Atticus Finch shows that he doesn’t care what others think about his actions by defending Tom Robinson. The book states, “ The main one is, if I didn’t I couldn’t hold my head up in town…”(100). Atticus Finch has a strong determination to give Tom Robinson, the trial that he deserves even if it doesn’t go the way that is wanted. The people that live in the town around him may not agree with Atticus’ decision to defend Tom Robinson but it is what Atticus feels is the correct thing to do. He does not want to follow the racist social norm that was very common in the time period the book takes place in or at least he lets Tom Robinson have his chance of speaking his point. Some people may say that Atticus really was a racist and he may be true but he did choose to defend Tom Robinson when he could’ve not have. Atticus Finch went against what was wanted by the people in Maycomb and choose to defend Tom Robinson because he knew that Tom deserved a chance to speak his case and attempt to persuade the jury.…show more content… The book states, “He said there were already enough sunbeams in the family and to go on about my business, he didn’t mind me the way I was” (108). A majority of the Finch family feels as if Scout should have to follow the traditional way of dress and manners of a young lady. An idea that was wildly popular in the time period that To Kill A Mockingbird was written in. Atticus did not want to subject his daughter to this stereotype about the way young ladies should dress or act. He does not want to change his daughter because people told him that he should. Atticus is not going to listen to what people have to say about the way he raises his daughter. He knows what is best for her and in his mind nothing about her needs to be
