“ Simply because you were licked a hundred times doesn’t give us a reason not to try to win”(Lee 210). In To Kill a Mockingbird the author Harper Lee describes Scout as an eight year old girl and Jem as a twelve year old boy they grew up in Maycomb Alabama with their father Atticus. Atticus is a lawyer who had a case that changed his life completely defending an African American Tom Robinson. Tom was accused of raping a white girl. Atticus had the choice of defending him or saying he wasn't going to defend him. Atticus defended Tom Robinson because he believed that all men were created equal and he wanted to set a good example for his kids. It made sense that Atticus defended Tom Robinson because he took a stand for what he believed was right. It was right for Atticus to defend Tom Robinson because he wanted to set a good example for his kids. He wants to do …show more content…
Atticus believes that all men were created equal no matter what race they are. For example, “ ‘ Yeah, but Atticus aims to defend. That’s what I don’t like about it’ (one of the old men always at the courthouse)”(Lee 218). Atticus is planning to defend Tom Robinson as best as he can many people in Maycomb believe Atticus shouldn’t defend Tom Robinson because of his race. “ I simply want to tell you that there are some men in this world who were born to do our unpleasant jobs for us.Your father is one of them.”(Lee 288). Atticus does the jobs that other people wouldn’t do like defending Tom Robinson is one of them Atticus is selfless. Atticus is always kind to everyone it doesn’t matter who they are or what race they are he treats them equal. For example Judge Taylor says, “ Mr.Finch is always courteous to everybody”(Lee 243). Atticus is always polite to everyone. Atticus believes that everyone should be treated equally and he demonstrated it throughout the book To Kill a Mockingbird he has a good
He was a black man, accused of raping a white women. The Tom Robinson trial was a true trial of good versus evil. Scout’s father was chosen to defend Tom in his trial and tried his hardest providing with all the information that Tom was a innocent man. He fought, “The witness for the state, with the exception of the sheriff of Maycomb County, have presented themselves to you gentlemen, to this court, in the cynical confidence that their testimony would not be doubted, confident that you gentlemen would go along with them on the assumption—the evil assumption—that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women, an assumption that one associates with minds of their calibre.”(Lee 205) At this point in Atticus’ closing speech he and just about everybody else in that courtroom knew Tom Robinson was innocent. The evidence just did not match up with what was presented. Though Tom was innocent, the jury didn’t look past the color of his skin, so was sentenced to
He treats everyone in Maycomb equally, telling Scout “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 39) This quote goes to show that Atticus is not racist and doesn't care much about social status, if someone needs a hand he is there to lend them one no matter who they are.
Atticus Finch is another victim of prejudice in the novel. After accepting to defend Tom Robinson, the town doesn't treat Atticus as an equal. The people of Maycomb believe that Atticus should not present a proper defense for a black person. Atticus doesn't care for this because he believes in equal rights. Atticus does not believe in racism or prejudice. Many people believe that Atticus should not defend a black person in court. This is because many people in Maycomb think a black person is guilty before anything is announced. While Atticus is defending Tom, Atticus makes the jury think differently about Bob Ewell. This makes Bob threaten and disrespect Atticus and his family. Atticus is not bothered by this because he knows he is doing the
In they story, Atticus shows love towards Tom Robinson throughout he whole case. Atticus took Tom's case because he believes that everyone's equal "This case is something that goes to the essence of a mans conscience- Scout, I couldn't go to church and worship God if I didn't try to help that man. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a persons conscience." (Atticus, 139). This quote shows that Atticus believes Tom is the same as everyone else and that if he didn't defend Tom he wouldn't
When most people were against him and are trying to convince him not to, Atticus was determined to continue defending Tom Robinson (an African American who was accused of raping a white lady name Mayella Ewell - Mr. Ewell's daughter). (Make it active voice ?) Due to his good morals, Atticus felt like he needs to help Tom Robinson “This case, Tom Robinson’s case, is something that goes to the essence of a man’s conscience --- Scout, I couldn’t go to church and worship God if I didn’t try to help that man” (108). As addressed in To Kill a Mockingbird, Jim Crow laws manipulated individuals ethics to think that blaming African Americans is fine since all they do is not good (change the wordings). This type of discrimination made African American victims of jails and crimes that they did not even consider doing but were thought of doing because of racial segregation enforcement (popularity?) within the Southern society of the US. However, Atticus was different and believed that Tom robinson is innocent since he understood (understands?) how people discriminate others and was aware (is aware) of different types of prejudice (in that time period). So, due to Atticus’ good morals and values, he was willing to try his best to support the truth (who was right or something) and help Tom Robinson which makes him a great parent because (he is a person of morals?) of his good morals and values (delete morals and values?). Atticus (atticus’s ?) belief (of noting using one’s power to hurt each other … ?) that people should not harm each other should be admired. For instance, Miss Maudie (Atticus neighbour) was confirming to Scout that what Atticus said about Mockingbirds is right “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They
Atticus defended Tom Robinson because he believed in the Golden Rule; one should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself. For example, Atticus says “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin To Kill a Mockingbird” (Chapter 10). He states that if a mockingbird doesn’t do harm to you, why should you harm it? In chapter 3, Atticus gives Scout a piece of advice, “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.” This applies to Tom Robinson beca...
