why is atticus tom robinson's lawyer quote

by Assunta McKenzie 5 min read

A reason why it made sense for Atticus to defend Tom Robinson is how he always gives people a chance. One way I know this is on page 99 where it states “I’m simply defending a negro because it’s the right thing to do.”. This quote shows how Atticus humanizes Tom when he gets called a racial slur.

The Golden Rule is "Treat all others the way you want to be treated". It does not matter if the person is white or black everyone one is equal. Atticus belives that everyone is equal. Atticus is defending Tom Robinson because he values equality and justice.Mar 9, 2014

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What does Atticus say about killing a mockingbird?

What does Atticus believe?

How does Atticus demonstrate his character and positive outlook?

What chapter does Atticus explain to Scout?

What does Atticus tell Scout in chapter 9?

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What are Atticus reasons for representing Tom Robinson Why is he Tom's lawyer?

Atticus believes it's crazy to treat Tom differently just because he's black. That means that, for Atticus, defending Tom means he is living by the Golden Rule, just as Atticus expects Jem and Scout to. Another reason why it makes sense for Atticus to defend Tom Robinson is to set an example for his children.

Why does Atticus say he is defending Tom?

It makes sense for Atticus to defend Tom Robinson because he believes in the Golden Rule and he has integrity. The first reason why Atticus should defend Tom Robinson is because he believes in the Golden Rule. He believes that you should treat others the way you would want to be treated no matter what.

Where does it say Atticus is a lawyer?

Atticus is a lawyer and resident of the fictional Maycomb County, Alabama, and the father of Jeremy "Jem" Finch and Jean Louise "Scout" Finch....Atticus FinchGenderMaleOccupationLawyer, Member of the Alabama Legislature11 more rows

Is Atticus The lawyer for Tom?

In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch, lawyer and father of Scout and Jem Finch, has chosen to take on the defense of the Tom Robinson trial. This decision by Atticus was very excellent and beneficial to help teach his kids very valuable lessons in life.

Why is Atticus defending Tom Robinson and what does that say about his character analyze motivation?

Atticus explains that he is doing this because he values equality and justice. He believes that everyone is equal and therefore just because Tom Robinson is black, doesn't mean that he should not defend him.

Is Atticus the best lawyer in Maycomb?

Winner of the Pulitzer prize,Atticus Finch is the best Lawyer in Maycomb county, yet he puts his reputation at stake by defending a black man even though the whole world is against him.It makes sense for Atticus to defend Tom Robinson because he is Self-less and Caring.

What is Atticus known for Chapter 10?

0:092:49To Kill a Mockingbird | Chapter 10 Summary & Analysis | Harper LeeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut Atticus reminded them that To Kill a Mockingbird is a sin Miss Maudie explains that mockingMoreBut Atticus reminded them that To Kill a Mockingbird is a sin Miss Maudie explains that mocking birds do nothing but make music for people to enjoy which is why it's a sin to kill them.

Was Atticus Finch based on a real person?

The character of Atticus Finch is based on A.C. Lee. Photo by Donald Uhrbrock/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images. Harper Lee sits with her father, A.C. Lee, on the porch of his home in Monroeville, Alabama.

Who was supposed to be Tom Robinson's lawyer?

Atticus Finch, a lawyer and single parent in a small southern town in the 1930s, is appointed by the local judge to defend Tom Robinson, a young black man, who is falsely accused of raping a white woman.

Who is Tom Robinson's lawyer?

AtticusTom Robinson: A black man who is falsely accused of raping Mayella Ewell, Tom Robinson is defended by Atticus in court. He is one of the story's “mockingbirds.”

50 To Kill A Mockingbird Atticus Quotes With Page Numbers

These To Kill a Mockingbird quotes will make you understand the life and people a little better.. To Kill A Mockingbird is a novel by an American author Harper Lee which was published on 11 July, 1960. This novel was an instant success.

To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes | Explanations with Page Numbers - LitCharts

“If you shouldn't be defendin' him, then why are you doin' it?” “For a number of reasons,” said Atticus. “The main one is, if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature, I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do something again.”

