So far in To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch is one of the most respected people in Maycomb. We have learned a lot about Atticus through what he says, what he does, and what others say about him. He is a father, a lawyer, and a great person that is kind, and accepting to everyone.
Atticus defended Tom Robinson in court when he was accused of raping Mayella Ewell. He was convicted purely because he is a black man, and Mayella was white. Atticus did not take that into consideration, because he is not racist like the rest of the town. He believed Tom was not guilty, as he would never rape a woman. All the evidence was there that, in fact, it was Bob Ewell, Mayella’s husband, who was guilty, not Tom.