Defining a Hero: Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird and Atticus Finch’s Heroism Essay

The definition of a poor boy is varied and intricate. While in that respect are certain types of valor much(prenominal) as altruistic valorousness, or other machismo bravado this paper forget seek to find a definition to the item heroism as exhibited in harpist leewards character genus genus genus genus genus genus genus Atticus Finch in To pop a scoffer. A discussion of the definition of hero according to literary terms (as specify by the Hellenics, Aristotle and Plato especially using his philosophy on piety) will be used to set up the paper in order to wear out what makes Atticus Finch a undefiled hero.Such issues as racism and courageousness against prejudice will strongly bear out this thesis claim. The idea of heroism in the form of a literary character has its roots with Greek sport. This drama expressed heroes as having a major smirch. It was this flaw which at once destroyed them scarcely in any case allowed them to be clement and accordingly be able to be labeled as heroes. In decision this definition them the readers of lee sides novel To Kill a Mockingbird must consider what odds are against Atticus Finch and what flaws or flaw he has in his character that allow him to be a human hero.Aristotles definition for a hero is one who is non in control of his own fate, but instead is ruled by the gods in one fashion or another in the case of Atticus Finch his fate and the fate of his trial is determined by the panel. It is thence the board who exhibit control over Finchs fate and the fate of his client. Although Atticus is a hero of Lees spirit level, he must be considered a tragical hero for his bravery is met by emulation and it is this opposition that ultimately wins the battle of justice versus prejudice in harpist Lees novel.The tragic hero for Aristotle is tragic because of their lack of control or will in the face of their predetermined future and dash offfall a predetermined future which is well established in the bigotry of the jurors in the court case expressions whereby Atticus is shown to be a hero as well as showing his ultimate downfall in the jury convicting tom Robinson of rape. A enceinte tragic flaw (hamartia) is the heros devil may care attitude at the beginning of distributively story, and then their despondency and stagnation of hope that meets them at the finish up of the play.This is shown with Atticus belief that justice will prevail in the courtroom and his manifestation of Mayella Ewell making sexual passes toward Tom and her drunken father Bob Ewell genetic her in the act. Thus, hope seems to be lost for the hero. Therefore, although Atticus Finch may be specify as a hero his heroism character traits in the novel still is marked by failure. While Atticus is defined as a hero, his heroism is determined by subjective narration.harper Lee tells his story through with(predicate) the voice of reconnoitre, Atticus daughter, therefore, the noble-mindedness with which a daughter has for their father is al construct in play in find out the character traits of heroism in Atticus Finch (this can be strongly seen when ticker fights the other kids at the playground for profession her father a nigger lover). Although there is a sincere amount of idealism in play in the novel in regards to guides view drive of her father, there are other elements of the story which aid in be Atticus heroism.In Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird racism is ubiquitous with the young culture in the townspeople. Just as Atticus is a lawyer in the book, discoverer the narrator and child depicts the scene of racism thusly, My fists were clenched I was ready to make fly. Cecil Jacobs had announced the day before that Scout Finchs pop music defended niggers. Though Scout continually defends Atticus on the playground and in other break offs of town, the racist remarks do not stop. Even Scouts cousin Francis is whelmly supplied with racist remarks, At a serious distance h er called, Hes nothin but a nigger-lover.In Scouts defense of her father the reader is already subjected to her viewpoint on Atticus being a hero and a hero is make that much grander when they are up against the evil majority of a town and they have the support of their family. It is perhaps both of these elements that of going against the odds and of Scouts unquestionable devotion to her fathers cause, that make Atticus Finch a hero. It is in racism, and the existence of that prejudice that the entire towns lives are changed, and the political bowl of the courtroom shows itself as discriminatory.It is against this charge of favouritism that Atticus may be defined as a hero, and it is also his failure against this prejudice that makes him a tragic hero. Modern literature juxtaposes a characters dwindling faith in themselves and reality. Atticus reality is that he is trying to save a single(a) in a town wherein they are already found guilty by the contort of their skin. There a re elements of justice and finding the law beneath the pretext of bigotry that play a major part in support of Atticus being a hero.His unwavering hobbyhorse of justice against these odds is what chiefly finds him out to become a hero not in his sons vision of a father (in that subjective viewpoint) but in a more universal definition Heroism through chasteistic judgment. In classic Greek drama, Platos idea of pietism is presented as sagacious action. Morality isnt a free will that governs earthly concerns actions, but rather it is universal source (life as a whole) that dictates action, thus in is found Atticus heroism.In his moral judgment in defending Tom Robinson and even going against a lynch mob in his pursuit of that justice create in Lees story a dynamic force of this moral reality. In Atticus is awakened the sense of racial heroism, as Crespino tell aparts In the twentieth century, To Kill a Mockingbird is probably the to the highest degree astray read book deali ng with race in America, and its protagonist, Atticus Finch, the most enduring fictional image of racial heroism. (Crespino 9).It is perhaps this one pursuit that most clearly defines the type of heroism found in Atticus Finchs character, that of a seeker and of a tragic