To_Kill_a_Mocking_Bird_Atticus_Fitch

One person who is influential is Atticus Finch, the father from To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. This novel takes place in 1960 in Maycomb, Alabama. Atticus divides himself from the social differences in his society, shows his courage and guide his children into maturation. In the book, Atticus informs us of the knowledge of social inequality, but chooses not to abide by it and breaks a lot of racial borders. He teaches Scout and Jem, his children, to stand up for what they believe in. For example, Atticus states that he will defend Tom Robinson, a black man. “The one place where a man ought to get a square deal is in a courtroom, be he any color of the rainbow, but people have a way of carrying their resentments right into a jury box. As you grow older, you'll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don't you forget it - whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash” (pg 220). He thinks that all men are created equal and knows that Tom is innocent, but it is his word against a white woman. When Jem and Scout interrogate Atticus into why he defends a black man Atticus replies by saying, “If I didn’t I couldn’t hold my head up in town” (pg 80). This quote declares that Atticus will be to his best ability for Tom. Even the family discourages Atticus like Aunt Alexandra and Francis, her grandson. As you can see, Atticus doesn’t care of what society sees him as and what part of the social hierarchy you are only, he sees everyone as created equal. Atticus exemplifies courage throughout the book. For instance, Atticus knows he has no chance against the mob that wants to harm Tom in the jailhouse, but stands up for Tom even if it might mean Atticus getting attacked. Atticus knows Tom is going to be convicted guilt, but still supports him because it is the right thing to do. This is shown in the quote, “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do” (pg 116). Also this quote shows how Mrs. Dubose fights her morphine addiction by reading and enduring her challenges. Atticus also is brave enough to kill a rabid dog with one shot and took nothing of when Bob Ewell threatened and spit on him. In general, Atticus shows his daringness to take risks, defend and even hold himself back from anger which makes Atticus calm and courageous. Atticus helps the children with their maturation throughout the novel. An illustration of this is when he teaches the kids not to judge Boo Radley because they don’t know what he went through as a child and why he is not a member of society. He also tells the children not to keep a grudge against anyone. When Bob spit in Atticus face and attacked the kids he didn’t keep that feeling of resentment in him for defending Tom. "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. 30). This quote is showing how Scout’s teacher tells Atticus to stop teaching her how to read and Atticus tells Scout that she is new to Maycomb and doesn’t know how their society does things. Overall, Atticus instructs the kids not to hold anything against anyone and don’t judge anyone until you know what they have experienced. Overall, Atticus is a good role model because he inspires to kids to do whatever they want no matter how society views them, to stand up for what is right, and to not criticize anyone until you have personally experienced what they have went through.