Character Of Atticus Finch As A Hero example essay topic

Proposals: To examine the character of Atticus Finch as a hero in Harper Lees' "To Kill a Mockingbird". To kill a Mockingbird", an acclaimed novel, by Harper Lee is recognised throughout the world. Having read her novel, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1960 soon after its publication, I was compelled to consider the novel in greater depth but was particularly intrigued to examine the character of Atticus Finch as a hero. Maycomb, a fictional town in the Southern States of America plays host to the novel during the period of 1933-1935". To Kill a Mockingbird" follows a lawyer and his family prior to and during a legal case to defend a black male, Tom Robinson, charged of raping a white female, May ella Ewell. This occurs in a very white orientated town.

Atticus Finch, Attorney and father of two children only plays a brief part in the opening chapter but as this epic novel progresses so does his importance. It becomes apparent that Atticus Finch, arguably the novel's main character, is extremely well respected in Maycomb by the majority of its residents. If someone expresses a dislike towards him he will still try to do his "best to love everybody". Atticus is a man of extreme integrity and some say that it is through his mouth that Harper Lee expresses her own morality, an opinion that I share. He represents a true gentleman; his conduct is always courteous despite any provocation whether privately or publicly. This is enhanced by the very carefully selected word choice.

Atticus is able to use language stylishly when appropriate but he can also communicate very simplistically such as when in a moment of crisis he can talk straightforwardly, for example to Jem and Scout, to enhance understanding. Atticus is a devoted family man; he manages to care for his children without the help of their mother, who died. Harper Lee gives Atticus a very "modern style" regarding parenting (in comparison to other families in the 1930's i.e. principally he was a single parent). This could perhaps be a reflection on Atticus's opinion that everyone has the right to be an individual and because of this we should not be judged. He is one person in a select few who feel that coloured people should be able to have the same standard of living as their white counterparts. Atticus is open to all opinions and will accept each individual for their own beliefs regardless of whether or not these differ from his own.

He is respected and shows this by respecting others, in his search for impartiality he does not undermine anyone and is focused on only one thing, seeking justice. Atticus has some flaws, however I do not consider these to be harmful. These defects, created by Harper Lee, could be seen as weaknesses of the 'idealist'. He possibly subjects his children to risks that could have been avoided. For example Bob Ewell would have not attacked them if their father was not representing Tom.

The majority of Maycomb accept Atticus. He is "civilised in his heart" which reveals the fact that, according to Miss Maudie, he personifies 'good' in Maycomb as a father, Christian, Southern gentleman and principally as a citizen. Due to the novel being set during 1933 and 1935 many prejudices were apparent. However I feel that racism is the most indisputable. Maycomb's intolerance according to Atticus is "Maycomb County's usual disease". This suggests to me that this is something that occurs on a regular basis and that black people are seen to be 'contagious'.

They also consider their fellow residents to be stupid, lazy, immoral and incapable of any sort of equality with them. Atticus, I feel tries to heal this apparent unbreakable barrier by representing a black man legally. On further examination you could also argue that Atticus does so because he wants other white people to see him doing something that he truly believes is right in the hope that they will follow suit. He does this to increase people's awareness of their black counterparts in the chance that they could possibly be accepted back into a developing society, one that will concern itself with equality.

Harper Lee's novel attacks the racial prejudice, which leads to such injustices, as is the case with Tom's trial. I feel this as she presents the black community in a complimentary way, which personally increases my pity for them. We are led to sympathize with their sufferings and virtues. No coloured person, whom Harper Lee created possesses an undesirable characteristic, I personally think this is deliberate to make the reader think in the hope that people when reading the novel would also accept and display her belief.

This may appear to be unrealistic, as there are undesirable people in every community but I consider this to be a deliberate technique. It is done to condemn the unfounded Southern belief that blacks are immoral and inferior. All of the characteristics, which Atticus displays, reflect ones that are present in a hero. He believes that a struggle for justice is always well worthwhile. However it isn't only skin colour that separates the two communities. The white and black communities are differentiated also by their speech.

The whites' attitude to their black counterparts is demonstrated by use of words such as blacks, niggers and darkies. They whites have come to associate these to be derogatory words but feel that these are words which best describe them. Harper Lees uses such words in characterization. Bob Ewell, for instance, is foul mouthed and is reproved in court for using indecent language.

Atticus, however, is formal in speech, which adds to his charm. Harper Lees novel portrays many good things. One aspect, which I feel to be important, is the way in which Atticus becomes a role model for the rest of society. I think Atticus displays qualities and skills that people would like to mirror. I feel that it is important that the novel has an influential person, in this case Atticus, as he is someone who can be relied on and looked upon as being a constant person throughout.

Miss Maudie who often speaks highly of Atticus says " We " re so rarely called on to be Christians, but when we are, we " ve got men like Atticus to go for us" (chapter 22). This means that people look up to Atticus and believe that he will aim to excel at everything he does. This is apparent when Atticus protects the town's people from the rabid dog by shooting it. This symbolizes the town's dependence upon his protection from forces that they cannot control. Finally this novel has been researched and written extremely carefully.

I personally feel that it is no coincidence that the novels main character has been given the name of "Atticus Finch". In ancient times 'Atticus' was a philosopher, renowned for his kindly character and for his love of truth. This reflects the character 'Atticus', which Lee has so cleverly created. The surname of Finch refers the ever-present idea of a "Mocking bird". They are used in a variety of ways throughout the novel as symbols of goodness. For example " High above us in darkness of a solitary mocker poured out his repertoire in blissful unawareness of whose tree he sat in, plunging from the shrill keep, keep of the sunflower bird of the irascible qua-a ck of a blue jay, to the sad lament of Poor Will, Poor Will, Poor Will " (chapter 28) This refers to the fact that a mocking bird imitates the songs of several birds.

It is doing in a sense, exactly what Atticus has told the children to do, try and stand in other people's shoes. The mocking bird is more flexible than human beings; it constantly takes the part of other birds whereas humans somehow seem unable to do this. The title "To Kill a Mocking Bird", means, "to destroy innocence and happiness". This to me backs up the idea that it is by no accident that the novels most influential character is given the name of a bird - Finch". To Kill a Mockingbird" is a novel, which forced me to think why the citizens of Maycomb acted in a derogatory way towards fellow human beings. Atticus is prominent in that he despises the segregation of whites from blacks (a feeling shared by Harper Lee) and strives to adapt people's opinions of them.

I think that due to this Atticus deserves to be regarded as heroic. He fought in a hopeless struggle with sincerity for what he believed in, even though he knew he wouldn't win. He describes courage as knowing "your licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what", and whilst doing this, he hopefully changed people's opinions of the black community.