Atticus Finch is a character of stability in an unstable society. He is a balanced figure who is able to cope with the unreasonable and highly emotional town in which he lives. He can manage the prejudiced white masses and still deal justly with the underprivileged Negro population of Maycomb. He is one of the few people who understand the individual worth of a person regardless of the color of his/her skin. This enables him to defend Tom Robinson based solely on the concept of justice and equality. In his closing argument, Atticus explains that, "there is one place all men are created equal. That place is in a court room" (Lee 205). This justifies the fact that Atticus believes in equality in a society, the equality not only of race, but also of sex, class, and religion as well. His view of equality and justice is a symbol of his own psychological stability throughout the novel. Accordingly, in the
final analysis of the story, Atticus represents the "justice" in the community of Maycomb. His stability throughout the book is one of the many characteristics that depict Atticus Finch as the novel's core.
Atticus is also the spokesman of moral philosophy in the novel. In the face of rampant prejudice in his town, he has the courage to teach his children that they must, "learn to be compassionate and understanding of the problems and conditions of life faced by other people" (Lee 137). He chooses to lead his life, and govern the lives of his children on the basis of his own values. In a world of prejudice and inequality, Atticus heroically and steadfastly clings to the belief that an individual should be judged based upon the person within. He instills this value in his children, as well as the valuable capability to change perspectives to better understand life from another's point of view.
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