Atticus Finch A Hero Analysis

Words: 360
Pages: 2
Open Document
Additionally, Atticus Finch is not a hero because of his knowledge of the problem in Maycomb County, but deliberate avoidance of it. In a conversation with Jem, Atticus recognizes Mr. Cunningham’s previous actions, but instead of admitting that Maycomb has an openly violent lynch mob, he claims that, “Mr. Cunningham’s basically a good man, he just has blind spots like the rest of us.” (210). He goes on to say that, “Every mob in every little Southern town is always made up of people you know––doesn’t say much for them, does it?” (210). With these naive claims, Atticus denies the fact that this lynch mob is a real problem and concludes to his children that those involved, like Mr. Cunningham, are just ordinary people. Another example of Atticus’ evasion of the problem lies in his conversations with Scout. For instance, when …show more content…
Why does he say this? It could be argued here that Atticus’ straightforward answer to this question is a reflection of his character, and, although his definition was much to technical for Scout to understand, Atticus was trying to protect the innocence of his daughter. However, you can’t correct what you aren’t first willing to confront, and throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus struggles with accepting a problem for what it is. Finally, Atticus is proven unheroic with his immediate shutdown of the questions Jem has about the KKK group now terrorizing the South. Such as, when Jem says, “___”, and Atticus instantaneously halts the idea by stating, “___”. This highlights Atticus’ immediate discomfort in facing big problems; similar to ___ stance on Atticus in the article ___. ___ claims, “___”, to explain Atticus’ unsophisticated outlook on the problems in Maycomb itself. All of these issues are details that show Atticus is not a true hero because he avoids and smothers big problems with his susceptible and confiding nature; leading him to cloud the judgement of not just himself but many of the people whom he influences in
Show More

Related Documents: Atticus Finch A Hero Analysis

Brianna Reed TKAM Essay

Brianna Reed Big 10/ UCLA 5/29/15 Mockingbird Analysis To Kill a Mockingbird, a novel by Harper Lee, is a story about Scout and Jem Finch playing with their friend Dill and spying on the mysterious Boo Radley. Atticus Finch is a respected lawyer and defends a black man, Tom Robinson, who was accused of rape. The trial shows the evils of prejudice and racism. In this novel Atticus, Tom Robinson and Boo Radley are metaphorically portrayed as mockingbirds because they didn’t do anything wrong and were…

Words 602 - Pages 3

how to kill a mocking bird Essay

humor, despite dealing with the serious issues of rape and racial inequality. The narrator's father, Atticus Finch, has served as a moral hero for many readers and as a model of integrity for lawyers. One critic explains the novel's impact by writing, "In the twentieth century, To Kill a Mockingbird is probably the most widely read book dealing with race in America, and its protagonist, Atticus Finch, the most enduring fictional image of racial heroism."[1] As a Southern Gothic novel and a Bildungsroman…

Words 396 - Pages 2

Atticus Finch Thesis

Harper Lee illustrates this idea through the heroic character, Atticus Finch. Her novel regards current society and inequality among the public. Atticus is the father of two young children, Jem and Scout. His character is persistent, calm, and patient when facing most situations. He tries his best to raise his children well, by schooling them to accept everyone for who they are, and to not judge based on one’s race or background. Atticus works as a lawyer, and he has been given the case of Tom Robinson…

Words 2002 - Pages 9

Archetypes In To Kill A Mockingbird

written analysis and evaluation of a work of literature that is based on a literary theory. A literary theory is a means to understand the various ways people read and connect with texts that usually leads to a new perspective. In To Kill a Mockingbird (TKAM) by Harper Lee uses a literary theory known as archetypal criticism. This criticism shows how recurring characters, symbols, and themes help develop a story. The author’s use of loss of innocence, weather as a symbol for change, and the hero archetype…

Words 1494 - Pages 6

Great Gatsby Review

Wilson’s husband. He owns a car garage in the Valley of Ashes. He finds out about his wife’s affair the same night as her death. This drives him to go kill Gatsby and then himself. 5) Themes: Hope Love Trust Dissatisfaction Wealth 6) Analysis: A major symbol in the novel is the green light at…

Words 9628 - Pages 39