Atticus character sketch

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Atticus Character Sketch

        Atticus Finch is one of the major characters in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird written in 1960. Atticus is a lawyer in Maycomb, the representative of Alabama in the State Legislator and the father of Scout and Jem Finch. The major themes and ideas in Lee's novel such as social inequality and intolerance, education, legal justice and bravery are represented through this character.

        Although he is the most important character in To Kill a Mockingbird (aside from the narrator, Scout), Atticus is never described in great detail. Atticus is rather tall (probably over six feet), has black hair that is turning grey, and wears glasses because of an inherited family eye problem. "He was nearly blind in his left eye, and said left eyes were the tribal curse of the Finch family. Whenever he wanted to see something well, he turned his head and looked from his right eye". Despite his age, which was older than most of Scout's fellow students' fathers, Atticus must have been in relatively good shape, since he rarely drove his car, preferring to walk each day to his office.

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        As a citizen, Atticus is highly responsible and highly respected. He is elected unopposed to the state legislature and works hard for it. Miss Maudie spears for the community when she tells aunt Alexandra, "Whether Maycomb know it or not, we're paying him the highest tribute we can pay a man. WE trust him to do right" (Chapter 24). His conduct and conversation through the book shows that he is entirely free from the unusual Maycomb faults of pride, racism and hypocrisy. Atticus is also a truly religious man, who puts into practice Christian teaching on love, tolerance and forgiveness ...

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