What I learn from the character of Atticus Finch

"The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience." - spoken by Atticus Finch in "To kill a mockingbird".

Last night, before went to bed I decided to watch an old movie. The movie, released in 1962, was adapted from a Pulitzer winning novel with the same title, "To kill a mockingbird", which also I have read once. The novel itself was written by Harper Lee and launched first in 1960. I like both the novel and the movie. Maybe some people feel the plot was slow, but it was, for me, the best way to dwell how the line reflecting everyday life of human being.

I love the character of Atticus Finch in the story. He was a lawyer who defended for a black man being accused for raping a white woman. It was extraordinary to defend someone who was part of social outcasts at that time. He had indeed a remarkable rhetoric skill, however he measured justice not merely by it. It was his heart to weigh right or wrong.

He also let his children to address him simply by his first name, which I thought it was cool. I cannot agree more with the list of American Film Institute that proclaimed the character as No. 1 hero of 100 Heroes & Villains.

In many cases, it is uneasy to do something like Atticus did. He stood strong on what he believed in a very gentle way. He taught his children to respect each other as well as not to use violence to settled a problem. He managed to be firm without being harsh.

Maybe the description of mine tried to convey the character was perfect. Actually, he was not. He also showed his humanity side. He showed that he can be anxious, frustrating and angry. However, whatever feeling he had, his belief was a strong ground to make him choose adequate responses for every problem.

In my interpretation when first time I read the novel, actually most of people had the same assuredness as Atticus had on the raping case that Tom, the black man who was accused, was innocence. However, doubts covered their judgement. Or maybe it was not doubt but fear. Fear to be different with common opinion of most people.

From this story, I learn that majority is not always the truth. Harper Lee clearly conveyed that majority opinion may be built on prejudice. Their heart might feel the weight, but they chose to deny it.

I think current situation may not change significantly from that time. Denying the heart on weighing something whether it is right or wrong, that is still an issue of humanity. However, the worst of all, when the heart is dead. At that state the mind is corrupted and it would be appear in destructive responses (just like the antagonist behaved in the story).

The spirit that Atticus showed a good example how everything should be done. To free the heart on valuing things is simple, although by doing so the consequences may be unexpected. However, I think, those consequences are the price to be paid to make the world a decent place to live in.