Atticus Finch Good Vs Evil

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The novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is an intense symbol-filled novel that has many themes and lessons embedded within its pages. Lee crafted this story artfully, so it is ensured the many themes become clear to the reader. A major theme of the story is the coexistence of good and evil within a society as well as within an individual. Throughout this report, three main characters will be discussed in relation to the theme above Mayella Ewell, Atticus Finch, and the town of Maycomb itself. Additional characters in this novel exhibit the characteristics of good and evil through their actions, but I feel that these three display the struggle between good and evil the most.
Mayella Ewell is an important character in this novel.
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Atticus is the father of the main characters, Jem and Scout, and is the honorable lawyer who is tasked with defending Tom Robinson. Throughout the course of the novel, he is faced with multiple decisions that test his honor and moral standards. Atticus is a perfect example of how good and evil within a society does not always change how good and evil coexist within a single person. Atticus was in many situations where, metaphorically, the bad tested the good. For example, at the Maycomb jail, when the Old Sarum Bunch came to lynch Tom, Atticus was there to defend him (Lee, 171-175). In this scene, Atticus stops the Bunch at the door, and with the help of Scout and Jem sends them home and keeps Tom unharmed (Lee, 175). This scene has many metaphorical and symbolistic properties. From a very general perspective, this scene is a confrontation between Maycomb’s bad and Maycomb’s good. However, from a more unambiguous view, this scene is about how the goodness in a person can be revealed by other good people. The Bunch is described as unrelenting men in this instance and despite their intentions and semblance, they leave the jailhouse because of the good and wise words of Atticus and …show more content…
Maycomb is a complex hierarchy that represents the best and worst of small towns. In my opinion, it represents the worst of a southern town during that period, yet it also displays extreme promise because of some of its citizens. Maycomb is full of many social rules that are very discriminatory and prejudice. For example, the fact that African Americans are viewed as objects rather than people and that women are looked down on and do not have the same opportunities as men (Lee, 252). Maycomb represents the worst because of some of the members of its community. The Ewells commit horrendous actions, Dolphus Raymond lies and incriminates himself, Mr. Avery is a public drunk, and Miss Stephanie is a town gossip. Despite the atrocities of these Maycomb citizens, there are also some beautiful people within the town: Miss Maudie, Atticus Finch, Scout and Jem Finch, Boo Radley, Calpurnia and more. The “bad” people interact with the “good” people and vice versa. Maycomb truly is the epitome of the coexistence of good and evil within a society, because of the network of the town. Everyone in the town is exposed to both the good and the bad side of Maycomb every single day.
In conclusion, good and evil can coexist, and Maycomb and its citizens are perfect examples of this. Good and evil within a society affect all its members, and Mayella, Atticus, Scout, and every character in this novel shows its

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