Atticus Finch: Ahead of His Time. Essay Sample

Atticus Finch is one of the main characters in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. He is the father of Jem and Scout Finch, and a lawyer in Maycomb, Alabama. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus is the attorney for Tom Robinson, an African American man who has been falsely accused of raping a white woman. Though most of Maycomb sides against Tom Robinson purely because he is black, Atticus makes it his duty to defend him. On the whole, Atticus Finch is remarkably ahead of his time, and his wisdom will help Maycomb to grow and become a more progressive society.

First off, Atticus is exceptionally unbiased and accepting, especially considering the town in which he lives. Maycomb is a town full of people who tend to be very judgmental. Ms. Stephanie Crawford, Ms. Dubose, and even Atticus’s own sister, Alexandra, are all examples of this. Many of the citizens of Maycomb are racist, sexist, and have overall biased opinions. However, Atticus’s views on these subjects are very different from the others, and are much more progressive. His views are so ahead of his time, that he decides to defend an African American man in court, even though he knows he will receive backlash, and most likely lose the case. Part of the reason why his views are so progressive, is because he bases them on his heart, not on others beliefs. He is extremely empathetic, and sees everyone as someone who is worthy, no matter their race or gender. He takes on the Tom Robinson case, even though he knows they won’t win, because of this empathy. “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” (Lee 120). Though Atticus doesn’t end up winning the Tom Robinson case, he does begin to move the community in a more progressive direction. 

It is seen how Atticus has the power to influence others in his parenting methods. He raises Jem and Scout to be empathetic and able to control themselves. One great example of this is in Chapter nine, when Cecil Jacobs, a boy who goes to school with Scout, tries to get her to fight him by calling Atticus names. However, because of Atticus’s teachings, Scout is able to ignore Cecil, even though the other children taunt her for doing so. “Somehow, if I fought Cecil I would let Atticus down. Atticus so rarely asked Jem and me to do something for him, I could take being called a coward for him (Lee 87).”Atticus raises Jem and Scout to be progressive people, and in this same way he influences and will influence Maycomb as a whole. A society cannot progress without the people progressing, and people progress by watching and listening to other people. As long as Atticus continues to behave the way he does, those around him will be influenced and changed for the better. He has educated Scout and Jem, and they will go on to change the world as well, simply by being accepting and non-biased.

Through being a valuable role model, Atticus Finch helps to begin the revolution for everyone being treated equally. He demonstrates to the reader the easiest way to change the world: do what you can, and everyone else will follow through, whether it be immediately, or take many years. Although Atticus does what he can, and still loses the Tom Robinson case, he moves the community a little ways towards equality. As Atticus Finch said, “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win” (Lee 87). By following this philosophy, the world in our current society and in Maycomb can change for the better, and become a more equal place. 
 

Works Cited

Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. Arrow Books, 2006.