across him at some point in time spitting on him and threatening him saying that he was going to kill him. Eventually, the whole town turned against Atticus just because he was simply trying to make a change in the town. Harper Lee uses Atticus to show that good and bad can happen to someone who is simply trying to be

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922 Words | 4 Pages

In the novel, the symbolism of Tim Johnson, after he is shot by Atticus, represents the idea of following moral code instead of abiding with the law. The moment of Tim Johnson's death it mentions, “Tim Johnson leaped, flopped over and crumpled on the sidewalk in a brown-and-white heap. He didn’t know what hit him” (110). Tim Johnson exemplifies the low parts of society. Atticus is the type of man to believe in the rights of everyone and disagree with any forms of mistreatment.

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1176 Words | 5 Pages

Atticus had to shoot Tim Johnson the “community dog” because the dog had gone mad and with that threat they all knew Atticus was the best shot. The kids then learned that Atticus was known as One-Shot Finch and that he was the deadliest shot in Maycomb County. Mrs. Dubose was an old, ill lady that happened to be very mean. She told Jem that his father was trash, he would be going to reform school, and that Scout would be working at the O.K. Café. Jem lost it one day and ruined Mrs. Dubose’s camellias, as punishment he would have to read to Mrs. Dubose.

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He shows this by not following the majority conscience, for example, he took on a “coloured” persons case, which shows how he opposes racism despite the hate he will receive from the people in Maycomb. He not only teaches Jem and Scout but he also teaches us, the reader, our principles, for example, “it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird”. The word sin in this quotation shows a religious point of view, which emphasises the word. Miss Maudie states “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy”, this links into many events taking place in the novel, for example, Tom Robinsons case. This particular event focuses on Tom Robinson, the mockingbird of the novel, he is the mockingbird because he is being judged by the people in Macomb for “raping” a white girl, which he didn’t do, this also shows Atticus’s integrity as he is the only person supporting

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594 Words | 3 Pages

Atticus Finch is a well respected lawyer in Maycomb County. However, many individuals in the community turn their back on Atticus when he plans to defend an African American man, Tom Robinson, in court. Taking place in Alabama during the 1930s, “To Kill A Mockingbird” accurately portrays the hostile environment for

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858 Words | 4 Pages

On the surface Maycomb County might seem like quiet, nice place to live, but deeper into the town hidden identities are discovered, courage is needed, and the maturation of characters is crucial to unearthing the truth about life in the 1930s. In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, readers learn about a small town named Maycomb County and the struggles that occur within it. During the Great Depression and a peak of Southern racism, readers met the main character Scout. Scout, a girl ages six to nine, narrates this story for years and the happenings in the town. Years pass and different incidents arise including a court case about rape, a mean old neighbor, and the mysterious man next door.

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871 Words | 4 Pages

In the story, we see Atticus Finch, a lawyer in Maycomb, have to push through one of the most potent racial barriers of that time. He was selected to defend a black man charged with sexual assault. He knew that this case was unwinnable, but nevertheless he tried his absolute hardest

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800 Words | 4 Pages

He knows that killing is wrong, so “he dropped them in the street.” Atticus could not bear to watch as he went against what he believed. Any other person with a shot as good as Atticus’ would have shot the dog without question. But unlike the others, Atticus makes one last attempt as he “blinks hard,” to try to fathom what his actions will do. He wants to give the dog a chance, much like how he wants to give Tom Robinson a chance.

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1016 Words | 5 Pages

The lives of blacks in To Kill a Mockingbird especially center around Atticus, with the grateful, almost worshipful attitude they have towards him revealing how he is portrayed as a “white savior”, while blacks are shown as incompetent or helpless, despite his doing little to actually further the fight against racism. One striking example of Atticus’s depiction as a savior occurs when a rabid dog is discovered in Maycomb. The sheriff, Heck Tate, is called upon to shoot the dog, but he hands over his gun so Atticus can shoot it instead, despite his protests of not having held a gun in thirty years, saying, “‘I’d feel mighty comfortable if you did now’”(96). The dog itself is used as a symbol for Maycomb, while its rabies symbolizes the town’s

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597 Words | 3 Pages

In the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee many people in the town of Maycomb are treated very differently due to their skin color, or rumors they heard from people. Arthur “Boo” Radley was treated differently because he was never seen. When truly Boo isn't any of what they think but because people look at the outside of a person they judge them and treat people different because they aren't like them. The author reveals that it is important to recognize that all humans deserve respect regardless of their status in society.

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922 Words | 4 Pages

In conclusion, the main theme of To Kill a Mockingbird is that anyone can make changes if the persons believe that he/ she is making the right decision and makes an effort to make it happen. Atticus is outcasted for trying to make a change that he believes to be the right one. He gives his reasons for believing, that he made the right decision. He wants his children to look at things in a different perspective and, stay away from the influence of racism.

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1334 Words | 6 Pages

He is showing that no matter the race you do what is right. No matter the opinion of others, if you know something is wrong, stand tall and take charge. This is a positive role model where his kids can follow in his footsteps, look up to him and understand the rights and wrongs of things. Lastly, Atticus says, ‘’’I wanted you to see what real courage is... it’s when you know you 're licked before you begin

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