To Kill a Mockingbird
discussion
Is Atticus Finch a hero?
i think that he was just a man doing his job with no intention of being a hero, however, his actions had consequences that influenced the civil rights movement
I think he was just doing his job. Sometimes doing his job, does make him come of as a hero. Somethings just work out for the best that way.
He was a man whose ethics were greater than the contemporary norms. A forefigure to say the least. A good example. A standard, perhaps. To call him a hero one should follow some litterary criteria for this term.
Personal opinion: What he did was heroic, most lawyers would not have taken the burden, even though it was their job.
He was a hero. He was doing his job, sure, but most people in that situation at the time would have just phoned it in. Instead, he goes to great lengths not only to prove Tom Robinson's innocence but also prove who was guilty. He even guards stands guard outside the prison, something putting himself in harm's way.
I think he was doing his job, because it was the right thing to do. I don't feel he had any ideas of becoming a hero. He was just doing what was right.
a hero in the way of real men who quitely do what is right only because it is right.
Before you call Atticus a hero (or not), you need to spend some time defining what a hero is to you, particularly in the context of the civil rights debate. He takes the hard, principled road in several instances throughout the book, refusing to stoop to the level of his antagonists. He quietly has the respect of many of the townsfolk, and stands up for his principles even facing an angry mob. He uses words instead of violence and his story seems to fit a typical literary heroes journey.
Whether you decide to call him a hero or simply a thoughtful, hard-working Father figure. You should decide what a hero is first then objectively measure Atticus and see if his acts in the novel live up to your estimation of what a hero is. I imagine that is the way he would want to be examined for the mantle of Hero.
I believe your teacher would like you to take a position on the topic and support it with evidence from the book. It is fine to get feedback from others who have read the book, but what do YOU think? As the above comment states, decide independently on what your criteria is for a hero. Then decide if Atticus fits that description. Finally, state in your writing what he did in the book that supports your argument.
If nothing else, Atticus was a hero because he was using his high moral values to argue a case, that because of race alone, he knew he wasn't going to win. Also, he was trying to teach a very important lesson to his children about doing the right thing even if it isn't popular. He even says. “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what." It's Atticus' principles, to me, that make him a hero, not because he says these things, but its because he does these things. At a time when there was a lot of chaos, Atticus fights the only way he deems proper, and that is by trying to prove in the court of law the innocents of a man. Our actions always speak louder than words.
I think he just approached the case with the intention of getting Tom Robinson the justice he felt he deserved. He felt it was the right thing to do and judging by his personality, he would expect any one to do the same. So in my opinion, I really don't think he was going after a hero status...but in my eyes he is a true hero.
You should really read the conversation Atticus has with his brother, Jack, after the Christmas party at their sister's house. Atticus talks about the case with Jack and what is to come. He also talks about the case, if I remember correctly, after Jem destroys Mrs. Dubose's garden. Finally, I'd read the pages directly after Tom Robinson is convicted and the chapter following (including Miss Maudie's take on the situation).
Those parts of the book show what Atticus was thinking regarding the trial and what others thought. Looking at that would help you develop your own thoughts.
Good luck.
Those parts of the book show what Atticus was thinking regarding the trial and what others thought. Looking at that would help you develop your own thoughts.
Good luck.
As others have pointed out, it depends on your teachers definition of a hero. If your teacher is leaving that up to each student, then you need to define what a hero is to you. Once you have the definition, then see if what Atticus did fits with that definition. In my eyes, I see Atticus as a hero, because he put his life on the line to help another human being, for no other reason than it was the right thing to do.
Yes, Atticus was a hero in my eyes. He's my shining example of how a father should be and how a man should follow and stand by his morals, no matter what others think.
I like what Sbarbarer said. Whether or not we can call him a hero is related to our subjective understanding of the word hero. He was certainly a wonderful example of someone who stood up for his principles and since they are principles I admire, I would tend to think of him as a hero. I like the idea that real heros are everyday people doing extraordinary things.
I think he was because although he was being made to do the trial, he both didn't want to use that as an excuse, and didn't want his kids to either.
Of course he is.It was Gregory Peck!
ღIsabellaღ wrote: "For my English class we are doing an argument paper on is Atticus a hero fir civil rights.Did you think Atticus was a hero, did he try abd make a difference for civil rights or was he just a man d..."
Atticus Finch was truly heroic because he accepted a job that no one else wanted and then proceeded to do the job to the best of his ability. He knew full well the cost it would have for himself and his family but he did what was ethical and morally right. He was a wonderful role model for his children.