To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes with Page Numbers

We know all men are not created equal in the sense some people would have us believe- some people are smarter than others, some people have more opportunity because they're born with it, some men make more money than others, some ladies make better cakes than others- some people are born gifted beyond the normal scope of men.But there is one way in this country in which all men are created ...

Atticus Finch Quotes With Page Numbers - eNotes.com

Atticus Finch is an admirable role model and caring parent in To Kill a Mockingbird and offers Jem and Scout an exemplary moral education by teaching them important, relevant life lessons. There ...

What does Atticus say about defending Tom Robinson?

Your father's one of them.” (Miss Maudie) Page 288 Miss Maudie is saying that Atticus does the jobs, like defending Tom Robinson, that other people don't want to do. He is selfless. “Jem, see if you can stand in Mr.

What does Atticus say about Tom Robinson?

To Kill a Mockingbird? Three quotes that show Atticus is determined to defend Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird are when Atticus says that he is against "preserving polite fiction at the expense of human life," when he insists that Tom will not die until "the truth's told," and when he takes the radical position in court ...

What does Atticus say to Scout about his role in the Tom Robinson trial?

When Scout questions Atticus about his role in the Tom Robinson trial, Atticus says the following to her, showing that he is determined to offer Robinson the best defense he can, because it is the right thing to do: Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.

Why does Atticus want to defend Tom?

Atticus wants to give Tom the best defense because otherwise, he wouldn't have one at all. Even people who are on his side think Atticus has a lot to lose from defending Tom. Link Deas even says so in chapter 15. To that Atticus says the following with determination:

What does Atticus show in his closing arguments?

During his closing arguments, Atticus shows his determination to do more than a mock defense of Tom Robinson by pointing out the truth that whites and blacks share a common humanity. Whites can lie and blacks can tell the truth, for all that the racist...

Why does Atticus want to defend Tom Robinson?

Atticus knows that by agreeing to defend Tom Robinson he has put himself and his family in line for some unpleasant experiences. Atticus is particularly interested in protecting his children from the ugliness around the trial, and here, he tries to convince Scout to ignore whatever abuse comes her way. Scout tries mightily to obey her father’s advice throughout the novel. Scout’s struggle to behave the way she knows her father wants her to versus her urge to protect her family form one of the conflicts of the novel.

What does Atticus say about the time it took for the jury to reach a decision?

Atticus recognizes that the time it took for the jury to reach a decision is a small victory, perhaps too small to even be considered a victory, but that it is still a kind of progress, and that it should be valued. Previous section Scout Next section Jem.

What is Atticus trying to get Jem to consider?

He is trying to get Jem to consider the situation from Bob’s point of view, and understand the humiliation and rage Bob must feel as a result of the trial. While Atticus is empathetic to Bob’s experience, he underestimates the depth of Bob’s rage, which will affect his children more than it affects Atticus directly.

What does Atticus talk about in Jem?

Here, Atticus is talking to Jem about how long the jury deliberated before returning with a verdict. Atticus sees a glimmer of hope in the fact that the jury did not immediately find Tom guilty, as they usually would in such a case.

What is the lesson Atticus wants to teach Scout?

Here, Atticus articulates the central lesson he wants to convey to Scout, which is that empathy is the key to understanding others. Atticus presents lessons in empathy several times in relation to Scout’s schoolmates, her teacher, the mob outside the courthouse, and the jury. By the end of the novel, Scout has begun using empathy ...

What is Atticus's mob mentality?

Here, Atticus explains mob mentality, arguing that well-intentioned individuals can lose their basic humanity when they act together. Examples of this behavior include the group that appears outside Tom Robinson’s cell at night, and the jury that finds him guilty. Atticus also suggests that the presence of reasonable people can serve as a cure to unreasonable behavior. This principle seems to guide Atticus’s commitment to doing right even when there is no hope of success.

How many reasonable men are there in Tom's jury?

Those are twelve reasonable men in everyday life, Tom’s jury, but you saw something come between them and reason. You saw the same thing that night in front of the jail. When that crew went away, they didn’t go as reasonable men, they went because we were there. There’s something in our world that makes men lose their heads—they couldn’t be fair if they tried.

Why did Atticus fail to win Robinson's freedom?

