Critical Analysis Essay
Lizzy Young
Humanities
Chris Marshall
9/24/2014
Atticus Finch
Atticus Finch is one of the world’s most well known “human rights superheros” and he’s not even a real person. Through his fairness, strong-willed mind, and forgiveness, Atticus was able to change the views and perspectives of his children, and even some of the community members. Throughout the story of “To Kill a Mockingbird” we get a good understanding of what the views of society were typically like in that time period, and how people like Atticus were doing all they could to change that.
Atticus does everything he can to be fair to his kids, himself, and the members of the community. “... ‘When Jem an’ I fuss Atticus doesn’t ever just listen to Jem’s side of it, he hears mine too, an’ in the second place you told me never to use words like that except in ex-extreme provocation, and Francis provocated me enough to knock his block off--’”(Lee, 113) Even Atticus’s kids can recognize that he does his best to evaluate situations fairly, which goes to show that he does it often enough for them to catch on. He changes/ raises his kids in this way so that when they become adults and go out into the world, they will carry the same great aspects he does.
Atticus Finch is an incredibly strong-willed person.“‘Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win,’ Atticus said.”(Lee, 101) It’s instances like these where Atticus makes it obvious how hard he is willing to try to do what he believes to be right. Even though he knows he is going to lose the Tom Robinson case and it could destroy his career, he is not willing to give up. This is the attitude that helps him to change the world around him, showing people that simply because you know you can’t win doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.
Atticus forgives anyone and everyone, even if they don’t ask for forgiveness.“‘It’s different this time,’ he said. ‘This time we aren’t fighting the Yankees, we’re fighting our friends. But remember this, no matter how bitter things get, they’re still our friends and this is still our home.’”(Lee, 101-102) This is just one of many examples throughout the book where Atticus is forgiving towards people when other people wouldn’t be. The Finch’s are the gossip of the town because Atticus is defending a black man in court, but he forgives everyone for the things they have said, even if they are not sorry. Atticus believes that he is in the right and he is standing up for what he believes in, but even though all of these people are being so cruel to Atticus and his family for his noble decision, he won’t hold it against them.
Atticus is a very unique individual who doesn’t care what other people think, what they would do,or how they would handle a situation. He just does what he thinks is right. I would like to think that I carry at least some of these aspects, and I admit that I don’t have all of them. But I aspire to be more similar to Atticus in his humble, fair, kind ways. Atticus is very open minded and level headed about what is important to him, and all of the characteristics that make him who he is, is what makes him such an awesome human being, and what makes me (and many others) strive to carry some of those great characteristics, too.
Humanities
Chris Marshall
9/24/2014
Atticus Finch
Atticus Finch is one of the world’s most well known “human rights superheros” and he’s not even a real person. Through his fairness, strong-willed mind, and forgiveness, Atticus was able to change the views and perspectives of his children, and even some of the community members. Throughout the story of “To Kill a Mockingbird” we get a good understanding of what the views of society were typically like in that time period, and how people like Atticus were doing all they could to change that.
Atticus does everything he can to be fair to his kids, himself, and the members of the community. “... ‘When Jem an’ I fuss Atticus doesn’t ever just listen to Jem’s side of it, he hears mine too, an’ in the second place you told me never to use words like that except in ex-extreme provocation, and Francis provocated me enough to knock his block off--’”(Lee, 113) Even Atticus’s kids can recognize that he does his best to evaluate situations fairly, which goes to show that he does it often enough for them to catch on. He changes/ raises his kids in this way so that when they become adults and go out into the world, they will carry the same great aspects he does.
Atticus Finch is an incredibly strong-willed person.“‘Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win,’ Atticus said.”(Lee, 101) It’s instances like these where Atticus makes it obvious how hard he is willing to try to do what he believes to be right. Even though he knows he is going to lose the Tom Robinson case and it could destroy his career, he is not willing to give up. This is the attitude that helps him to change the world around him, showing people that simply because you know you can’t win doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.
Atticus forgives anyone and everyone, even if they don’t ask for forgiveness.“‘It’s different this time,’ he said. ‘This time we aren’t fighting the Yankees, we’re fighting our friends. But remember this, no matter how bitter things get, they’re still our friends and this is still our home.’”(Lee, 101-102) This is just one of many examples throughout the book where Atticus is forgiving towards people when other people wouldn’t be. The Finch’s are the gossip of the town because Atticus is defending a black man in court, but he forgives everyone for the things they have said, even if they are not sorry. Atticus believes that he is in the right and he is standing up for what he believes in, but even though all of these people are being so cruel to Atticus and his family for his noble decision, he won’t hold it against them.
Atticus is a very unique individual who doesn’t care what other people think, what they would do,or how they would handle a situation. He just does what he thinks is right. I would like to think that I carry at least some of these aspects, and I admit that I don’t have all of them. But I aspire to be more similar to Atticus in his humble, fair, kind ways. Atticus is very open minded and level headed about what is important to him, and all of the characteristics that make him who he is, is what makes him such an awesome human being, and what makes me (and many others) strive to carry some of those great characteristics, too.