To Kill a Mockingbird Essay

To Kill a Mockingbird Essay

Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is an influential novel with a number of characters such as Jean Louise Finch (also known as Scout), Jem Finch, Bill, Calpurnia, Tom Robinson, Mayella Ewell, Bob Ewell, and Boo Radley. Each character had his or her unique role in the story. It was evident who played the major and the minor roles and who were the protagonist and the antagonist. I became fonder of the major protagonists because not only did they have good qualities, but I was told the most about them. As the story progressed and I learned more and more about the characters, it became easier to choose my favorites.

There were characters as I described before that were more likeable than the other ones. Atticus Finch was one of my favorites. Being one of the major protagonists of the story, it’s hard not to like him. He is an intelligent lawyer who agrees to defend Tom Robinson, a black man convicted of raping a white woman, despite all odds against winning the case. I admire him for his bravery and his willingness to do what’s right. He defends Tom Robinson even though the town turns against him for it at times. Atticus does not judge Tom by his race like the others and he treats him as an equal. It takes great bravery to stand up and do what no one else wants to. Atticus is a wise man that people turn to in times of need and his kids turn to him for answers because they know he will tell them the truth. His ability to look at situations from others’ perspectives is very commendable.

I found myself feeling sympathy for him every time people called him names and threatened him when he was only doing his job. I think Atticus is a great parent especially in the way he brought his kids up to enjoy reading and to know right from wrong. Jem and Scout act more mature than many of the adults in the book and Atticus is to blame for raising them this way. The only thing I did not like about Atticus was the way he would let his kids run...