How Does Atticus Finch Use Moral Compasses In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Some people, rather than listening to what the law says should be done, listen to what their conscience suggests is right or wrong. In To Kill a Mockingbird there are two main people who act as moral compasses in the town of Maycomb, and one person who is definitely the opposite of a moral compass. Atticus and Jean Louise Finch were both excellent examples of moral compasses, because they both showed people the right thing to do, whereas Mayella Ewell did the wrong thing and was not showing the honourable thing to do. Only some people can be a moral compass for others and it takes a great deal of courage to become one. Atticus Finch not only took the case of a black man, but went against everyone’s beliefs that black people were lower, and actually tried to defend Tom Robinson from a crime that he was wrongfully accused of doing. As Atticus said, “In the name of God believe him.” (Lee, 206) It is very clear that Atticus wanted to win the case, get Tom off the hook for something that he did not commit, and probably to show the town of Maycomb just how often black people would get…show more content…
Mayella should have done the moral thing and came clean about what had actually happened and then maybe Tom Robinson would still be alive. It is like what Scout said, “It came to me that Mayella Ewell must have been the loneliest person in the world... white people wouldn’t have anything to do with her because she lived among pigs; Negroes wouldn’t have anything to do with her because she was white... Tom Robinson was probably the only person who was ever decent to her. But she said he took advantage of her, and when she stood up she looked at him as if he were dirt beneath her feet.” (Lee, 191-192) Mayella was a lonely person and when she had finally found someone who was nice to her she just did what her father wanted and accused
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