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Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird
"I do my best to love everybody... I'm hard put, sometimes-baby, it's never an insult to be called what someone thinks is a bad name. It shows how poor that person is, it doesn't hurt you" (Lee). It is hard to get along with everybody, especially in the southern 1930's where racial tensions ran high. Atticus Finch is a fifty year old lawyer and father of two kids who was born and raised in Maycomb County, Alabama. He believes in his heart that it is his duty to love everybody no matter what. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses Atticus Finch to show that even when society is pressuring otherwise, it is important to always do what feels right.
Maycomb, Alabama is a small town. There was …show more content…
The Tom Robinson case was a living example of why the system is flawed, and has been for a long time. In trial, there was no doubt Tom was innocent, and there were many reasons why. Mayella Ewell, the girl who claimed she was raped, ran off of the stand. Bob Ewell, Mayella's father, was right handed, when Mayella was hit in the left eye. Lastly, Tom Robinson had a crippled arm. In the end, the case was a matter of black and white. "Now I am confident that you gentlemen will review without passion the evidence that you have heard, come to a decision, and restore this man to his family. In the name of God, do your duty. In the name of God, believe Tom Robinson" (Lee). Atticus was attempting to show society his way of thinking regarding equality, but the racial barrier once again proved to be too much for anyone to understand his point. All members of the jury voted Tom Robinson as …show more content…
This is, up until the trial. It is definitely not the popular opinion of society for the likes of Atticus to defend Tom Robinson in court. This sudden backlash from members of the community put Atticus and his family in tough situations, but Atticus handles them with courage and calmness. Atticus' two kids, Jem and Scout, are threatened by members of society, but Atticus teaches his kids that it is better to keep your fists down and ignore people rather than start a fight. "You just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don’t you let ‘em get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change" (Lee). Atticus himself has a confrontation with a lynch mob, where a group of 5 men threatened to kill Atticus in order to kill Tom Robinson. Another situation arose soon after the trial, where Bob Ewell spat on Atticus. In both these situations, Atticus stood tall and did not solve his problem with any form of violence. Atticus knew his duty as a lawyer was more important than society and their

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