In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch attempts to acquit Tom Robinson; however, Atticus fails to win Robinson’s freedom for several reasons, but primarily due to racial inequality. In the small town of Maycomb, Alabama, a predominately white community accuses a young black man, Tom Robinson, of raping a young white woman.

Who is Atticus Finch?

Atticus Finch, father of Jem and Scout Finch, is appointed by Judge Taylor to defend Tom Robinson, who is unfairly accused of raping Mayella Ewell. Tom is deemed by the community as a dead man, but Atticus taking on the case immediately sparks an intense controversy in the small, usually peaceful town. Atticus’ decision to proceed as Tom’s attorney ...

What is the theme of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird?

Although much of the novel’s events inspire feelings of warmth and humor in a wide and diverse audience, more solemn issues are also encountered, such as racial inequality and rape. The story centers on Scout, the narrator and protagonist, and Scout’s father, Atticus Finch, who is an attorney hired to defend Tom Robinson. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch attempts to acquit Tom Robinson; however, Atticus fails to win Robinson’s freedom for several reasons, but primarily due to racial inequality.

What is the one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule?

The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience, ” (Lee 114). Despite having premonitions of the final outcome of the case, Atticus proceeds in the defense of Tom, knowing that it is the right thing to do.

Is Tom Robinson a victim?

As a result, Atticus and his family realize that Tom Robinson’s story and case is not an isolated incident, nor is he just a victim in a small community. Sadly, Tom Robinson’s story illustrates the larger picture in that he is a victim of society’s unjust assumptions, social inequality, and racism.

Did Atticus save Tom Robinson?

However, as stated in the book, “Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men’s hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed,” (Lee 244).

Why does Atticus stand up for Tom?

Atticus is standing up for Tom to prove to Maycomb and his children that just because Tom is black, it gives them white folks no reason to disrespect the black. Atticus is setting an example. Plus, he is upholding his own moral values, so at least he isn't hypocritical. But these aren't the only reasons. Atticus knew Tom was innocent as soon as he saw Tom's limp hand, remember? How could've Tom raped Mayella if he was injured??? And, how could Atticus leave Tom to the claws of the white, racist jury??? Tom was innocent; Atticus HAD to defend him. After all, wasn't it Atticus who said, "It is a sin to kill a mockingbird," and "Just because we were licked a hundred years ago, it doesn't mean we don't have to stop trying."

What is Atticus trying to tell his kids?

Atticus is trying to tell his kids that discrimination is not okay and that he must show them that he believes in equality

Why does Atticus believe everyone is equal?

He believes that everyone is equal and therefore just because Tom Robinson is black, doesn't mean that he should not defend him.

Does Atticus believe Tom will get a fair trial?

Atticus knows there is no way Tom can receive a fair trial, and that he isn't going to get a jury of his peers. The extreme prejudice of the entire town does not allow Tom to receive justice, and Atticus believes he can at least bring this to the light of day.

What does Atticus say about killing a mockingbird?

10, p.94). This statement of Atticus implies that he recognizes the lack of malice that characterizes the mockingbird or any other innocent creature, be it bird or Tom Robinson. As a simple man, Tom is innocent of any crime. He possesses Christian values, one of which is charity toward all persons. He has helped Mayella for no other reason than the fact that she has needed assistance with her chores.Therefore, for Atticus, it will be "a sin" of hypocrisy to not defend the mockingbird, Tom Robinson.

What does Atticus believe?

4. As a morally upright man, Atticus also believes that everyone should be treated fairly regardless of their skin color. In Atticus's mind, Tom Robinson has the right to be judged fairly without prejudice. Following the tragic verdict, Atticus reveals his belief that everyone should be treated equally by telling his children,

How does Atticus demonstrate his character and positive outlook?

Atticus demonstrates his character and positive outlook by telling Scout, Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win. (Lee, 78) 3. In chapter eleven, Atticus attempts to explain to... (The entire section contains 2 answers and 874 words.)

What chapter does Atticus explain to Scout?

3. In chapter eleven, Atticus attempts to explain to Scout why he feels compelled to take the Tom Robinson case. After Scout tells her father that he must be wrong, Atticus responds by saying,

What does Atticus tell Scout in chapter 9?

Atticus tells his daughter, The main one is, if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again. (Lee, 78)

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