Often complying with morals is difficult when others seemingly have no problem choosing to ignore them. This statement is not true for Atticus Finch, whose moral compass leads him to always do the right thing. To Kill a Mockingbird focuses on the impact of morals on society and on an innocent man’s life. When an African American, Tom Robinson, is wrongly accused of raping Caucasian Mayella Ewell, Atticus Finch is assigned to defend him. Institutionalized racial bias is still common in the South in the 1930s, and Atticus knows that Robinson will not be acquitted, but he defends Atticus as well as he possibly can. Harper Lee develops the Atticus’ virtuous, level headed, and empathetic character through his actions, his dialogue, and views of
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During the trial, Atticus believes that Mayella is testifying to convict an innocent man, but feels “nothing but pity” (271) for her because of her guilt over her actions, though he continues, specifying that he himself would never put someone’s life at risk over his own guilt. Though Atticus believes that Mayella is doing wrong by testifying against Tom Robinson, he can still see her point of view because he understands the racial code of society. Another instance of Atticus’ empathy is when Jem confronts him about his response to being attacked, and he admits to being glad about the attack, because Ewell chose to take his anger out on him rather "than that household of children out there" (292-293). He sympathises with the pain and abuse that the Ewell children have experienced, and is therefore willing to undergo the abuse if it keeps the children from being mistreated, even once. After the trial, Atticus explains to Jem the injustice of the world, and the trail, saying that “when a white man [cheats] a black man... that white man is trash” (295). Because Atticus sympathises with the underdog, rather than his own race, this quote proves Atticus’ sympathy. Atticus’ sympathy provides a point of view other than that of the childish narrator and the average biased
During the trial, Atticus believes that Mayella is testifying to convict an innocent man, but feels “nothing but pity” (271) for her because of her guilt over her actions, though he continues, specifying that he himself would never put someone’s life at risk over his own guilt. Though Atticus believes that Mayella is doing wrong by testifying against Tom Robinson, he can still see her point of view because he understands the racial code of society. Another instance of Atticus’ empathy is when Jem confronts him about his response to being attacked, and he admits to being glad about the attack, because Ewell chose to take his anger out on him rather "than that household of children out there" (292-293). He sympathises with the pain and abuse that the Ewell children have experienced, and is therefore willing to undergo the abuse if it keeps the children from being mistreated, even once. After the trial, Atticus explains to Jem the injustice of the world, and the trail, saying that “when a white man [cheats] a black man... that white man is trash” (295). Because Atticus sympathises with the underdog, rather than his own race, this quote proves Atticus’ sympathy. Atticus’ sympathy provides a point of view other than that of the childish narrator and the average biased