This is for Isabella - Sounds like you have a great Eng. class. I'd like to recommend for their discussion my next HF, "March With Me" that will be released in March, 2013. It deals with race relations in the south in the 1960s, the civil rights movement, & the concept of racial reconciliation. (2013 will be the 50th anniversary of the Children's March, the bombing of the 16th St. Baptist Church, etc.). You can check me out on my website www.rosalieturner.com.
ღIsabellaღ wrote: "For my English class we are doing an argument paper on is Atticus a hero fir civil rights.Did you think Atticus was a hero, did he try abd make a difference for civil rights or was he just a man d..."
You might want to read Mockingbird, a biography of Harper Lee, for research. Her real father wasn't quite as great as Atticus, I'm afraid.
However, if you do, don't confuse your opinion of Atticus as the character she created with the actual person of her father.
i believe so..YES.... he was morally and ethically sound and right. he did what he thought and felt was right. trying to protect an innocent man's life. and that i think is very heroic
Atticus could be called a hero, but if he were real, I don't believe he'd want the title. While he did more than his job by defending Tom Robinson to the best of his abilities despite the repercussions and despite knowing that because Tom was black they would surely lose, he would probably say it was for the truth that Tom was innocent, for his children and for himself. Atticus was careful to explain to his children about what could happen when he defended Tom and he told his children not to hate anyone for what they did; if Atticus wasn't a hero, he was at least better than a great father/rold model.
I don't know if I would go straight ahead and call Atticus a hero. He was a man who believed and stuck to his morals and ethics, making sure those around him knew where he stood on certain things. With Tom Robinson, it was his job to fight for him as his lawyer, it was something that called on his morals and ethics, not in the way as a hero sweeping in to save the day. I agree with the people that classify him more as a role model, rather than a hero.
Briggitte wrote: "I don't know if I would go straight ahead and call Atticus a hero. He was a man who believed and stuck to his morals and ethics, making sure those around him knew where he stood on certain things. ..."You said it was his job to defend Tom Robinson, which it was, but Atticus went against the majority of the public when he decided to defend the man whole heartedly and BELIEVED Tom was innocent.
Atticus Finch didnt seem like the type of guy who would want to be hero. He seemed like he was just doing his job. He was doing what he thought wwas right. he could be played off as a hero though.
I don't think "heroes" know that they are being heroes at the time. I completely agree with Anna above, that Atticus was an honest man who knew the difference between right and wrong, and tried to bring up his kids the same in a world of muddy values. Maybe we might call him a hero, but he would not have though himself one.
Andy has a great point. I believe Atticus is a hero because he did the right thing in spite of the consequences. However, as many modern real-life heroes, he would probably say he didn't set out to be heroic.That being said, I think we are so inundated with Super-heroes in modern literature and media, we often confuse the two, and our expectations are influenced by that.
I think it would've been easy for him to just drop the case had the situation been that he didn't care for Tom Robinson. I mean, take into consideration the fact that he waited outside of Tom Robinson's jail cell when the gang of angry, racist white men came to harass him and he incessantly made it a point to both Scout and Jem to appreciate the black folk for who they were. He didn't even get mad when Calpurnia took the kids to her church, and I'd argue he treated Calpurnia rather well for a house maid. He clearly went out of his way many times to make a point of anti-racism and I don't believe he would've pursued the case with such passion and vigor had he lacked any concern for Tom Robinson's well-being. The fact that Lee has Scout put Atticus to such a pedestal in the novel isn't just because he's her father and all kids look up to their parents in such ways; Lee intended for Atticus to be the hero, to be the one, sole hope for equality in the community when all others went with the crowd and encouraged racism.
Here's what Joe Wright, the director of the 2005 movie, says about casting Tom Hollander as Mr. Collins:"We met a number of actors for Mr Collins and each played it in a different way. One actor came in and played him as Tony Blair! Tom came in and you always want someone to surprise you, to not play it as you specifically imagined.
He came in and played him as this weird little guy who couldn’t quite manage to communicate in the way that he wanted to, and couldn’t understand why not everyone respected him as much as he respected himself. They didn’t take him seriously and he’d tried all his life to be taken seriously, and I thought that was exciting and something I hadn’t seen. It surprised me, and I liked to be surprised."
I thought Tom did a fantastic job as Mr. Collins. He was a pitiful creature who somehow, creeps the nerves.
