“If”, a poem by Rudyard Kipling, is a poem that was a letter from him to his son. It tells him not to worry even when everyone around you is in hysteria. The poem is a message to have courage among lies and not be discouraged by anyone even loved ones. This poem by Rudyard Kipling describes the personality of a character from Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. A story of a young girl named Jean Louis Finch and her life growing up in Maycomb County a small town I Alabama during the great depression. Although the book and the poem have no known relation the character Atticus Finch has many traits described in the poem.
Mr. Atticus Finch is a lawyer in Maycomb County who lives with his two children Jean and Jem Finch. Atticus was appointed to defend a black man named Tom Robinson who was charged with the rape of Mayella Ewell, daughter of the town drunk. One night Atticus suddenly left his home late at night and headed for the jailhouse where Tom Robinson was being held and was confronted by a mob of angry citizens “he in there, Mr. Finch?’ a man said ‘he is, and he’s asleep don’t wake him up.’ Atticus replied ‘you know what we want, get aside from the door, Mr. Finch.’ Another man said ‘you can turn around and go home again, Walter’ replied Atticus” (pg, 151). Atticus standing up to a crowd of men who even consisted of people he knew and trusted such as his friend Walter Cunningham, the poorest man in the county. Atticus showed great courage standing up to a crowd who was ready to kill whoever was in the way of their target. “if you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, or walk with kings – nor lose the common touch; if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; if all men count with you, but none too much;” these quotes c...
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...n’t deal in lies, or, being hated , don’t give way to hating, and yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;” Kipling is telling not to fear or deal with lies just stay humble to the matter at hand. Atticus ignored the fact that the testimony was false due to the crippled left arm of Thomas he tried to create a picture of the home life of the Ewell’s to show how misfortunate and sad it was.
Atticus has many attributes attached to the poem “if” amongst them staying humble to your cause and having courage and the strength to stand even if loved ones turn against them. Atticus stayed humble alongside Tom Robinson and fought as hard as he could against lies that set him up with the over whelming odds that he ultimately lost too but he never let that bring him down too his knees he fought and never troubled over the loss since he fought his best for another man’s life.
In this world, everyone has an equal right; however, many people are getting falsely accused of acts they did not commit even though they are innocent. Mockingbirds, one of the most innocent birds, sing their heart out for people to enjoy, however, they getting killed every day. In this novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, there are many racial prejudices going on. Finches stand near the top of the social hierarchy, with Cunningham and Ewells underneath. Black community in Maycomb is even below the Ewells, even if they were a hard worker; they were not treated equally. The “mockingbirds” represents the idea of innocence, so killing a mockingbird is to destroy innocence. Throughout the book, many characters are considered a mockingbird. Three examples are Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, and Mr. Dolphus Raymond. Those three characters are innocent; they are kind and were never harmful to others. However, they were destroyed through contact of evil. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, the mockingbirds symbolizes the idea of innocence, and Tom, Boo, and Mr. Raymond are considered one of it.
Atticus Finch is a very essential character in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. He is not only the father on Jem and Scout, but he is also defending Tom Robinson. Along with all of the obstacles and challenges that Atticus faces he is still an exceptional role model for the children. He also overcomes the diversity of Negroes and whites that is displayed during his time by standing up and fighting for Tom Robinson and his triumph in court against Bob Ewell. Lee presents Atticus Finch as understanding of Tom Robinson, caring with the children, and calm throughout the Tom Robinson trial.
Throughout the whole book, Atticus’ proves time and time again his remarkable courage, particularly during the time of Tom Robinson’s trial. No matter what challenges he faces, he always demonstrates bravery and valor while standing up for the truth. When he took up the task of defending Tom over the alleged rape of Mayella Ewell, he knew he was walking into a dangerous situation supporting a black man in a courtroom in Alabama, and yet he boldly chose to affirm what he believed was right and to argue against Tom’s accusers. Even when “Mr. Ewell approached him, cursed him, spat on him, and threatened to kill him” (248) after the trial, he handled the situation calmly and fearlessly by ignoring him and continuing on his way. Because of this remarkable quality in Atticus’ life, the people of Maycomb love and admire him.
Integrity and maturity can be seen in many characters in Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird,” but one sensible character, Atticus Finch, stands out among the rest and parallels with “you” in Rudyard Kipling’s poem “If-.” The similarities connecting the details and ideas in Kipling’s poem and Lee’s character development of Atticus are found through compassion, bravery, and success.
When Atticus chooses to defend Tom Robinson, he knows he will most likely lose the first trial. His friends and colleagues will talk behind his back for defending a black man under a capitol defense. He knows though that this is a trial in his life that he must defend in order for him to live the rest of his life with his head held up high.”For a number of reasons, Atticus said, The main one is, if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this country in legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again,’ Atticus says to Scout one night while explain to her why he is defending a black man. This shows Atticus’ high ideals and morals he has must be upheld by him if he is to live with himsel...
Although they are critiqued, some people do whatever they can do to improve our society. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch proves himself to be a hero. This small-town lawyer exhibits bravery, strength, and modesty when faced with objection during Maycomb’s quarrel for justice. Without a doubt, Atticus proves that anybody can stand for what he or she believes is right.
