Atticus Finch

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Atticus Finch by Mind Map: Atticus Finch

1. Motivated By

1.1. Family

1.1.1. 'He gave the money he earnt to his younger brother John Hale Finch (10 years younger) to study medicine.' - Page 5

1.1.1.1. This quote shows that it is his family that motivates him. One of the only reasons he is working is so he can fund his younger brothers medicine study.

1.2. Equality

1.2.1. 'Whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family, he comes from that white man is trash.' - Page 241

1.2.1.1. Atticus is motivated by his belief that all people, regardless of race are equal.

2. Textual Issues or Concerns linked to the Character

2.1. Discrimination Against Coloured People

2.1.1. 'The evil assumption that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, and that all Negroes men are not to be trusted around our women. - Page 223

2.1.1.1. This is an example of the discrimination during the time this novel is set. The quote demonstrates how people thought Black skinned people would attack woman. This quote also indicates sexism of the day.

2.2. Discrimination Against Coloured People

2.2.1. 'In our courts, when its a white mans word against a black man's, the white man always wins. They're ugly, but those are the fears of life. - Page 240

2.2.1.1. At the time of the this novel, a black man's word is always considered less reputable than a white mans. Atticus challenged this stereotype as his belief was all people are equal.

3. Beliefs & Values

3.1. Equality

3.1.1. Value: 'Scout, I couldn't go to church and worship God if I didn't try to help that man. - Pg 114

3.1.1.1. Atticus values helping Tom Robinson in this case, because he knows that Tom is innocent, and he can't stand seeing an innocent man be charged with something as terrible as this.

3.2. Don't Judge

3.2.1. Belief: 'You never really understand a person until you consider things from his points of view, until you climb into his skin and walk around in it'. - Pg 31

3.2.1.1. Atticus believes that you can't judge a person before you see things from his point of view. He passes on this belief to Scout and Jem, because he wants them to believe the same thing.

3.3. Most People are Nice

3.3.1. Belief: 'Most people are Scout (nice), when you finally see them.' - Pg 307

3.3.1.1. This message from Atticus is a pivotal moral of the story, and it is one of the core beliefs which guide Atticus to stand up and defend Tom aginst adversity and ceartain loss.

3.4. Not okay to hate

3.4.1. Belief: 'But it's okay to hate Hitler' - 'It is not, Atticus said.'It's not okay to hate anybody'. - Page 267

3.4.1.1. Atticus believes that even though a person might do terrible things to other people, it's still not ok to hate them. This is an admirable quality, one that he tries to teach Scout and Jem.

3.5. Don't take advantage of anyone

3.5.1. Belief: 'There's sickening to me than a low grade white man who'll take advantage of a Negro's ignorance. - Page 241

3.5.1.1. This is another ones of Atticus's beliefs, and this is partly the reason why he tried so hard to defend Tom Robinson. One reason is because he knew that Tom was innocent, and the other was because no one should get away with treating anyone like that.

3.6. Being fair to living things

3.6.1. Belief/Value: 'He put his gun down when he realized that God had given him an unfair advantage over most living things.' Page 106

3.6.1.1. This is another value and belief of Atticus. This particular value highlights the decency of him, because he knew that animals were given a disadvantage. If most people had been in his situation, they would abuse the power, but Atticus didn't use it at all.

4. How others see him?

4.1. Good Lawyer

4.1.1. 'Atticus Finch won't win, he can't win, but he's the only man in these parts who can keep a jury out so long in a case like that. - Pg 235

4.1.1.1. This quote shows that others admire Atticus as a layer, and they believe that he is the best lawyer in the county. If any other lawyer had been given the job of defending a Negro, the jury would have made a decision very quickly, but with Atticus defending him, it made the decision a lot more difficult.

4.2. Polite

4.2.1. 'Mr Finch is always courteous to everyone. He's not trying to muck you, he's trying to be polite. That's just his way. - Page 198

4.2.1.1. As we have seen before, people admire him as a lawyer, but this quote shows how much they admire him as a person as well. Even during the court case, he is still being polite to his opposition, who he believes is in the wrong by taking advantage of Tom.

4.3. Friend

4.3.1. 'This church has no better friend than your daddy.' - Page 133

4.3.1.1. This quote describes Atticus as someone who believed in helping people, even if it meant losing credentials and social status.

4.4. Nigger-Lover

4.4.1. 'I guess it aint your fault if Uncle Atticus is a nigger-lover besides, but I'm here to tell you it certainly does mortify the rest of the family.' - Page 89

4.4.1.1. The family, and extended family of Atticus was worried that they would lose 'social status' because of this case. This does not worry Atticus though, as he believes in his values.

4.5. Always Honest

4.5.1. 'He (Atticus) is the same in the court-room as he is on the public streets. - Page 217

4.5.1.1. Most people are generally 'two-faced' as they act different at home compared to out in the world. Atticus is extremely honest though and acts the same everywhere.

4.6. Brave

4.6.1. 'It was times like these that I though my father, who hated guns and had never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived. - Pg 109

4.6.1.1. In this quote Atticus is compared to the stereotypical brave 'man' of the time. This defines Atticus as a brave person, but someone does not conform to the public pressures and stereotypes which existed at the time.

5. Looks Like

5.1. Feeble/Glasses

5.1.1. 'Atticus was feeble: he was nearly fifty. Besides that, he wore glasses. He was nearly blind in his left eye.' - Page 97

5.1.1.1. The appearance of Atticus is a parallel to his values, as he did not look 'threatening' but people still admire him. One of the morals which Atticus taught his children is that you should not judge people based upon their look and this applies to Atticus.