How Does Atticus Used To Show Honesty Are The Key To Achieving Social Justice

Atticus displays these characteristics of positive morals, dignity and fairness by defending rape accused Tom Robinson and trying to provide him with a credible defence against the wishes and social norms of the community, however Atticus Finch abided by the social norms of the community while livingin a racially segregated community, carrying on with his day to day life in such a community, while using “white only” parks and white only buses without directly challenging the racist legal system and Atticus Finch did not dispute the fact that Tom Robinson is tried before an all-white jury and that it was fairly reasonable to assume that they would convict him of rape as a predetermined outcome on the mere fact that he was a black man and she was a white

Another way Harper Lee uses the character of Atticus to show social justice is by making him talk fairly with Mayella during the trial. This can be seen when Atticus says, “I'm not bitter, just tired. I’m going to bed.” (Lee 285). Atticus believed that Tom Robinson needed a fair trial whether Tom was white or not. Atticus had the choice of not

In Part 1 of To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee introduces Atticus Finch as a father who rejects ideas or practices of racism. At school, Scout hears Cecil Jacob shout that her father, Atticus, is defending ‘niggers’. Later that day, when Scout asks her father what Cecil meant, Atticus explains that he is defending a Negro named Tom Robinson. Scout was stunned by his unexpected response. When Scout asks why, Atticus responds, “I’m simply defending a Negro… for a number of reasons. The main one is if I didn't I couldn't hold my head up in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature, I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do something again.” (86) By accepting Tom Robinson’s case without a single argument, Atticus really shows his civility towards Negroes, even when they are not respected by anyone else in the state. Atticus seeks to treat Tom as an individual while rejecting racism in all forms, both language, and behavior. Not only does this show his belief in racial equality, but it also shows his courage.

Undoubtedly, one of the most controversial subjects in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, would be whether or not Atticus Finch should have defended Tom Robinson. However, in order to understand this controversy, a person must first be able to understand Atticus Finch himself. Atticus as a character is a very intellectual person who possesses the fortitude to stand up for whatever he believes is right and will not let other people’s choices affect his own. Furthermore, it is also important to understand that Atticus is not a racist, nor does he approve of the idea that one group of people are better than another based on their appearances in general, and because of this, a person can generalize that Atticus’s characteristic traits are why he did not complain when given the task of defending a black man, Tom Robinson, who had been wrongfully accused of raping a white woman. A man that he, as well as a small group of other people from town, viewed as the picture of innocence. In their eyes, Tom was no more than a mockingbird, “[and mockingbirds] don’t do one thing but make music for [people] to enjoy” (Lee 119). Knowing this, anyone with a reasonably strong sense of what is right and what is wrong can conclude that it does make sense for Atticus Finch to have taken the case due to his belief that it is a sin to kill the innocent as well as his courage that allows him to stay true to his ideas, even though when taking the case, he was inevitably going to be putting his

"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" (Lee 30). Atticus Finch says these words to his daughter, Scout, after he elucidates to her why it is important to not be quick to judge a book by its cover . In Harper Lee's To Kill A Mocking Bird, the main conflicts are centered around prejudice. In the tiny town of Maycomb, everybody is set on tradition and there is no room for oddity. Atticus Finch breaks down the walls that everybody else builds up about first and lasting impressions, slowly but surely. Atticus Finch is a discreet example of practicing equality because he espouses the outcasts of Maycomb.

Atticus is a man with morals. When he sees a person, white or black in need of justice he is always there to help, no matter the cost. In Maycomb County when a black man is on trial he is automatically seen as guilty. When Atticus was chosen to defend Tom Robinson many of the people in the community took it upon themselves to pay him a visit. It was understood by everyone that Tom had no chance and some of the men in the county went to Atticus to see if he would drop the case. Atticus knows though that Tom is innocent and deserves to have a fair trial. “Link, that boy might go to the chair, but he’s not going until the truth’s told” (Lee 146) . Atticus demands justice no matter who it is or what they’ve been accused of. He understands what needs to be done to give those who have been wrongly accused an honest hearing.

“Thomas Jefferson once said that all men are created equal, a phrase the Yankees and the distaff side of the Executive branch are quite fond of hurling at us.” A quote from Atticus Finch, a firm believer of equal rights for all races. A lawyer, Atticus has taken up the case of Tom Robinson, who has been charged with the rape of Mayella Ewell. A jury, made up by white men of the southern county of Maycomb, listens to Atticus’ argument that Tom Robinson, a black man, is not guilty of Mayella Ewell’s wrongful accusation of rape. Atticus Finch attempts to persuade the jury to find his client innocent of a heinous crime through employing devices such as repetition, similes, sincere tone, and a strong appeal to pathos all of which contribute strongly to Tom’s case. .

