Atticus Finch Hero Essay

Atticus Finch: The Most Heroic Character in all of Fiction A hero encompasses many qualities, not just bravery or strength, but more importantly, the ability to inspire others. To Kill A Mockingbird, by Nelle Harper Lee, explores themes such as racism, innocence, and the morality of youth in Southern America in the 1930s. Topping the list of the American Film Institute’s 100 years...100 Heroes and Villains is a main character of the story, Atticus Finch. The American Film Institute defines a hero as “a character who prevails in extreme circumstances and dramatizes a strong sense of morality, courage, and purpose. Though they may be ambiguous or flawed, they often sacrifice themselves to show humanity at its best”(American Film Institute para.
Atticus shows heroics because of his way of raising his children to be not so quick to judge therefore making him a leader of kind heart. A germane example of Atticus’s lesson to his children would be when he says, “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). He explain to Scout that you should not judge someone until you know who they truly are. He also tells Scout “I do my best to love everybody...I’m hard put sometimes-baby, it’s never an insult to be called what someone thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is” (Lee 144 and 145). This shows that Atticus is warm-hearted as well as valorous because he is not afraid to be called a name. Atticus teaches his children respect as well as courage when he explains to Jem, “I wanted you to see what real courage is... It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway” (Lee 149). Atticus deserves to be honored as a hero because he raises his children with honesty and gentle