What is the role of her father,Atticus, as the moral center of the book ?
I thank you so very much !
Atticus is one of my most favourite characters in literature. Here is a man with a sense of honour that is not afraid to stand up for what he believes in. Atticus takes on the deep seated racism of the Southern United states in the 1930's. He does this with the humble idea that there is good in almost everybody if they are given a chance to see it. Despite opposition from much of the town, he defends a black man because it is the right thing to do. Atticus teaches his kids by example. Atticus tells Scout that if he does not do the moral thing, "I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do something again." Scout learns how to be a human being from her father. She learns the meaning of perusing truth and justice regardless of the outcome. Atticus teaches Scout that compassion, justice and truth are not separate entities. Atticus knows the ignorance and prejudice he is up against but his words to Scout resonate the kind of man he is, "Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win."
