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The true path leading to authentic individuality: Atticus Finch in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird

Year 2024, Volume: 2 Issue: 4, 305 - 326, 01.12.2024

Abstract

Bülbülü Öldürmek eserinin yetenekli avukatı Atticus Finch, haksız bir yargıya karşı duracak kadar cesurdur. Roman, yalnızca ten rengi ve toplumdaki konumu nedeniyle sözde suçu için mahkeme tarafından yargılanan Tom Robinson’ın hikayesine dayanmaktadır. Somut kanıt eksikliği ve Atticus Finch’in güçlü bir beyaz erkek olarak haklı desteği olmasına rağmen, Tom suçlu bulunur. Romanın açıkça belirttiği gibi, toplumda Tom siyahi bir kişi olarak daha düşük bir konumda olduğu için kasıtlı olarak yanlış yargılanmıştır. Yani konu, mantıksal bir değerlendirme olmaksızın onun daha düşük bir konuma sahip olması ve siyahi olmasıyla ilgilidir. Ancak Atticus, adaletin sesi ve gerçek kişiliğin vücut bulmuş hali olarak, hem Tom’un masumiyetini makul bir şekilde savunur hem de çocuklarına hayatta adalet ve rasyonellik hakkında nasıl davranmaları gerektiğini öğretmek için mücadele eder. Bu nedenle Atticus, beyaz üstünlüğünün siyahi insanları ezdiği ve böylece erdemin gerçek anlamını yitirdiği bir toplumda ideal olması gereken dikkate değer bir bireydir. Bu bağlamda, bu çalışma, Bülbülü Öldürmek romanındaki Atticus Finch’i, hem ailesini hem de yozlaşmış toplumu ele alarak gerçek bir birey olarak güçlü duruşunu yansıtarak tartışmayı amaçlamaktadır.

References

  • Being Atticus Finch: The professional role of empathy in "To Kill a Mockingbird". (2004). Harvard Law Review, 117(5), 1682-1702. https://doi.org/10.2307/4093264
  • Bunting, D. (2023, March 4). Atticus Finch, critical race theory, and Scout's search for justice. Literary Focus. https://www.literaryfocus.org/post/atticus-finch-critical-race-theory-and-scout-s-search-for-justice
  • Camarillo, A. M. (2013). Navigating segregated life in America’s racial border hoods, 1910s-1950s. Journal of American History, 100(3), 645–662. https://doi.org/10.1093/jahist/jat450
  • Chrisman, R. (2013). Black prisoners, white law. The Black Scholar, 43(3), 33–35. https://doi.org/10.5816/blackscholar.43.3.0033
  • Emerson, R. W. (2007). Self-Reliance. National Humanities Center. https://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/triumphnationalism/cman/text8/selfreliance.pdf
  • Filippini, M. (2017). The individual [Review of the individual]. In P. Ives & A. Morton (Eds.), P. J. Barr (Trans.), Using Gramsci: A new approach (pp. 24–42). Pluto Press. http://www.jstor.com/stable/j.ctt1h64kxd.8
  • Grillo, S. (2016, March 29). Atticus Finch and the life lessons of moral courage. Heroes: What They Do & Why We Need Them. https://blog.richmond.edu/heroes/2016/03/29/atticus-finch-and-the-life-lessons-of-moral-courage/
  • Henry David Thoreau: 'It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.' — The Socratic Method. (2023, September 21). The Socratic Method. https://www.socratic-method.com/quote-meanings/henry-david-thoreau-its-not-what-you-look-at-that-matters-its-what-you-see
