A Hero’s Breakdown

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Ideas abound of what true heroism is in this day and age. To some, a true hero may be the person that led their favorite sports team to a championship. To others, true heroes are the doctors that helped a loved one get better from a serious illness. Some even see the person that gives them inspiration on a day to day basis as a true hero. To many, however, a true hero is so much more than that. To many, a true hero is the one that goes the extra mile t follow a strict moral code, both at home and in the public eye. A true hero is the one who will stand up for what he or she believes and what is right, no matter what the consequences may be. A true hero gives hope for humanity to the masses. Atticus Finch, from Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird is one who possesses all of those attributes of heroism and more.

Heroes are often well known in the communities that they are from. One being a hero, many people will look up to and want to be like he or she. That is why it is so important to have and abide by a strict moral code as a hero. Atticus Finch is a prime example of this. Atticus knows that he is on the right path as far as doing the right thing because it is right to do it. His altruistic mindset and values are shown all throughout the novel. He is a good example for everyone in the community of Maycomb, especially his children. Jem and Scout know that Atticus is a good man, and they respect and look up to him. Whenever they do something wrong, Atticus never chastises them. He simply explains why they were wrong in doing whatever it was they did. He always answers all of their questions honestly and to the best of his ability. Scout even says that, “There just didn’t seem to be anyone or anything that Atticus couldn’t explain...

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...ange in equality.

Works Cited

"Atticus Finch: A Hero Who Lost The Battle." Weekend Edition Sunday 11 July 2010.Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 28 Apr. 2011.

Dare, Tim. "Virtue ethics, lawyers and Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird." Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies 19.1-2 (2007): 81+. Academic OneFile. Web. 28 Apr. 2011.

Lee, Harper. To Kill A Mockingbird. New York: Grand Central Publishing, 1960.

Powell, Burnele V. "A reaction: 'stand up, your father (a lawyer) is passing'." Michigan Law Review 97.6 (1999): 1373-1377. Academic OneFile. Web. 28 Apr. 2011.

Santos, Marlisa. "To Kill A Mockingbird." Bloom, Harold. The Hero's Journey. New York: Bloom's Literary Criticism, 2009. 207-213.

Schwartz. Atticus Finch: The All-American Hero. 7 October 2010. 23 April 2011 .

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