The whole movie was perfect in casting, really!
He was definitely a hero. He could have easily not bothered with the case. By that I mean do as little work as possible to help save Tom. Instead, he fought hard for an impossible battle: Tom's justice. One of the book's major themes is that he fought for his beliefs knowing he couldn't win.
Of course he was a hero in that moment in time he did what most other men in his position wouldn't do he could have refused to take the case but he didnt even knowing what the outcome would be he still fought for Tom and for what was right.
I believe he was a hero. Yes, he was just doing his job; but at the same time, he was going above and beyond. Most people would have thrown in the towel and quit, or not even bothered to take up the case at all. He even posted guards outside the jail to ensure Tom Robinson's safety. Who, just doing their job, does something like that? Maybe he didn't realize he was a hero and he himself believed that he was just doing his job. But he most certainly was not. Atticus Finch is a hero.
I think Atticus has a strong moral compass! I don't think civil rights had anything to do with what he did or didn't do. He was working towards justice, a belief that the guilty should pay and the innocent should not and the accused should always have the best defense. In life itself he believed that judgements shouldn't be passed without all the facts. He discouraged the scary stories of Boo Radley. So his actions may have been heroic for the time and place, he was meerly a man who knew right from wrong!
I don't know about hero. Atticus was a man following his conscience and standing by what he believed. Not an easy thing to do when everybody is against you. A small step, but it is people like Atticus that change the world.
I agree with Brooklyn. Atticus is a hero to represent Tom Robinson, he accepted all the challenges that entailed and rose above them.
I agree whole heartedly that he was indeed a great role model. A hero might have appealed, a hero wouldn't have tried to keep his head down. He did not want to be heard by the world but instead just tried to fix one injustice close to home.
Atticus is a rare human being who goes with what he believes to be right. there are many people out there who go quietly about life, never making a noise, but make a difference and make life worth living.
I absolutely admire him and wish even in today's world we had more men like him. If everyone tried to correct the injustices that they could see the entire world would benefit. You don't have to conquer the worlds problems to make a world of difference!
He seemed like an awfully reluctant fighter for justice.
I didn't see reluctance, granted it has been a few years since I read it. I had the feeling he was trying to teach his kids not to ruffle feathers unless you had to but there were times when you HAD to. I love the part with Atticus in front of the jail and his daughter starts pointing people out, making them feel small.
Ceej wrote: "I didn't see reluctance, granted it has been a few years since I read it. I had the feeling he was trying to teach his kids not to ruffle feathers unless you had to but there were times when you ..."I haven't read it, or seen the movie, for years, either, but I remember thinking that that town desperately needed a lot of feathers ruffled long before this particular court case came up.
So did almost every small southern town and plenty of northern ones, but I admired him for not sitting idly by and do nothing. Certainly there was more he might have done but I think he used his skill set to deal with it in a way he could. In that court room he proved Tom wasn't guilty but he couldn't control the bigotry in the jury. There is a limit to an individuals abilities when faced with that and he knew that going in and still gave his all.
I think he saw his actions as the just thing to do. most heroes have no intentions of being a hero they just do the right thing.
Jay wrote: "I think he saw his actions as the just thing to do. most heroes have no intentions of being a hero they just do the right thing."This may seem like I am splitting hairs but I believe someone before me did say it best. He was a great role-model but not exactly a hero, even if what he did could be seen as heroic. There are reluctant heroes, still I think that if Atticus had tried to draw attention to the injustice I could see him as a hero but instead he wasn't trying to teach anyone anything he was only trying to defend Tom!
I found the definition of "reluctant hero" in Wikipedia (see which), and I think it applies perfectly to Atticus. Excerpt:"The reluctant hero is typically portrayed either as an ordinary person thrust into extraordinary circumstances which require him to rise to heroism... the reluctant hero does not initially seek adventure or the opportunity to do good..."
Atticus wasn't out walking among the disenfranchised looking for a legal case that might change his society. It came to him, and in doing his job he became a hero.
A true hero these days is likely to be called a trouble-maker. The Freedom Riders were heroes. Come to think of it, the details of the book are fuzzy after all this time, but doesn't this make the defendant more of a real hero of the story?
I guess I just don't see Atticus as having been thrust...he was an attorney. He didn't go to law school for this case. He did the right thing because he was a moral man. That makes him a great role-model not a hero.
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Did you think Atticus was a hero, did he try abd make a difference for civil rights or was he just a man doing a job?