  • Holland, B. R. (2016). Classical rhetoric in Atticus Finch’s speeches. English Journal, 105(6), 78-82. https://doi.org/10.58680/ej201628655
  • Kluegel, J. R., & Smith, E. R. (1982). Whites’ beliefs about blacks’ opportunity. American Sociological Review, 47(4), 518-532. https://doi.org/10.2307/2095196
  • Lathem, E. C. (Ed.). (1969). The poetry of Robert Frost. Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, Inc. Lee, H. (1960). To Kill a Mockingbird. McIntosh and Otis, Inc.
  • Loury, G. C. (2020). When black lives matter. Journal of International Relations and Sustainable Development, (17), 190-207. https://www.jstor.org/stable/44308757
  • Lubet, S. (1999). Reconstructing Atticus Finch. Michigan Law Review, 97(6), 1339-1362. https://doi.org/10.2307/1290205
  • Lukes, S. (1971). The meanings of “individualism.” Journal of the History of Ideas, 32(1), 45-66. https://doi.org/10.2307/2708324
  • Mack, E. (1999). In defense of individualism. Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, 2(2), 87-115. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27504079
  • Miller, D. (2016). How the world changed social media (pp. 181–192). Ucl Press. https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1g69z35.19
  • Mount, C. E. (1981). American individualism reconsidered. Review of Religious Research, 22(4), 362-376. https://doi.org/10.2307/3509768
  • Osheim, A. C. (2011). Moral integrity? Atticus Finch and the Cardinal Virtues. Literature and Theology, 25(2), 199-218. https://doi.org/10.1093/litthe/frr004
  • Robbins, J. (n.d.). Pentecostalism and forms of individualism [Review of Pentecostalism and forms of individualism]. In Going to Pentecost (pp. 187–192). Berghahn Books. Retrieved October 23, 2024, from https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv9hj8pw.15
  • Sarkar, S. (2021, December 30). Atticus Finch | Character analysis in To Kill a Mockingbird. All About English Literature. https://www.eng-literature.com/2021/12/atticus-finch-to-kill-a-mockingbird.html
  • Schuman, H., & Krysan, M. (1999). A historical note on whites’ beliefs about racial inequality. American Sociological Review, 64(6), 847-855. https://doi.org/10.2307/2657406
  • Sugrue, T. J. (1997). Labor, liberalism, and racial politics in 1950s Detroit. New Labor Forum, (1), 19-25. https://www.jstor.org/stable/40342161
  • Thoreau, H. D. (2013). Quotable Thoreau: An a to z glossary of inspiring quotations from Henry David Thoreau. (A. Ayres, Ed.). BookBaby.
  • To Kill A Mockingbird: Why is Atticus Finch an excellent role model? (2022, Jun 16). Edubirdie. Retrieved February 23, 2024, from https://edubirdie.com/examples/to-kill-a-mockingbird-why-is-atticus-finch-an-excellent-role-model/
  • Whitman, W. (n. d.). Song of myself. Free eBook.
  • Willhelm, S. M. (1983). Black/white equality: The socioeconomic conditions of blacks in America, Part II. Journal of Black Studies, 14(2), 151-184. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2784317

