Preview

How Does Atticus Finch Follows The Trial In To Kill A Mockingbird

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
464 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
How Does Atticus Finch Follows The Trial In To Kill A Mockingbird
To Kill A Mockingbird, a fast-paced novel by Harper Lee, follows the trial of Tom Robinson. Throughout the novel multiple characters add life to the story, but only one stands out. Although the trial made everyone a little crazy, Atticus Finch does the best he can to act as a respectful man. Atticus Finch is a lawyer who defends the best he can, a gentleman who always keeps his composure, and a father who educates his children.
Atticus defends his client Tom Robinson with all his heart, despite Tom being black. Although slavery has long since become abolished, in Maycomb, whites still discriminate against blacks, but Atticus has a different outlook on men. He defends Tom the way he should... fairly. Scout, Atticus' daughter, does not understand why someone would falsely accuse an innocent person. Atticus then explains to her that "... You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view..."(Lee 30). Explaining that there has to be a reason for everything, even if it was considered unjustified.
…show more content…
Mr. Finch kept his composure despite having the presence of men that ganged up on by Mr. Cunningham, one of his clients. Although he could have acted extremely disrespectful, Mr. Finch chose to be a gentleman. While sitting outside the jailhouse that held Tom, Mr. Cunningham and a group of men gang up on Mr. Finch while trying to get to Tom. Mr. Finch keeps his cool; he knows that the ignorant men all feel the same. Mr. Finch tells his daughter, "This time we aren't fighting the Yankees, we're fighting our friends. But remember this, no matter how bitter things get, they're still our friends..."(Lee 76). Mr. Finch says this because he understands that nobody can keep a chip on your solder for the people they

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Atticus Finch is a smart man worthy of being lawyer. In the fictional novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee that tells the story of a young girl Scout Finch, who is coming of age. Scout in the beginning of the novel did not have much tolerance and soon as the novel progressed she came to decide that not everyone will agree with her. Scout who is always around Atticus makes up a part of that impact in her life. The advice given for Scout help to build her to be good well being. To being told that everyone is equal. Atticus is a brave, intelligent, and responsible man.…

    • 688 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Being a Black man in Maycomb, Alabama was difficult; Maycomb was a racist town with people who did not want the Blacks to be equal to the Whites. People discriminated Robinson’s race to the point where his race was what defined his character. The Whites in Maycomb had a mentality that all blacks were not to be trusted. This affected Tom Robinson because during his rape trial his lawyer, Atticus Finch states “. . . You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral; some Negro men are not to be trusted around women—black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men.” [Lee, 48] Atticus was trying to say that we need to judge people as individuals rather than by their race. Robinson’s race caused him to be discriminated against by the Whites in Maycomb, in particular Bob Ewell. Bob Ewell had seen that his daughter had kissed a Black man and was very upset. He said "I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin' on my Mayella!" [Lee, 84] Because Robinson…

    • 1213 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    To Kill a Mockingbird: a novel set in the Jim Crow south showing injustice and society through the eyes of a young girl, written by (Nelle) Harper Lee, and winner of the Pulitzer Prize. Lee started writing started writing at the University of Alabama newspaper and then pursued writing in New york. After working odd jobs for about eight years, and with the help of Truman Capote, Lee published the bestseller “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Scout is the main character in this novel as the son of Atticus Finch, sister to Jem Finch, friend to many, and the narrator. The whole story is shown through Scout’s eyes. She recognizes all of the injustice and problems with their society. She learns many lessons from Atticus and her many experiences that she has in Maycomb County. Atticus stood up for a negroe, John Robinson, who didn’t commit a crime, even though everyone was against him; he defended the mockingbird.…

    • 485 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    During the trial, Atticus argues calmly but adamantly for Tom Robinson’s innocence, but also for the jury to give him fair trial. In his closing argument, Atticus reminds the jury that the “case [was] as simple as black and white” (Lee 207), and he also dispels the “evil assumption—that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women, an assumption one associates with minds of their caliber” (Lee 208). For Tom Robinson, the case would have never gone to court if he was not black. This is a clear critique on the racism of Maycomb, which is only supported by the fact that Atticus had to remind the jury that African Americans are human beings of the same moral…

    • 615 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Before Atticus defends Tom Robinson, he acknowledges that he cannot win, “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win…” (Lee 101) Realizing this, Atticus’ character becomes an understanding person that although he will not succeed, and he will become disliked, he should not relinquish these ideals. Atticus continues to fight for his beliefs when confronting the men, for the protection of Tom Robinson. There, Scout observes that “There was a smell of stale whiskey and pigpen about… These men were strangers… Atticus got up from his chair, but he was moving slowly, like an old man. He put the newspaper down very carefully, adjusting its creases with lingering fingers. They were trembling a little” (Lee 203). Atticus is clearly prepared to fight these men, causing Atticus’ idea that he would do anything in order to obtain what he wants. The actions that Atticus displays to protect his own beliefs, allows for Atticus to then become the embodiment of the author’s…

    • 883 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus Finch's Life

    • 611 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee has a naive view of life in the South of America in the 1930’s. The book is written through the eyes of Jem and Scout Finch. Scout is a young girl that is growing up around her father’s case. Her father, Atticus Finch, is a lawyer who is defending a black man, Tom Robinson, who is fighting the charge of raping a white lady. The lives of the characters are changed from the effects of racism in the book To Kill a Mockingbird.…