Atticus shows great compassion and tolerance when he stands up for the Negroes. He stands up and represents Tom Robinson because he believes that everyone should be treated equally in the court of law. He knows that because Tom was a Negro there would be a slim chance of winning. That fact never discouraged him though because he says that the main reason he is representing Tom is because, ' if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature'; (75). He recited a speech, which clearly states that Tom Robinson is not guilty. In that speech he says, 'our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal'; (205). He believed that prejudice and stereotyping is wrong and he tries to teach these morals to Scout and Jem.
Atticus is a lawyer in Maycomb county in Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus is raising two kids Jem and Scout while having to defend Tom Robinson. Tom is a black man and is going to court for supposedly raping a teenager. In the time that this book was wrote it was very uncommon to defend a black in the way that Atticus defended Tom. It makes sense for Atticus to take a stand to defend Tom Robinson because Atticus is selfless and reliable.
Towards the end of To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus decides to represent a colored man by the man of Tom Robinson, who is being accused of raping Mayella Ewell, Bob Ewell’s daughter. Atticus believes that Tom is innocent, but he does not think that Tom will be found not guilty because of they way the townsfolk treat colored people. They treat them like dirt; like they are worth nothing. Atticus went ahead and represented Tom despite the fact that he knew the townsfolk would call himself and his children names and treat them disrespectfully. Even Scout’s relative Francis said rude things about them. “‘I guess it ain't your fault if Uncle Atticus is a nigger-lover besides, but I'm here to tell you it certainly does mortify the rest of the family-...’ ‘Just what I said. Grandma says it's bad enough he lets you all run wild, but now he's turned out a nigger-lover we'll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb agin. He's ruinin' the family, that's what he's doin'.’” Atticus set a good example for Scout and Jem. He had a difficult decision to make, but he chose what he thought was
Although, some people may think that it is wrong for Atticus to defend Tom Robinson. For the fact that is a risk for him and his family. This happens when Bob Ewell targets his children. “‘Run, Scout! Run!’ Jem screamed” (351). This shows how dangerous Atticus’s situation was. Defending a man of a different race almost killed his
To begin, Atticus stands by his beliefs even when they are not accepted by society. His pride in himself relies on whether he does what is right, not what is acceptable. When Scout asks Atticus why he took on the case of Tom Robinson, he replies “If I didn't [take this case] […] I couldn't represent this county in legislature, I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do something again”
When Atticus is supporting Tom Robinson and is speaking to everyone in the courtroom, his final words are used to convince them that Tom Robinson is innocent and that all people are created equally. Atticus says, “In the name of God, do your duty”(275). Atticus believes that the jury will make Tom Robinson guilty despite the evidence at hand but wants to get in the hearts of the people and fights the case because he believes in equality. Atticus stuck to his morals and a fair trial for Tom Robinson which connects with equality one of the themes of the book. Many of the white people in the courtroom didn’t realize how immoral the system was till Atticus opened their eyes. Atticus wanted there to be equality for everyone no matter what they did and who they were.
Tom Robinson is a black man living in the segregated county of Maycomb. His life is as normal as can be until he is accused of raping a white woman, causing a divide between the people in the town. "Scout, you are old enough to understand some things yet, but there's been some high talk around town to the effect that I shouldn't be defending this man" (Lee, 100). Atticus is trying to explain to Scout that even though the things you do can cause a divide or conflict, one can always strive to do the right thing. With Tom Robinson, even though Scout has never met him, can still take her father's word that he is a good man. As the trial inches closer and closer, Scout begins to immerse herself in the conflict that surrounds the case. "This time I split my knuckle to the bone on his front teeth. My left impaired, I sailed in with my right" (Lee, 113). Instead of avoiding conflict, like her father asked her to, Scout adds to it by getting violent with someone who's viewpoint on the Tom Robinson trial varies from her own. This situation could have easily been solved by Scout trying to understand this particular person's opinion through words, rather than punches. When the trial begins, the children are shocked to find how many people support the Ewells over Tom Robinson. "...you know the court appointed him [Atticus] to defend this n*****." "Yeah, but Atticus aims to defend him. That's what I don't like about it" (Lee, 218). Atticus did not have a choice in whether or not he wanted to defend Tom, which is news to Scout. This point alone causes conflict for Atticus, Because the townspeople do not understand why Atticus is actually going to try to win. As the trial comes to close it becomes apparent how much people came around to understand the truth about Tom Robinson. "The kitchen table was loaded with enough food to bury the family… "They-they
Atticus was incredibly courageous taking on tom Robinsons case against the prejudice of Macomb County and he shows incredible courage when he says, "Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try and won." He wants the people of Maycomb to hear the truth about Tom Robinson, "That boy may go to the chair, but he's not going till the truth's told." Chapter 15, Page 146. He was against the whole white community including his own sister practically said that he was a disgrace to his family Atticus tells scout when she asks him why he is taking the case he says "For a number of reasons. The main one is, if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature, I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do something again.