Preview

Atticus Injustice

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
406 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Atticus Injustice
Acts of injustice are present everywhere worldwide, but those who fight for fairness can alter that. In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee by Harper Lee, there are numerous examples of such a theme. Atticus’s influential grasp on justice led to a tiny victory for the future in his town of Maycomb, Alabama, a community infected by racism. Atticus has a strong understanding of justice, as evidenced by his pivotal actions in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. He took Tom Robinson’s court case because the judge knew he could impact the jurors unlike anyone else (Lee 288-289). With Atticus’s wise and articulate nature, he could make a strong attempt to get justice for Tom Robinson. Though the town frowned upon Atticus for his actions, Atticus

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Atticus Finch Injustice

    • 240 Words
    • 1 Page

    Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird has been recognized as one of the greatest novels in history. The compassionate and dramatic novel, published in 1960, has been awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and is deeply loved by people all over the world. Eye-opening life advice is the novel’s biggest factor, and how it should be implemented in the world of injustice. The famous line from Atticus Finch, “ You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… until you into his skin and walk around in it,” is a very notable quote to consider especially to avoid assumption and judgmentation of others. However I didn’t feel the moving messages of the novel as the story itself was not my taste in genre. I feel that the…

    • 240 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    To Kill A Mockingbird

    • 540 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee illustrates determination through Atticus Finch’s ability to do what is right at all costs because he wants to set good examples. First of all, Atticus defends those who aren’t able to speak for themselves or for those who aren’t understood. Evidence of this assertion from the book is, “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.”- (pg. 39) Atticus defended Miss Caroline when Scout told him about Burris Ewell; Atticus told Scout to look at things from Miss Caroline’s perspective. Atticus knew that people shouldn’t tease Arthur Radley, so Atticus made sure his children didn’t make fun of Arthur. Atticus defended Mrs. Dubose and explained to Jem how she was the bravest person he ever knew. Second of all, Atticus accepts the trial of Tom Robinson even though the town is against him. Evidence of this second assertion is, “This case, Tom Robinson’s case, is something that goes to the essence of a man’s conscience-Scout, I couldn’t go to church and worship God if I didn’t try to help that man.”- (pg. 139) Although Atticus knew that Tom Robinson was going to be guilty, Atticus still wanted to defend him. If Atticus couldn’t hold up his head in town, Atticus couldn’t represent this county in the legislature. He couldn’t even tell Scout or Jem not to do something again because Atticus could never ask them to mind him again. The town was against Atticus for defending a black man, but Atticus didn’t cave into the negative comments they were saying about him. When taking the case of Tom Robinson, Atticus took the responsibilities of protecting Tom. One of the times when Atticus protected Tom was when Atticus sat outside the jail late at night with a gun to protect Tom. Last of all, Atticus makes wise choices in regards to his children. Here are two evidences of this last assertion. “You might hear some ugly talk about it at school, but do one…

    • 540 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus shows great compassion and tolerance when he stands up for the Negroes. He stands up and represents Tom Robinson because he believes that everyone should be treated equally in the court of law. He knows that because Tom was a Negro there would be a slim chance of winning. That fact never discouraged him though because he says that the main reason he is representing Tom is because, “ if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature” (75). He recited a speech, which clearly states that Tom Robinson is not guilty. In that speech he says, “our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal” (205). He believed that prejudice and stereotyping is wrong and he tries to teach these morals to Scout and Jem.…

    • 660 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Injustice is an important theme in To Kill a Mockingbird. An example of where injustice is shown in the book is when…

    • 656 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Injustice In All Shapes And Sizes Out of many reoccurring themes in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, injustice proves itself the most extensive. In the small southern town of Maycomb, populated by both blacks and whites, several situations involve great injustice. One will see injustice practiced by a person making quick assumptions or judgments, as well as one possessing a prejudiced or predetermined bias. Whether a minor situation or one in a courtroom, injustice is always wrong. The common theme of injustice displays itself through a number of vastly different scenarios, such as Aunt Alexandra’s quick judgments about Walter Cunningham, the Finch’s unique experience at Calpurnia’s church, and the people of Maycomb’s biased verdict of Tom Robinson.…

    • 610 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    At school, Scout is being treated unfairly, so she heads straight to Atticus for comfort. He tells her that “ ‘You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view--’ ‘Sir?’ ‘-- until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.’ ” (Lee 39) Atticus proves he is wise and understands more about society than anyone else. He has noticed that you need to see both perspectives to get the whole picture, this is something many people never realize in life. Atticus is bold in this way because he sees the big picture and this leads to him being a good lawyer. In a court, you need to see both sides of the argument and Atticus shows this by making the jury take more than the normal amount of time to decide if Tom Robinson is guilty. He saw through Mayella's story, but he understood why she was scared and so he proved that Bob beat up his daughter not Tom. Although the jury did not side with Atticus in the end, he put up a fair fight and was able to prove a lot more than some other lawyers would. This is probably why Judge Taylor chose Atticus. Another reason why Judge Taylor could have chosen Atticus is because of his belief in equality. When Jem invites Walter Cunningham into the Finch’s house, Atticus is not discriminatory and tries to make Walter feel welcomed into the house. “Atticus shook his head at me again.” Mr.Finch’s kind actions show that he does not want to make Walter feel uncomfortable at the table, because to him, they are all equals there. He does not like it when Scout calls Walter out on the odd movements he is doing and makes small talk with the young boy to not seclude him as a guest. Most people in that time ( ex. Aunt Alexandra ) would be more focused on social class than equity. Since Atticus believes in everyone being equal in his house and outside of it, and he has wisdom about…

