Atticus Finch faces sociological problems throughout the
narrative of Harper Lee's To Kill a
Mockingbird.
The
neighborhood
In his own neighborhood, he has
Mrs. Dubose to contend with as she hurls insults about him to his children.
Understanding that she is addicted to morphine because she suffers from excrutiating
pain, Atticus remains sanguine whenever she confronts him, tipping his hat and
conducting himself as a gentleman. Similarly, he instructs his children to be
respectful of her as their elder.
Against the disapproval
of Mrs. Merriweather and others such as Dill's Aunt Rachel and those who visit Aunt
Alexandra at his home, Atticus remains firm in his conviction that Tom Robinson is
deserving of a fair trial.
The
family
When questioned by his brother about
why he did not refuse to take the Robinson case, Atticus replies honorably to Uncle
Jack,
"...do
you think I could face my children otherwise? ....I hope and pray I can get Jem and
Scout through it without bitterness, and most all, without catching Maycomb's usual
disease."
Aunt Alexandra,
too, wishes that Atticus could avoid the dangers concomitant with the
trial.
The
townspeople
In Chapter 15 when Mr. Link Deas
suggests that the "Old Sarum bunch" might cause trouble, Atticus calmly suggests that
there is not much point in changing the venue of the trial. Then, cleverly, he appeals
to the men's pride by asking if Mr. Deas is not afraid of this
group.
Of course, when the mob comes to the jailhouse,
Atticus faces them with courage as he sits before the door under the light. Also, when
the men come to the front yard, it is a brave Atticus who defends Tom's right to a
equitable trial.
Confronted with Bob Ewell's insults before
the courthouse, Atticus again conducts himself as a true gentleman of integrity. He
does not stoop to Ewell's level of insults, but merely wipes the spit from his face and
walks on.
Truly, Atticus faces all his social conflicts
with equanimity and conviction in the principles in which he
believes.
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