The true path leading to authentic individuality: Atticus Finch in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird

Year 2024, Volume: 2 Issue: 4, 305 - 326, 01.12.2024

Abstract

Atticus Finch, a talented lawyer, of To Kill a Mockingbird is brave enough to stand against an unfair judgement. The novel depends on the story of Tom Robinson, who is judged by the court for his so-called crime only because of his skin color and position in the society. Although there is the lack of concrete evidence and Atticus Finch’s rightful support as a powerful white male, Tom is found guilty. As the novel explicitly indicates, he is intentionally misjudged since he is within a lower position as a black person in the community. Namely, the issue is about his being lower and black without any logical consideration. However, Atticus, as the voice of justice and embodiment of true personality, both plausibly defends Tom’s innocence and struggles to teach his children how to behave in life about justice and rationality. Therefore, Atticus is a remarkable individual to be ideal in a society in which the white superiority overwhelms the black people and thus virtue loses its actual meaning. In this context, this study aims to discuss Atticus Finch of To Kill a Mockingbird by reflecting his strong posture as a true individual regarding both his family and the corrupt community.

References

  • Being Atticus Finch: The professional role of empathy in "To Kill a Mockingbird". (2004). Harvard Law Review, 117(5), 1682-1702. https://doi.org/10.2307/4093264
  • Bunting, D. (2023, March 4). Atticus Finch, critical race theory, and Scout's search for justice. Literary Focus. https://www.literaryfocus.org/post/atticus-finch-critical-race-theory-and-scout-s-search-for-justice
  • Camarillo, A. M. (2013). Navigating segregated life in America’s racial border hoods, 1910s-1950s. Journal of American History, 100(3), 645–662. https://doi.org/10.1093/jahist/jat450
  • Chrisman, R. (2013). Black prisoners, white law. The Black Scholar, 43(3), 33–35. https://doi.org/10.5816/blackscholar.43.3.0033
  • Emerson, R. W. (2007). Self-Reliance. National Humanities Center. https://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/triumphnationalism/cman/text8/selfreliance.pdf
  • Filippini, M. (2017). The individual [Review of the individual]. In P. Ives & A. Morton (Eds.), P. J. Barr (Trans.), Using Gramsci: A new approach (pp. 24–42). Pluto Press. http://www.jstor.com/stable/j.ctt1h64kxd.8
  • Grillo, S. (2016, March 29). Atticus Finch and the life lessons of moral courage. Heroes: What They Do & Why We Need Them. https://blog.richmond.edu/heroes/2016/03/29/atticus-finch-and-the-life-lessons-of-moral-courage/
  • Henry David Thoreau: 'It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.' — The Socratic Method. (2023, September 21). The Socratic Method. https://www.socratic-method.com/quote-meanings/henry-david-thoreau-its-not-what-you-look-at-that-matters-its-what-you-see
  • Holland, B. R. (2016). Classical rhetoric in Atticus Finch’s speeches. English Journal, 105(6), 78-82. https://doi.org/10.58680/ej201628655
  • Kluegel, J. R., & Smith, E. R. (1982). Whites’ beliefs about blacks’ opportunity. American Sociological Review, 47(4), 518-532. https://doi.org/10.2307/2095196
  • Lathem, E. C. (Ed.). (1969). The poetry of Robert Frost. Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, Inc. Lee, H. (1960). To Kill a Mockingbird. McIntosh and Otis, Inc.
  • Loury, G. C. (2020). When black lives matter. Journal of International Relations and Sustainable Development, (17), 190-207. https://www.jstor.org/stable/44308757
  • Lubet, S. (1999). Reconstructing Atticus Finch. Michigan Law Review, 97(6), 1339-1362. https://doi.org/10.2307/1290205
  • Lukes, S. (1971). The meanings of “individualism.” Journal of the History of Ideas, 32(1), 45-66. https://doi.org/10.2307/2708324
  • Mack, E. (1999). In defense of individualism. Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, 2(2), 87-115. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27504079
  • Miller, D. (2016). How the world changed social media (pp. 181–192). Ucl Press. https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1g69z35.19
  • Mount, C. E. (1981). American individualism reconsidered. Review of Religious Research, 22(4), 362-376. https://doi.org/10.2307/3509768
  • Osheim, A. C. (2011). Moral integrity? Atticus Finch and the Cardinal Virtues. Literature and Theology, 25(2), 199-218. https://doi.org/10.1093/litthe/frr004
  • Robbins, J. (n.d.). Pentecostalism and forms of individualism [Review of Pentecostalism and forms of individualism]. In Going to Pentecost (pp. 187–192). Berghahn Books. Retrieved October 23, 2024, from https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv9hj8pw.15
  • Sarkar, S. (2021, December 30). Atticus Finch | Character analysis in To Kill a Mockingbird. All About English Literature. https://www.eng-literature.com/2021/12/atticus-finch-to-kill-a-mockingbird.html
  • Schuman, H., & Krysan, M. (1999). A historical note on whites’ beliefs about racial inequality. American Sociological Review, 64(6), 847-855. https://doi.org/10.2307/2657406
  • Sugrue, T. J. (1997). Labor, liberalism, and racial politics in 1950s Detroit. New Labor Forum, (1), 19-25. https://www.jstor.org/stable/40342161
  • Thoreau, H. D. (2013). Quotable Thoreau: An a to z glossary of inspiring quotations from Henry David Thoreau. (A. Ayres, Ed.). BookBaby.
  • To Kill A Mockingbird: Why is Atticus Finch an excellent role model? (2022, Jun 16). Edubirdie. Retrieved February 23, 2024, from https://edubirdie.com/examples/to-kill-a-mockingbird-why-is-atticus-finch-an-excellent-role-model/
  • Whitman, W. (n. d.). Song of myself. Free eBook.
  • Willhelm, S. M. (1983). Black/white equality: The socioeconomic conditions of blacks in America, Part II. Journal of Black Studies, 14(2), 151-184. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2784317
There are 26 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Turkish Language and Literature (Other)
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Yurdaer İlber Uyanik 0009-0002-9397-0809

Publication Date December 1, 2024
Submission Date October 12, 2024
Acceptance Date November 13, 2024
Published in Issue Year 2024 Volume: 2 Issue: 4

Cite

APA Uyanik, Y. İ. (2024). The true path leading to authentic individuality: Atticus Finch in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Kastamonu İnsan Ve Toplum Dergisi, 2(4), 305-326.

Kastamonu Journal of Human and Society - KJHShttps://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/journal-file/29447