We’ve all read Harper Lee’s historical fiction To Kill a Mockingbird and even if you haven’t, you have probably heard the name Atticus Finch in passing. If that doesn’t ring a bell, Atticus is one of the protagonists of TKAMB, and he is highly regarded as the pinnacle of the moral character in literature. In the novel, Atticus is a lawyer and defends an innocent man, Tom Robinson, in a rape trial. The catch is that Tom is a Black man living in the south in the 1930’s. The case is essentially already decided before the opening statements, yet Atticus still defends him and essentially proves Tom's innocence. Other than this, Atticus is a single father of two children, and he is extremely modest about his abilities, disciplined in his actions, and knows the value of integrity in the face of certain defeat.
After my reading of this book, I began to see similarities with Atticus in real life, film, and in other literature. These are the characters who fit the criteria above almost to a tee. They are those who know their abilities and when to showcase them. They are disciplined in life, choosing their words carefully, and acting in ways that elevate themselves and the people of which they are surrounded. Lastly, they do what is right avoiding temptation at every corner and when all hope is lost still fight for morality and hope.
One of the first characters in my mind to resemble Atticus was Tolkien’s Aragorn. Also known as Strider Aragorn is the rightful king of Gondor one of the most wealthy kingdoms in Middle Earth. Just like Atticus, Aragorn is wise, he knows what to say and when to say it. He hides his identity for the first half of the first book and pledges to defend Frodo the ringbearer. We also see is integrity when at the Black Gate he is able to lead the remaining armies of Rohan and Gondor to fight at the Black Gate of Mordor with a million-to-one odds. Just like Atticus, Aragorn as Sam states is holding on to the belief “that there’s some good in the world...and it’s worth fighting for.” This is exactly what Atticus embodies—there is decency in life even surrounded by division and dynamics.
Other characters like this involve Captain America for his consistency, routine and continuous push for justice. And Obi-Wan Kenobi from Star Wars who is very much a moral guide for Anakin and the rest of the crew of the Millennium Falcon.
The “Atticus Finch” character is the character we look up to. They are guides not only for the protagonists and narrators, but for us as we witness their stories interweave with the plot and the ethical statements made by their writers. It's hard to imagine the stories without these characters and are often the most static or consistent characters. They are father figures and are prime examples of the human spirit, generosity, humility, and strength as they push for the betterment of the majority and fight evil regardless of probable outcomes. They are indeed the characters we wish we all were.