Which shows that Atticus is a man of strong morals and principles and a man who will stand up for what he believes is right. When asked by his children why he chose to defend Tom Robinson when he knew he would most likely not win he replied to them that is he hadn't, he wouldn't be able to believe in himself anymore. He chose to defend Tom Robinson because to choose not to would be going against all his personal morals and principles.
Atticus Finch shows, in many ways, the true definition of a hero, but no situation was more important than the Tom Robinson trial. In Maycomb, the thought of taking a negro’s word instead of a white man’s was ridiculous to the citizens, especially over a matter as serious as a black man raping a white woman. Regardless of this information, Atticus still takes on Tom Robinson’s case and tries to make as big of a difference as possible. When Scout asks him if he thinks that he will win the case, Atticus subtly replies “No, honey” (76). Atticus goes on to explain, “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try and win” (76). Basically, Atticus believes that just because it is unlikely that he will win, it does not mean that he should just give up without trying. Throughout all the discrimination, Atticus remains tough and tries to achieve his goal, no matter how hard it is. This was an example of moral courage. Even Scout knows how hard her father is trying by comparing Atticus’ efforts to “watching Atticus walk down the street, raise a rifle to his shoulder and pull the trigger, but...
Few people are the same as they are on the street in their homes. Few people can treat others equally; no matter what colour their skin is. Atticus Finch is one of those precious few. Racism in the town of Maycomb is nothing but disguised by the polite smiles and ladies missionary meetings; although it is the strongest belief that each person of the town holds apart from some such as Atticus. Racism is an issue of great importance, yet to the eye of a visitor waltzing through, it's just a slight whisk of air.
While Jem was young in his childhood, Atticus influenced Jem through multiple ways. For instance, when Jem and Scout received there airsoft gun, Jem was determined to shoot all the birds he saw however Atticus denied that and stated, “Shoot all the Blue Jays you want if you can hit’ em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (Lee, 90). This quote portrays how Atticus is teaching Jem a life lesson, and through this, he explains to Jem the importance of never harming an innocent thing, especially one that does not negatively impact others. Another incident where Atticus influenced Jem for his future is when Walter Cunningham’s father brought the Lynch Mob to the jail cell where Tom Robinson was. The day he was talking to Jem and Scout, he states, “I don’t want either of you bearing a grudge about this thing no matter what happens” (Lee, 158). Atticus tells Jem and Scout to always keep a fresh mind and forgive other people when they hurt you. This displays how Atticus advise...
Atticus first shows his bravery when he decides to defend Tom Robinson. Atticus Finch is a prominent and impartial lawyer in the racist town of Maycomb. “I’m simply defending a Negro—his name is Tom Robinson” (Lee 100). He is risking his career and his family reputation in accepting the case of Tom Robinson raping a white girl. Moreover, Atticus already knows that he is going to lose the case because of the prejudice and racism in town prior to the trial. Nevertheless, Atticus chooses to defend Tom Robinson in spite of any personal harm that could come about because he strongly believes in justice and Tom’s innocence. Therefore it is extremely courageous of Atticus to take the case in such a daunting circumstance.
Townsfolk told him he was crazy, told him he’d never win. He persevered anyway, defending his client whom he believed was innocent, no matter what the popular sentiment was. His character is displayed when he tells Scout “simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.” (101). Even when all the odds are stacked against him, Atticus doesn’t shirk his responsibility. He shows unwavering tenacity to fight for justice and truth. In the end, justice doesn’t prevail, but Atticus can live with himself, knowing that he lived his principles and gave himself fully to the defense of an innocent man. Atticus’s fierce determination to defend Tom Robinson was a step toward fighting the prejudice of the
This quotation makes the reader consider the events leading up to the incident and how it actually happened. The use of the first person retrospective creates suspense as the narrator knows what the outcome of the book is going to be but the reader does not. Alternatively it could be a direct link between Jem and the Tom Robinson case and that Jem’s situation with Bob Ewell and Tom Robinson has left him with a permanent scar. Scout describes that Jem’s left arm “somewhat shorter than his right”. He shares this with Tom as his left arm also hangs higher due to an accident of a cotton jim. Lee could be implying that Jem has been affected beyond repair due to his father’s involvement in the Tom Robinson case. Although Lee suggests earlier in the book that Jem’s trauma is temporary and that he will grow up to be as compassionate and understanding as his father. Atticus symbolizes a guardian of justice and at the end of the novel Lee projects an image of Atticus protecting his children; “He would be there all night, and he would be there when Jem waked up in the morning.”
“You never really understood a person until you consider things from his point of view—until you climb into his skin and walk around it.” Atticus Finch is a man of extreme integrity. He, as both a lawyer and a human being, stands up for his democratic beliefs and encourages his children to stand up for their own, though they may stand alone. Harper Lee showed how far respect went in To Kill a Mockingbird when Atticus defended Tom Robinson in his rape trial. He did not think twice about being ridiculed by th...
Throughout the novel, Atticus shares his philosophical and personal morals to his children, Jem and Scout. The iconic quote that gave the book