    • 1520 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    When the judge assigned him the job of defending Tom Robinson, he knew that he had to accept the case because if he rejected it an innocent man would die without a fair trial as everyone on the jury was white and they would not side with a man who was black. Atticus, himself knew that even though the odds were against Tom Robinson he would not be able to face himself everyday knowing that he did not try to stop this injustice. When he made up his mind to stand up and help Tom Robinson, Atticus went through the extremes of defending Tom with only a small gun when a mob came over to the county jail with the intention of killing his client and making his family face the prejudice and danger that went along with his defending someone black at that time. He even gained dangerous enemies such as Bob Ewell. Although he lost the case, Atticus was still able to think of himself in an honorable way because he knew that he stood up for what he believed…

    • 513 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus Finch, a lawyer, is a very compassionate person, and a person who is not afraid to challenge the unwritten laws of the South. In the trial of Tom Robinson, Atticus decides to defend Tom to the best of his ability. Atticus is given the trial by the judge and has the choice to defend Tom or let an inexperienced lawyer have the case, but Atticus accepts the case with a lot of thought. He accepts the case because he could not be a good parent to his children, in which setting a bad example of not doing the right thing. Atticus an excellent lawyer and parent is also compassionate for Tom when defending him. First off, he accepts the case which is good for tom because Atticus is probably one of the most experienced lawyers in Maycomb County. Atticus's choice is accept the case and to defend Tom Robinson to his fullest.…

    • 967 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus Finch, from the Harper Lee novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, bases all of his decisions and actions in the Tom Robinson trial, merely as a reaction to powerful emotion. First he accepts the case based upon the emotional racist state of the town condemning Tom Robinson primarily because he is black. Second, he is driven by his emotional belief in everyone getting a fair trial and having the same access to justice,…

    • 973 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus believes in justice and the justice system. He doesn't like criminal law, yet he accepts the appointment to Tom Robinson's case. He knows before he begins that he's going to lose this case,…

    • 4911 Words
    • 20 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    His main goal in the Tom Robinson trial is not to win, but to show the town of Maycomb that Tom is innocent, and should be treated correctly. While discussing the death of Mrs. Dubose, Atticus informs Scout that things would be getting difficult soon; this shows a lot about his character “This case, Tom Robinson's case, is something that goes to the essence of a man's conscience-Scout, I couldn't go to church and worship God if I didn't try to help that man” (Chapter 11, pg. 139). Atticus reveals that standing for Tom Robinson, against racism, was the right thing to do; if he were to deny it, he would never be able to treat himself or others the same. This sets Atticus apart from everyone else in Maycomb, considering mostly everyone knew that Tom was innocent, though only the courageous and honorable were able to stand up to…

    • 808 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch’s purpose at the current time was to persuade the jury that Tom Robinson was an innocent man, Tom was black field worker that had been accused of beating and raping a young girl, and at the time, 1930s, if a black man was accused of doing anything to white female, they were found guilty, plain and simple. But Atticus uses, pathos ethos and logos during his speech to the jury, which allows him to effectively demonstrate the real aspects of his personality and morals. Since Tom was black, many did not want to represent him in court, due to his race. But Atticus, saw the challenge did not back away from it. He wanted to prove to the jurors that Tom Robinson was an innocent man and that he should…

    • 283 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In “To Kill a Mockingbird”, Atticus is a wise lawyer, who endeavours to have a fair trial for Tom Robinson. Tom is a black man accused of raping a white girl. The time is within the early 30s taken place in southern Alabama. The townspeople believed that Atticus shouldn’t present a proper defence for a Negro. However, Atticus fully intends to do so because he believes in equal rights of others. Due to this strong belief he encounters many vicious comments directed towards himself and the people supporting him. He is wise enough to know the trouble this case will bring him. “… Simply by the nature of work, every lawyer gets at least one case in his lifetime that affects him personally this one’s mine, I guess” This quote helps to emphasise that…

    • 190 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Defending a black man accused of rape in front of a jury made up of white men, raising two children on his own with the help of a maid, and still having the strength to hold his head high when the rumors in the small, tired old town of Maycomb county Alabama seemed to thrive among its citizens. What many would consider to be numerous adversities, is Atticus Finch’s everyday life. The story of the courageous Atticus Finch in Harper Lee’s bestseller To Kill a Mockingbird truly begins when Atticus is asked to defend a black man accused of raping a white woman. Being the respectful, and determined man that he is, Atticus accepts his fate and takes on the case of Tom Robinson. Despite knowing that his chance of winning the case is very slight,…

    • 334 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Critrical Lenss

    • 514 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In the novel to kill a Mocking bird, Atticus Finch is described as a person that is patient, never gives up once he has started something. Atticus doesn’t give up trying to pronounce justice to Tom Robinson for a crime he never was associated with. Atticus took Tom Robinsons case into his own hands although knowing the fact he would have had a whole mob against his argument, Atticus fights for Tom Robinsons justice even though he has kept him and himself into danger. Atticus defends Tom Robinson because he believes that every person deserves an equal testimony, he takes the risk defending Tom Robinson knowing that Tom is a colored man and that he is a White man. Atticus was then humiliated and embarrassed by Bob Ewell and the other townspeople. Atticus defended Tom Robinson and questioned the honesty of a white person. Atticus never gave up on Tom Robinson and filled a motion of a retrial as soon as the jurors came back with a guilty verdict. Atticus was willing to fight any obstacles that got in his way to find justice for Tom Robinson.…

    • 514 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays