Preview

Atticus Finch Morality

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
273 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Atticus Finch Morality
Throughout the Novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch’s courage and morality allows him to overcome social prejudices and defend a convicted African American in court. Atticus Finch is a lawyer who lives in Maycomb, Alabama with his two children Scout and Jem Finch. He is a modest man who makes almost every decision based on his heart and ethics. In the novel, Atticus is faced with an incredibly uncomfortable situation. He is a white male living in the early 1900s, and is asked to defend an African American named Tom Robinson in his trial where he was convicted of rape. In school, his daughter Scout is faced with comments from other children such as “Scout Finch’s daddy defended niggers” (pg 20). However, when Scout asks her
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    Rape In To Kill A Mockingbird
    • 1226 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Rape In To Kill A Mockingbird

    The novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, tells the story of two children and their father who is defending an African-American man that is put on trial for rape in the 1930’s. One of the main characters is Scout, who is the narrator of the book, her brother Jem, and their father who is a lawyer named Atticus. Tom Robinson, a black man, is being put on trial for raping Mayella Ewell, a white women. The setting of the story is Maycomb County Alabama in the 1930’s. Atticus is the man defending Tom Robinson and is the father of Jem and Scout who are the two main characters. We see the story through Scout’s eyes and how she and her brother deal with challenges that come upon them giving the reader perspectives of their lives. Lee reveals…

    • 1226 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Discrimination In To Kill A Mockingbird Essay
    • 1838 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Discrimination In To Kill A Mockingbird Essay

    In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee focuses more on the aspect of racial discrimination rather than “poor white trash” discrimination (Hovet 187). It is so conspicuous that a man loses his life because of it. While the discrimination is more prominent regarding race, the Finch family is also greatly discriminated against throughout the novel. Racism is very prominent in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, as evidenced when Tom Robinson, a black man, is accused of raping a white woman in the 1930s South; because of his innocence and untimely death, all lives in the novel will be changed forever, including Atticus Finch.…

    • 1838 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Racial Dishonesty In To Kill A Mockingbird
    • 898 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Racial Dishonesty In To Kill A Mockingbird

    Did you ever wonder why someone thought to separate blacks from whites, then wonder why someone decided to join them together again? In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, many uncomfortable situations were addressed that many people today preferably don’t like to discuss. This is why Atticus Finch encourages his children, Jem and Scout, to be aware of segregation. Within the novel, there is a rape case that discusses a black man being accused of the crime. This case afflicts many emotions and actions of multiple characters, but specifically Atticus, the lawyer on the black man’s side. The emotions from him are about how his life revolves around social disrespect and racial dishonesty which causes Atticus to act effectively and…

    • 898 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Atticus In To Kill A Mockingbird
    • 945 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Atticus In To Kill A Mockingbird

    Atticus is the father figure for his kids, Jem and Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird. The Finch family lives in Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression. The kids spend much of their time playing with their gregarious neighbor, Dill, and spying on their reclusive and mysterious neighbor Boo Radley. When their father, Atticus, who is a widowed man and a respected lawyer, defends a black man named Tom Robinson against fabricated rape charges against a white girl, he is in/at a detriment. The trial, events following and the people they have interactions with, expose Jem and Scout to racism and stereotyping. This completely changes their view of the world. The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, uses characterization to portray how a child’s…

    • 945 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Did Tom Robinson Occur In To Kill A Mockingbird
    • 549 Words
    • 3 Pages

    How Did Tom Robinson Occur In To Kill A Mockingbird

    “‘Well, Dill, after all he’s just a Negro.’ ‘I don’t care one speck. It ain’t right somehow it ain’t right to do ‘em that way. Hasn’t anybody got any business talkin’ like that-it just makes me sick,’”(Lee, 266). In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird author Harper Lee lays out the story of the Finch family consisting of two siblings, Jem and Scout, along with their widowed father Atticus. This family is faced with a tough break when Atticus get appointed a case to defend an African American (Tom Robinson) in the time of extreme discrimination. Growing up shapes and builds minds to what will fully become of them in future years even though there may be obstacles to endeavor through the process.…

    • 549 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    All Literature Shows Us the Power of Emotion, It Is Emotion, Not Reason, That Motivates Characters in Literature.
    • 478 Words
    • 2 Pages

    All Literature Shows Us the Power of Emotion, It Is Emotion, Not Reason, That Motivates Characters in Literature.

    Atticus Finch is a lawyer known to be the most honorable man throughout the small town of Maycomb and is a paragon towards his children in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mocking Bird. His name becomes shamed once he takes the challenge to defend a falsely accused black man guilty for rape against a white woman in the harsh and racial times of the 1930’s south. A con in this situation of defending a black against a white is the sacrifice of being looked upon as disgraceful, and even threatened to be killed along with his children. Atticus a strong believer in justice, courageously steps forward to defend this black man, even though he can already foresee the negative outcome. This case is considered to be a despicable act, but still Atticus fights for his defendant with all his efforts. Atticus knowing the consequences of the situation follows his beliefs over the peer pressure and degrading whispers of his fellow town people.…

    • 478 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    TKAM Why Atticus should defend Tom
    • 404 Words
    • 2 Pages

    TKAM Why Atticus should defend Tom

    In To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch was a well-respected man and known for sticking with his beliefs. In the novel, Atticus agreed to defend a black man named Tom Robinson, who has been accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman. Tom’s trial began in the summer during the early 1930s, of Maycomb, Alabama. At the trial itself, Atticus provided clear evidence that the victim, Mayella Ewell and her father, Bob, are lying. Despite the evidence proving Tom’s innocence, the all-white jury convicts him. Since Atticus is a good natured man, he would defend Tom Robinson without hesitation.…

    • 404 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    To Kill a Mockingbird- Signs of Courage
    • 528 Words
    • 3 Pages

    To Kill a Mockingbird- Signs of Courage

    Atticus was a well-educated, respected lawyer in the town of Maycomb. Atticus put his family relationship on the line for justice. Even though the people in the town were criticizing him. “He had announced the day before that Scout Finch’s daddy defended niggers” (page 85). She said everyone was using that word. Atticus told her that the use of that work was for common people, and everyone minus one was going to be using it. He had the courage to send his daughter back to school where he knew everyone else was using the word and she would be criticized by her peers but he stood for equality even at his daughters expense. Scout asked if you should not be defending him why are you doing it.…

    • 528 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    To Kill a Mockingbird
    • 681 Words
    • 3 Pages

    To Kill a Mockingbird

    The main events of “to kill a mockingbird” consist of a lawyer named Atticus Finch defending a black man who has been accused of the rape of Mayella Ewell. It’s plenty obvious the defendant didn’t do it. Through the eyes and ears of young Jem and Scout we can see how racism affected lives in Alabama in the 1930’s. Jem, Scout, and dill are fascinated by their neighbor Boo Radley whom only a few people have seen in years. The children fill their heads up he keeps himself hidden. When Atticus goes to court and humiliates Bob Ewell who is the father of the alleged rape victim, and he seeks revenge. He does this by attacking the helpless Scout and Jem as they return from a school pageant. To our surprise Boo emerges from his house and stabs Bob to death to save the children lives. (351)…

    • 681 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Racism In Tkam
    • 596 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Racism In Tkam

    The novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, tells the story of Two kids, Scout and Jem, who live in Maycomb, Alabama, in the 1930’s. They are very adventurous and curious. Scout and Jem's dad, Atticus, is a lawyer who is given a tough case of defending a black man who was accused of rape. During this time in Maycomb there is a lot of racism going around. This theme appears in the novel when Cecil jacobs announced that Scout's dad Atticus defends black people and started to make fun of her it, when Tom Robinson was accused of rape when he didn't do anything and they know that he is innocent but was still found guilty and sentenced to death, and when Tom Robinson was shot 17 time and killed.…

    • 596 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    To Kill a Mockingbird,ANALYTICAL ESSAY
    • 710 Words
    • 3 Pages