hero. It is in his morality that such a definition can most succinctly be expounded. Human individualizedity is a nature of reason, not strictly disciple to passion or feelings, but rather to a higher calling it is this higher calling in which readers find Atticus heroism, his morality scorn an adverse reality. Morality then, becomes the crux of finding heroism in Harper Lees novel.Morality is reason. This is not to say that Plato and other classic Greek writers were ascetic rather they placed passion, and feelings in their plays but the morality of humanity being tied into the ripe(p) of a mortal. Being virtuous, or good leads a character to happiness or release at the end of a story, but it is this lack of release that allows Atticus specific type of heroism to exist. He goes into the court case fighting for Toms innocence with full knowledge of what his opposition is in that town.The article for this given by Plato is eudemonism, which means blissful and it is the lack of this eudemonism that makes Atticus such a striking and memorable literary character. Atticus was a man filled with faith in human nature an optimist/realist of slightly sorts. Platos philosophy of human nature doing evil was that a psyche but does evil in ignorance, for he believed everyone, just as himself wants only what is good, which is Atticus attitude in the novel and the quality that makes him a great lawyer is not a hero.In modern literature, the lesson is not to the highest degree escapism but coming to terms with life and making a fundamental choice, a moral choice. Choices can be broken down into good and evil in modern literature in defining a hero, or to be more exact they can be dichotomized in to heroic and a state of succumbing to ones own humanity. The tragic hero may run into evil deeds and be in a constant state of exposure to them, but in the end of a novel, virtue is heeded.The source of a character doing evil or good is brought about by unlimited inclination. Something that goes unmitigated becomes possessive of that person and they in turn want, and want, without satiation which is what Mayellas character exhibits. This is when the appetitive part of the soul (the part of the soul that wants sex, food, etc. ) overtakes the rational (part seeking truth, and reason) of the soul resulting in moral weakness or akrasia it is a weakness that does not belong to the character traits of Atticus Finch.By giving Atticus such moral aberrant characters as Mayella and her father, Lee is making Atticus heroism that much more pronounced. It is not then self-interest that leads a person to happiness, and there is a definite equilibrium between the allowance of individually par t of the soul guided by reason, and asceticism. Atticus was a not a Sophist. Without the guidance of moral reason then a state of chaos would ensue entailing an everyman for himself type of attitude which is what the mob in the story renders.Thus, happiness in the novel can only be achieved when that epicurean attitude is vanquished which occurs when Bob Ewell falls on his own knife. This scene helps in making Atticus less of a tragic hero and more of an altruistic hero. Morality must be shown as adhering to individual interests. Plato did not agree with the type of hedonism exhibited by the Sophists, who thought human nature was an extension of the animal world. Instead, Plato states that the nature of man is reason and in this reason exists an organized rules of order constructed by reason.This expresses Atticus own viewpoint in the story. In understanding this viewpoint and accepting that Atticus strived for reason, that essence of a lawyer to demand justice when there is no sh adow of a doubt for a mans innocence, the reader can cleanse understand the impetus behind Atticus moral actions. Happiness for the rational man in modern literature then comes into fruition by governing their more base, animal, desires, which are irrational it is with Atticus that such states of humanity are more succinctly defined.This morality is extended into the realm of lodge because of human interaction. Therefore, if a man is to be the pinnacle of reason, and morality, and happiness, then the society that he lives and associates must then also exhibit such a moral temperance. This is the faith by which Atticus bases his lawyers argument. If then a society is blinded by hedonism, or pure desire of self, a man in that society has no hope for personal happiness because of lack of morality, reason, and thus fully succumbing to akrasia as can be seen in Atticus and especially Toms lives.The concept of good and evil twined together is the elixir of the modern novel writers breed fears from dreams, the undercover wants of subconscious become known through their characters actions. constitution and reading novels is a revelation into that unsaid facet of the mind the dull archetype finally is given voice, and in a way bears witness by both being involved in the action and sexual congress of the story. It is no wonder that lawyers today base their own judgment on that of Atticus (a fictional character) moral judgment and decision making.In the arena of heroism, when a character becomes the basis of real life peoples morality, then the status of a hero is cemented. Modern literature is the truth of life and self reflected through plays and characters. Realism is the liquor by which Harper Lee is exemplified. In realism, the writer is stating that circumstances are the focal point of human contingencies. This is especially true for Lees Atticus Finch. In this downtrodden representation of everyman the audience is presented with life at its entire naked stat e, a hero whose battle is lost.That is the promise of modern literature veracity, despite the overwhelming depression of life and its deception toward everyman. Writers are honest in their writing, and in modern literature realism and not heroic standards of Greek drama but the Achilles heel is what is depicted. Whether or not the novel ends on a happy or sad note, the point is choice despite Atticus being a tragic hero his strength remains in sticking to that choice. Modern literature gives the audience no illusions about rasping reality, but it also gives the difference between fate and circumstance and makes a hero.