Atticus Finch
Atticus Finch is the fictional lawyer in Harper Lee's novel *To Kill a Mockingbird* (1960) who defends a Black man falsely accused of rape in Depression-era Alabama.
The character has become shorthand for principled moral courage and quiet integrity in the face of injustice: He's no Atticus Finch, but he tries to do right by his clients.
- ScoutYouth organization member
- JemAlternate gem spelling
- AlabamaDeep South state
- Great Depression1930s global economic crisis
To Kill a Mockingbird · Maycomb · Boo Radley · Southern Gothic · widower · Gregory Peck · American literature · narrator
Youth organization member
- JemAlternate gem spelling
- widowerMan whose wife died
- parentingNurturing and guiding children
- guidanceAdvice for decisions
patience · teaching · lessons · bedtime reading · moral instruction · single parent · role model · gentleness
Lawyer representing the accused
- courtroomJudicial proceedings chamber
- cross-examinationOpposing party questions witness
- closing argumentLawyer's final courtroom address
- juryLegal decision-making body
verdict · testimony · evidence · witness · objection · prosecution · legal ethics · public defender
Equal treatment regardless of ancestry
- civil rightsGuaranteed individual legal protections
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
- due processGuaranteed judicial fairness
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
innocent man · Jim Crow · segregation · wrongful accusation · moral duty · equal treatment · truth · injustice
High regard, moral dignity
- principlesFoundational moral beliefs
- conscienceInternal moral sense
- moral courageStrength to act ethically
- standing aloneUnaccompanied and apart
consistency · conviction · steadfastness · character · reputation · dignity · trustworthiness · example
Sharing another's emotions
- understandingMental comprehension of something
- kindnessConsiderate, caring disposition
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
- humanityPeople as a whole
Boo Radley · forgiveness · gentleness · nonjudgmental · mercy · open-mindedness
Harper Lee
To Kill a Mockingbird · Maycomb · Boo Radley · Great Depression · Southern Gothic · widower · Gregory Peck · American literature · narrator · coming-of-age
Scout
Youth organization member
guidance · patience · teaching · lessons · bedtime reading · moral instruction · single parent · role model · gentleness · protection
defense attorney
Lawyer representing the accused
- courtroomJudicial proceedings chamber
- cross-examinationOpposing party questions witness
- closing argumentLawyer's final courtroom address
jury · verdict · testimony · evidence · witness · objection · prosecution · legal ethics · public defender · false accusation
racial equality
Equal treatment regardless of ancestry
- civil rightsGuaranteed individual legal protections
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
- due processGuaranteed judicial fairness
innocent man · prejudice · Jim Crow · segregation · wrongful accusation · moral duty · equal treatment · truth · injustice · systemic racism
honor
High regard, moral dignity
- principlesFoundational moral beliefs
- conscienceInternal moral sense
- moral courageStrength to act ethically
standing alone · consistency · conviction · steadfastness · character · reputation · dignity · trustworthiness · example · backbone
empathy
Sharing another's emotions
- understandingMental comprehension of something
- kindnessConsiderate, caring disposition
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
Boo Radley · humanity · forgiveness · gentleness · nonjudgmental · mercy · open-mindedness
- Fictional LawyersPerry Mason, Saul Goodman, Elle Woods, Matlock, Matt Murdock
- Fictional DadsHomer Simpson, Darth Vader, Mufasa, Fred Flintstone, George Jetson
- literary charactersSherlock Holmes, Scout Finch, Elizabeth Bennet, Macbeth, Huck Finn
- Mentorsmentor, guide, tutor, advisor, counselor
- Wise MentorsGandalf, Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Mr. Miyagi, Merlin
- legal fictionlegal drama, courtroom drama, crime fiction, detective stories, To Kill a Mockingbird
Atticus FinchIago
Nurse Ratched · Patrick Bateman · Tom Buchanan · Frank Underwood · Hannibal Lecter
Atticus FinchJack Torrance
absent father · Walter White · Tywin Lannister · Willy Loman