    To Kill a Mockingbird,ANALYTICAL ESSAY

    In this novel, Atticus Finch stands up for his personal beliefs despite the contrary attitudes of majority of the people in Maycomb. Though Atticus is aware that his reputation is threatened, he still fights for his sense of morality. When Scout asks Atticus whether he is a “nigger lover”, he responds by admitting, “I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody… I’m hard put, sometimes -baby, it’s never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name” (pg 118). This quote illustrates that Atticus does not care about what people think and he will always defend his beliefs. It is emphasised in the novel through Atticus’ actions and language that he strongly maintains his personal ethical practices and challenges the societal attitudes of…

    • 710 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    To Kill a Mocking Bird Essay
    • 1032 Words
    • 5 Pages

    To Kill a Mocking Bird Essay

    In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee tells the story of a little girl, scout, growing up in a small town south of Alabama during the 1930’s. Scout, with her brother Jem and friend Dill, grow up in a town that has prejudice, racism, and hierarchy. Along the way, they learn how bad racism and prejudice can get. Atticus, the father of Jem and Scout, teaches the children about right and wrong. Atticus gets assign to a case about a negro, Tom Robinson, convicted of rape. Through Tom Robinson, Atticus Finch, and Boo Radley, Lee suggests that when compassion for another becomes greater than the consideration of self, will endanger one’s life and ruin his/her reputation.…

    • 1032 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Racism in to Kill a Mockingbird
    • 648 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Racism in to Kill a Mockingbird

    As previously mentioned, the point of view in this narrative is from Scout. Her upbringing has been respectful to the African-Americans in her society and she shows this with her relationship with her maid, Calpurnia. Other children her age have adopted their parents' racially prejudice views, causing her of many problems. Atticus's lawsuit seems to isolate his children and Scout is taunted with remarks in the playground. Her only retort is violence and Atticus, as an virtuous father, does not condone this behaviour either: "My fists were clenched I was ready to make fly. Cecil Jacobs had announced the day before that Scout Finch's daddy defended niggers."…

    • 648 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: Atticus Finch, an Admirable and Respected Leader
    • 1170 Words
    • 5 Pages

    To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: Atticus Finch, an Admirable and Respected Leader

    “It is far better to be trusted and respected that is to be liked.” In the story To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is told from a child’s point of view, a girl name Jean Louise Finch that goes by the nickname Scout. Atticus Finch, her father, is the lawyer defending a black man, Tom Robinson, who has been accused of a crime. This story takes place in Maycomb, Alabama around the 1930’s. Atticus Finch does not care about age, appearance, or even skin color. He is not afraid to be himself and he is the same inside the house as he is on the streets. As the story progresses, Atticus presents himself as kind, wise, and calm. All the qualities which make him an admirable and respected leader throughout Maycomb.…

    • 1170 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Atticus Finch: The Definition of Courage
    • 699 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Atticus Finch: The Definition of Courage

    Atticus first demonstrates courage by defending a black man, Tom Robinson. In Maycomb racism is presides over society. Many residents in Maycomb discriminate against African Americans. Despite this, Atticus Finch portrays his willingness to risk his social standing, professional reputation, and even his physical safety in order to bring justice for a young Negro man falsely accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell. Atticus courageously takes on this case telling Scout, "if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again" (75). Atticus means that if he didn’t defend Tom he would ruin his moral reputation and his counties. Also, Atticus teaches his children by setting an example for them and if he did not take on the Robinson case he would not have set a good example for Jem and Scout. Furthermore, Atticus defending Tom displays courage because he must go against his strongly prejudice family and friends. They lose respect for Atticus for defending a black man; accusing him of being a ‘nigger-lover.’ A classmate of Scout tells her, “‘my folks said you’re your daddy was a disgrace’” (76). Still, Atticus holds his head high despite the insults and states that "no matter how bitter things get, they are still friends and this is still home" (76). Showing that Atticus believes even though people may be mean to them now they must remember that they are still friends are still care…

    • 699 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics