Atticus Finch

Outer characterization

Atticus Finch is one of the main characters in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Atticus is a single father to Jem and Scout Finch, and he works as an attorney in Maycomb, Alabama. His physical appearance is not described in detail, but Atticus is nearly 50 years old and wears glasses (p. 98). He has “graying black hair and square-cut features” (p. 168).

He comes from a family who has lived in Maycomb County for many years. His brother Jack is a doctor, and his sister Alexandra lives at the family’s cotton farm in Finch’s Landing (p. 2). Atticus considers his family poor but better off than farmers in Maycomb, who suffered the hardest because of the Great Depression (p. 23).

Inner characterization

Atticus has strong morals

Atticus is mostly characterized by his integrity and his strong sense of justice. He believes in helping the less fortunate and doing what is right even if it comes at his own disadvantage. For example, he believes defending Tom Robinson in court is the right thing to do because the man is innocent, and he does this despite knowing that other people in Maycomb might look down on him and his family for it: 

‘it’s not fair for you and Jem, I know that...