To Kill a Mockingbird: Describe a Character You Enjoyed Reading About in the Text - Explain Why the Character Helped You Understand an Idea in the Text

Atticus Finch is both the protagonist and "moral backbone" of "To Kill a Mockingbird". As a character, Atticus is an interesting read as he addresses many timeless issues, in particular, with relation to the mosaic of racist and prejudice attitudes that exist in society. An enlightened understanding of racism and prejudice is unveiled by Atticus through his courage, sense of justice and his education of his children. Through Atticus, the reader can see that tolerance of others leads to greater equality.

"To Kill a Mockingbird" is set during the Great Depression in the "tired, old town" of Maycomb, Alabama. Despite the abolition of slavery 60 years before the setting of the novel, the greater part of Southerners still discriminate against the Black population and Blacks still do not have equal rights. Harper Lee wrote To Kill a Mockingbird to expose the racial prejudice in the South and illustrate flaws in society, such as the education system.

Atticus shows great moral courage as the defence attorney of Tom Robinson, a Black man accused of raping a White woman. By doing this Atticus displays "real courage - taking on a task to the best of your abilities even though you know it will end in failure.", "Courage is when you know your licked before you begin but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what." Many of Maycomb's residents despise Atticus for going against the grain of society but he remains steadfast in his decision and his courage never flails. What this proves is that Atticus lived in a time where society was pervaded with racial hatred and that White superiority was the status quo.

Atticus was one of the few who believed in justice and racial equality. More importantly, it is clear from his acceptance of the case, that he was willing to advocate his beliefs and fight them in the public sphere. Atticus does not naively take the case in the belief that he will single handedly change Maycomb's social perspective and hierarchy, rather he accepts the case because he must do what he knows is right, despite disapproval from his peers. His role in the small town of Maycomb was part of a growing - but very slow - move towards equality and the reader can see that though Atticus may have been only a stepping stone towards setting the scene for a time where his beliefs would be better received, his actions sent a ripple through society, showing that one can make a difference by upholding their moral beliefs.

Atticus strongly values justice in society, and above all places, in the courtroom. The reader is made aware of the importance of justice when they are exposed to the arbitrary injustice and intolerance that existed in Maycomb County. It is Atticus' strong sense of morality which draws him to Tom Robinson's case and motivates Atticus to defend him as well as he can. He does this despite the clear trend in society, in his constant struggle for justice. "There's nothing more sickening to me than a low-grade white man who'll take advantage of a negro's ignorance." Atticus is not one to sit idly by as injustice occurs before his very eyes, and by