In To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee uses Atticus Finch’s character and setting to describe the conflict of racism and Finch’s moral conviction to do the right thing. The setting takes place in the 1950’s in idyllic town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the time of segregation and prejudice, white people treated black people very unfairly. Atticus, the protagonist worked as a lawyer. Atticus believes all men are created equal and entitled to a fair trial no matter the color of a man’s skin. A black man Tom Robinson is accused of raping a white woman, named Mayella Ewells. Atticus chooses to defend him against the town’s wishes. The whole town is against Atticus, who believed Tom was innocent and entitled to a fair trial under the constitution. Tom Robinson didn’t have a fair trial because of his skin color. Everybody in the whole court had already judged him

Tom Robinson had been accused of raping a white woman, and Mr. Finch is his lawyer. Because of racism in this time period; Atticus had no hope of winning the case, but winning wasn’t his ultimate goal. He fought for Tom Robinson because he felt that everyone deserved justice in the court no matter what race. “Our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this country our courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal” (Lee 274). The lawyer wasn’t fighting an impossible case for the challenge of winning. He was arguing for this man so that he could walk with courage, knowing he had done the right

Atticus is fair in many ways. From being fair to his children to being fair during a court case. In the Tom Robinson case Atticus knows that Tom is innocent, however, he also knows that the court will prove him guilty. Even though Tom is African-American, Atticus still fights his hardest to win the case and is thorough in his questioning methods. He stands for justice in a racist community. This leads to the next point. Atticus is not racist in any way, shape, or form. He thinks that everyone is equal and just because someone is a different skin color does not mean that they should be treated like garbage. Another example of Atticus being honorable is through his bravery.

Atticus is an important character throughout the novel, he has a large influence of the community of Maycomb County that he is strongly valued in. He is revealed to us through his words and actions as a courageous and unprejudiced man with good values and morals. At the beginning of the novel Atticus Finch takes Tom Robinson’s court case, Tom Robinson is a black member of the Maycomb town who has been accused of rape of Mayella Ewell. In the 1930’s this was a very controversial case for Atticus to be supporting as throughout the community and the Unites States there was a problem of racial inequality. Blacks were not seen to have equal rights as whites and were seen as the lower class and “trash”. Atticus says that “When it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins”. This shows that although he is exposing himself and his family to the anger of the white community, he would rather stand by his moral values than join the rallying community of racially

First, Atticus Finch is selected to represent Tom Robinson, an innocent black man accused of rape, in court. Furthermore, Atticus Finch recognizes the deep prejudice and unlikelihood of justice for Tom Robinson: "There's something in our world that makes men lose their heads -- they couldn't be fair if they tried. In our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always wins.” (Lee 224) In this quote, especially through the phrase “They couldn’t be fair if they tried,” Atticus emphasizes the clear improbability of fair justice due to the deep-set racist bias prevalent in Maycomb County. Furthermore, by saying “When it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins,”Atticus predicts that racism will unfortunately prevail in this case. Earlier in the novel, Atticus recognizes that he will lose the case because of Tom Robinson’s race, but he still represents Tom Robinson as an innocent man, not by his race. As Atticus predicted, racial bias prevailed over dignity and reason, and Tom Robinson, an innocent man, is considered to be guilty later in the novel. Therefore, Atticus Finch fails to acquit Tom Robinson, but the factors on why are apparent.

“The right way is not always the popular and easy way. Standing for right when it is unpopular is a true test of moral character.”(Moral Quotes). Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird shows strong moral character even when his decisions are unpopular. Atticus Finch is a high class lawyer who took a case to defend a black man named Tom Robinson. His society, being a racist southern town in the 1930s, judged him because of his decision to defend a black man. Atticus can be compared to both Aunt Alexandra and Dollfus Raymond to represent that although, some people fall to the pressures of society and ignore their morality others can rise above it and act on that morality. Harper Lee utilizes the character of Atticus to illustrate that despite

Atticus, when asked why he will defend Tom Robinson, states: “If I didn’t I couldn’t hold my head up in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again,” (H. Lee 75). This quote illustrates identity because Atticus held himself to higher ethical standards than the rest of Maycomb; thus, he felt compelled to argue to the best of his ability. Atticus had pride in his morals, and knew wrong from right, so he was able to see that Tom Robinson was innocent, despite of his race. Additionally, Atticus knew that Bob Ewell was the rapist, which went against the 1930’s stereotype of a Caucasian person being less violent than an African-American. If anyone else defended Tom Robinson, the layer may have succumbed to Maycomb’s pressures and purposely not defended Tom well. To conclude, Atticus’ identity was based on high behavioral standards, which guided Atticus to do the right action and defend Tom Robinson

In Harper Lee’s renowned novel To Kill a Mockingbird, a number of social contradictions are made. Arguably the most notable of which being Atticus Finch’s strength of character. Throughout the history of American society and still today, seeing someone with a strong character is a rare and refreshing experience. People will often alter their views and beliefs in conversation in order to avoid ridicule from their peers. However, it’s easy to see that Atticus stands by his beliefs regardless of the situation.