    • 611 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Scout is asking Atticus if he is an n-lover and if all lawyers defend black people. Scout then asks if Atticus is going to win the case, he replies “Simply because we were licked hundreds of years ago before we started is no reason for us not to try to win”. Atticus was right, everybody in Maycomb knew that Tom would be declared guilty, even though he was clearly innocent. Although Atticus knows he will not win, he is not going to go down without a fight. He is trying to make a stand to everybody, even though he will loose, he is making a statement to everybody in Maycomb, that he is still defending a black man with his heart and soul. Atticus not only carves his own path, but makes a trail for other people to follow, and people do follow it. Tom is moved to a jail in Maycomb, and a mob, led by Walter Cunningham, go to the jail, with intentions to hang Tom. However, they are met by Atticus simply sitting by the cell, not armed with any weapon. The mob is trying to get to Tom, but Atticus stops them and gets into a heated argument with Mr. Cunningham. Atticus says to him “You can turn around and go home again, Walter” Atticus is being very courageous during this whole incident. Atticus was foolish not to come without any protection because he could have been easily harmed or even killed. This was all to protect Tom Robinson, a man who would be declared guilty no matter…

    • 1329 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus goes against the values of society. At the time period, blacks and whites were segregated and wanted nothing to do with each other. When a black man, Tom Robinson was accused of raping white girl, Mayella Ewell, tension grew among Maycomb. Atticus goes against the town's values and beliefs about blacks and decides to take Toms side. He believes Tom is innocent and supports him while society takes Mayella's side. Atticus demonstrates how skin color should not matter.…

    • 444 Words
    • 2 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

    Atticus Finch, stood by Tom Robinson for a year because it was the right thing to do, even though everyone in the community said it was wrong, “Scout, 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” (Lee, 101). Atticus takes this case into a deep emotion knowing how the community and family…

    • 735 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Atticus Finch is one of the major characters in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird written in 1960. Atticus is a lawyer in Maycomb, the representative of Alabama in the State Legislator and the father of Scout and Jeremy Finch. The major themes and ideas Lee emphasizes in the novel are social inequality and intolerance, education, legal justice and bravery are represented in one way or another through this character. Atticus Finch is a man of principles who is consistent in his views and deeds throughout the novel. He has an arguable type of personality because many people back then would call him ignorant, but he still fought against his doubters. Although he is criticized and mocked by many characters in the novel for his tolerant attitude…

    • 1410 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus Finch Empathy

    • 814 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Atticus shows that his words are not empty, and he practices what he has taught his children. Atticus conveys empathy for the minorities around him, such as the Ewell family and the Negroes. Tom Robinson, a black man, is being represented in court by Atticus. Atticus empathizes for Tom who is wrongly accused of taking advantage of Mayella Ewell, a poor white women, and tries his hardest to win the case for Tom. After losing the trial and humiliating the Ewells in the process, Bob Ewell, Mayella’s father, spits in Atticus’ face and threatens to get even with him. Atticus, feeling sorry for Mayella, takes this incident and uses it as a lesson of empathy for his children. Atticus says, “ Jem see if you can stand in Bob Ewell’s shoes a minute. I destroyed every thread of credibility at that trial, if he he had any to begin with. The man had to have some kind of comeback, his kind always do. So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take. He had to take it out on somebody and I’d rather it be me than that houseful of children out there” (292-293). The lesson of empathy is supported largely through Atticus, and his ways with Tom and the Ewells. To sum up, Atticus’ inspirational experiences convey greatly to his children, and help to better them for the rest of the…

    • 814 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus Maturation

    • 985 Words
    • 4 Pages

    To Kill A Mockingbird, authored by Harper Lee, is an American novel of growth and maturation because it focuses on the character development of Scout as she comes to understand the world. This classic novel is set in a racially charged southern town during the Great Depression. The main character and narrator, a young girl named Scout, develops and changes from the conversations and actions that happen in the book. Scout’s direct maturation and learning of life lessons develops by witnessing the hypocrisy of her hometown Maycomb, Alabama, and her father, Atticus, being a major influence in her development.…

    • 985 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus Finch Hero

    • 736 Words
    • 3 Pages

    These same moral beliefs led him to accept and defend Tom Robinson in court. Atticus Finch, recognizing Tom’s helpless situation, accepted because he knew nobody would stand up for Tom. Atticus vigorously defended Tom in and out of court. Atticus shows great physical courage when he positions himself between Tom Robinson and the lynch mob that has come for him. Sitting alone in front of the jail, Atticus waits for what he expects will happen. He is unarmed, and instead relies on peaceful methods such as talking to the mob to appeal to their human side. Atticus shows no fear for his own safety, except for when the kids come. With courage, he once again honors his moral principles, protecting Tom's life by risking his…

    • 736 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a riveting novel about a family discovering the cruelness of the world. The story is told through the eyes of Jean Louise "Scout" Finch, a girl who spends her time running around in overalls and chasing after her older brother Jem. Throughout the course of the novel, Scout witnesses the revolting aspects of human nature and learns the answers to questions concerning evilness corrupting the beautiful innocence of a child.…

    • 859 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays