Atticus Finch Social Justice

Through the writing of critically acclaimed author Harper Lee, her characters represent themselves in the aspect of being a part or piece of a larger whole. In Harper Lee’s first and only novel, the historical fiction To Kill a Mockingbird, there is a strongly represented theme of social justice and how corrupt it was. The definition of social justice is “the distribution of advantages and disadvantages within a society”(dictionary.com) Atticus finch is the father of Scout and Jem Finch, as well as being the Maycomb County lawyer who was appointed as the defense attorney for Tom Robinson. He wasn’t like other lawyers who would have just dropped the case immediately, Atticus Finch stuck through the case and continued to prove Tom Robinson’s

In the historical fiction novel To kill a Mockingbird, the theme of social justice is revealed through the sincerity and forthright nature of Atticus Finch. Atticus Finch demonstrates the idea of sincerity by standing up and defending Tom Robinson when no one else wanted to take his case because he was a negro. In the novel, Atticus states to Scout, “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win”(Lee 101). Here, Atticus is trying to explain to Scout that just because the African-American community related cases don’t tend to succeed in court in the past, doesn’t mean that the Tom Robinson case will meet the same end. Aticus’ statement demonstrates his stance on racism in court and his sincerity in wanting to help Tom Robinson and the African-American community with this case. The social justice system in Maycomb and prejudice goes to

He shows this especially to Jem and Scout with the details on the Tom Robinson case. One day Scout had been told some crude things about her father and the Tom Robinson case. She went to Atticus and he had said, “You might hear some ugly talk about it at school, but do one thing for me if you will: you just hold your head high and keep those fists down”(Lee 101). Here and throughout the book it shows the difference between Atticus and Scout. While Scout prefers to use force and physical action, Atticus uses verbal actions to solve a problem. Atticus wants Scout to know that she will get some negative comments made about Atticus’ case. He just wants to make it clear and that Scout will have to learn not to fight out her problem. Atticus also doesn’t lie to her and say that everything will be fine. In that way he knows that Scout will understand the truth of the situation. Another instance would be when Atticus and Mr. Tate were having a conversation about the case and Scout was eavesdropping. It is assumed Atticus knew she was standing there when he said, “Do you really want to move there, Scout?”(Lee 195). Atticus had presumably known she was there but continued talking anyway. He knew that Scout would have found out anyway so instead, he let her hear what she needed to. Atticus doesn’t want to hide his case from Scout and he knows that she is old enough to somewhat