Throughout our lives, we are influenced by many philosophers who spread wisdom through their own critique on life. These philosophers can be as important as a major religious figure, or get as common as a single parent. One's philosophy can define their social placement within a city, a community, or even a family. A great example of a man that expresses his revolutionary views on life, without concern of a negative response from society, is Atticus Finch from Harper Lee's classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird. In the book, Atticus expresses revolutionary beliefs, conveys wisdom to his children by means of his own philosophy, and represents the law as it is written, not by the common racial discrimination practiced by society during that time. Atticus is the moral conscience of the story, and his views are the voice of reason in the town of Maycomb, Alabama. .
Throughout the story, Atticus expresses beliefs that remodel the views on racial discrimination of that period. The 1930's were a time of considerable amounts of prejudice against the black race and lower social classes. While most characters from the story have no objection to the harsh treatment of African Americans or families of lower class, Atticus has enlightened views on these subjects. He expresses his firm belief that " white men cheat black men every day and whenever a white man does that no matter how rich he is, or what family he comes from, that white man is trash." (233) He educates his children by exposing them to this principle of equal rights. Atticus is a strong believer in rational judgment based on viewing the individual's point of view, or " until you climb in [their] skin and walk around in it." (30) The way Atticus conveys most of his reasoning of life is by applying his philosophy to worldly subjects his family experiences though the story.
Atticus is a great role model in the little town of Maycomb, as well as a great father.
