Atticus Finch, a noble hero has been exquisitely woven into the awe-inspiring and riveting struggle composed

into Harper Lee s timeless novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. He is a man through whom we learn of honesty and goodness. We grow through the values and intelligence he imparts upon humanity leading us all to become greater human beings. Atticus Finch s powerful words radiate inspiration and seize an aura of wisdom, advisability and prudence. His actions teach us the importance of courage as they reflect upon his beliefs and moral dignity. Through the role he plays in his community, we learn of the effect he has on the small, authentic and seemingly happy town of Maycomb, where evil lurks in ominous corners. During the journey of this bittersweet struggle, we embody the character of Atticus as we explore and expose his benevolent nature inside and out. In the end, Atticus Finch provides us the most valuable lesson, that a kind heart and a just, sensible mind leads to a life of honour.

Atticus s heavy words are not something that flows in one ear and out the other. They force the listener to ponder and reassess their own words or actions. They make a person question, develop a curiosity or smile at the words wittiness. Sometimes, his words make people angry or stir a passion inside of them. Atticus holds the power of speech, as every respectable lawyer must. However, Atticus never misuses this power. This is first shown in the way Atticus teaches his children the right things in life. After Scout pleads for Atticus to not send her back to Miss Caroline s classroom, Atticus answers, "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it" (Harper Lee, 16). Atticus s empathetic reply signifies that he is not a man of prejudice and that he would never judge or place a label upon a being before reflecting upon their history, life experiences and perception. This attitude also makes Atticus tolerate Mr. Walter Cunningham and Bob Ewell s aggressiveness towards him. Atticus is able to see beyond other people's deeds and thoughts and thus is highly respected for the wisdom with which he deals with difficult situations. This trait is also shown in his belief that Boo Radley is not a bad man. Another wise trait Atticus acquires is revealed when Jean-Louis tells Atticus about how everyone

in town thinks he is wrong about handling an obviously guilty Negro, Tom Robinson s case. To this Atticus says, "They're certainly entitled to think that, and they're entitled to full respect for their opinions [B]ut before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience." (114) This one quote defines several of Atticus s attributesTolerance is shown through the strength he has maintained during the stage of exceeding pressure in his life, the case of Tom Robinson. He has also remained composed and collected and this signifies his mental strength and will. Most of all, this quote strongly displays Atticus s moral dignity while having respect for others and their opinions. While speaking with Jem on how Tom Robison could be found guilty, Jem gets very upset and defensive. Atticus tells him one thing and never to forget it, There s nothing more sickening to me than a low-grade white man who ll take advantage of a Negro s ignorance . In a society where coloured skin a looked down upon, Atticus is one of the few sole people that see no difference between man and woman, black and white or rich and poor.

At the beginning of the novel, neither Jem nor Scout consciously idolize Atticus as they are embarrassed that he is older than other fathers and that he doesn t hunt or fish. Though throughout the course of the novel, we learn that there could not be more of a man than Atticus Finch. His quiet bravery, peaceful fight for justice and morality make him the hero we look up to. We see all these attributes shine through when we take a closer look at Atticus s actions in this novel. When a rabid dog comes madly down the street, the first person Calpurnia calls is Atticus. Atticus is forced to use a gun and shoot the dog, yet the only reason he does it is so the morbidly ill dog dies a swift, painless death. Scout asks Miss Maudie why Atticus stopped using a gun to which Miss Maudie explains, I think maybe he put his gun down when he realized that God had given him an unfair advantage over most living things (53). In stopping the use of gun, Atticus teaches us that every living creature, especially animals, deserve to live and a man s pleasure should never be the reason for the death of another living creature. He also teaches us the importance of nonviolence and how bloodshed is not necessary to win a battle. Mrs. Dubose was losing

her battle with life during the time Atticus sent Jem and Scout to read to her. Jem hated it and demanded to know why Atticus would do such a thing, 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 [S]he died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew. By making Jem go read to her, Atticus taught the kids true courage by revealing to them how Mrs. Dubose was a morphine addict and decided to quit in the remaining years of her life so she could be truly alive. By demonstrating that a ninety-eight pound, fragile old lady, was ready to face the challenges it took to overcome her addiction, Atticus proves that we can face and overcome every obstacle that tries to crush us. Atticus proves that actions speak louder than words when he decides to take on the case of a black man accused of raping a white woman. When Scout questioned him as to why he did so, Atticus simply said If I didn t I couldn t hold up my head in town . Regardless the colour of his skin, the few dimes in the pockets of his raggedy shirt, and all the odds against him, Atticus takes the case. Therefore, proving that he does not follow the majority, instead he follows what is ethically correct and challenges the values of the racially prejudiced era. His unwavering stance regarding his client's right to a fair trial conveys the biggest message, that all men are created equal thus law must include morality and fair judgment.

The effect of Atticus s disposition on the community is commendable. One of the most notable times this effect was witnessed was when he chose to go down to the jail to protect Tom Robinson against a lynching mob headed by Walter Cunningham. "Get aside from the door, Mr. Finch. threatened Cunningham to which Atticus responded, You can turn around and go home Walter . It takes a brave man to stand up to someone, but it takes a braver man to do it as Atticus did, without anger or violence. Atticus never held any grudge against the evil that existed in the community. He knew that people possess both good and bad qualities and is determined to admire the good while understanding and forgiving the bad. In the end, it was this value that he invested into little Scout and her innocence that melted the hearts of a pack of vicious dogs that included a cold man like Cunningham and

made them retreat. In standing up for Tom Robinson against a villain like Bob Ewell, Atticus showed courage that is rarely found in a conservative, close-minded community like Maycomb. This completely affected the black community and raised an immeasurable amount of respect for him and raised him to be a benevolent hero in their eyes. I m simply defending a Negro his name s Tom Robinson (41). In a

place where no one would stand for an innocent man, Atticus took a stand and made his voice heard. This created an uproar in the community. The people were angry, mystified and demanded to know why a white man would do such a degradable thing. Atticus stayed put with his decision and did not let the hate phase his morals and ethics. The most significant effect Atticus had on his community is that he tried to make a change. Even though Atticus lost the case, the people were now aware of the deeds that happened behind their back. No one believed Bob Ewell and deep down they all knew that he was a guilty man. Atticus s effect on the town left a permanent mark on the history of Maycomb that will never be erased.

As a father, Atticus seldom shielded his children from the harsh reality of the world and he gave them all the freedom a child deserves. He let them right their own wrongs, with the input of his advice while his words and morals left a mark on their minds and evolved them into strong beings. By doing so, he makes sure that the future generation of town will know right from wrong and be an improvement from the hate and prejudice that exists at present. The actions of Atticus become a role model for individuals and the community as we learn the most wise life lesson from him- violence is never the answer. Most of all, Atticus Finch affects us. He teaches us that if there is any injustice in the world, stand up against it. Even if our chances of winning against greater, more powerful forces are less than a sliver, there is still hope; there is still injustice to raise awareness about; to begin a chain reaction. It is our responsibility to change the things we don t like about our world, we have all the freedom and rights. Never a gun in our hands, all we need is a burning passion, motivation, bravery, and the example of an inspirational leader like Atticus Finch.