A Character Analysis of Atticus Finch, In Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird

Essay by ZapianJunior High, 9th gradeA, January 2008

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In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus plays a major role in his children growth and development. He is a role model to his children and to Maycomb, one of the few willing to take actions against prejudice. His actions can be summed up in one great quote of Thomas Jefferson‘s “These truths we hold to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights”. Atticus does not approve of racism, and teaches his children to judge by character, not race.

Atticus thinks that even black men have at least one right, the right of justice. He expresses his belief in this phrase. “But there is one way in this country in which all men are created equal- there is one human institution that makes a pauper the equal of a Rockefeller, the stupid man the equal of an Einstein, the ignorant man the equal of any college president, and that, gentlemen is a court.”

(Lee 205) This quote shows Atticus’ passion for justice and equality, saying that all are equal in this court, and that you should judge a man by his economic or mental aptitude, nor by the color of his skin. He means by this statement that you should be unbiased and fair when making a decision, or even a persons fate.

Atticus believes all people have their flaws and strengths, and should be judged as such, not by their gender, social standing, or color. He shows this in a moving quote, ”You know the truth, and the truth is this: that some Negroes are immoral; that some Negro men are not to be trusted around women - black or white. But his is a truth which applies to the human race and to no...