Atticus Finch: Stronger Than Hercules

“All heroes and heroines share several characteristics in common: They embody characteristics their society values” (Reilly). Odds are, the word, “hero” conjures up images of strong, powerful, hardy men battling monsters and evil forces. Achilles, the legendary Greek warrior whose story is chronicled in Homer’s The Illiad, and Superman, the invincible savior from the Planet Krypton, are two such examples. However, there is a new breed of hero, the modern hero. The modern hero is not necessarily a stereotypical strongman. He throws assumptions regarding the definition of a hero away. However, the modern hero still exemplifies moral and righteous qualities. Atticus Finch, a character in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, is just and virtuous. Modern society holds justice and virtue in high regard. According to Dahlia Lithwick, Atticus Finch motivated thousands of people, including herself, to pursue careers in law (1). Finch’s influence on so many powerfully attests to his honorable character. And like this new breed of hero, Finch is not traditionally tough or formidable. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch serves as a modern hero as seen through his ordinary circumstances, noble qualities, and daring actions.

Atticus Finch is a common man living an undistinguished life. A modern hero is not blessed by the gods; he has no otherworldly abilities (Reilly). And Atticus comes from a nondescript background. Atticus grew up on Finch’s Landing, a self-sustaining farm founded by his ancestor Simon. While tradition stated that men stayed at the Landing, Atticus pursued a career in law, then paid for his brother’s education in medicine (Lee 4). He came back to Maycomb, and practiced as a...

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... line to defend a total stranger. That is why, perhaps, he is more heroic than even the likes of Achilles and Superman. He lacks invincibility and god-like powers. All Atticus Finch possesses is a strong conscience and a fiery desire to do what is right. Scout says, “Atticus was feeble,” (89). Physically, he may be, but morally and justly, he is Herculean.

Works Cited

Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. New York: Warner, 1982. 4-5, 29-30, 74-5, 89, 91-6, 105, 112, 137, 205, 246. Print.

Lithwick, Dahlia. “My Legal Hero: Atticus Finch.” Theguardian.com. Guardian News and Media, 01 Sept. 2010. 1. Web. 22 Mar. 2014.

Moore, Andrew. “To Kill a Mockingbird.” To Kill a Mockingbird. N.p., n.d. 14. Web. 03. Apr. 2014.

Reilly, Kathryn. “Classical and Modern Heroes.” Sophia.org. Sophia, n.d. Defining a Hero section, The Modern Hero section. Web. 22 Mar. 2014.