Blooms Literary Themes - THE HEROS ... - ymerleksi - home

To Kill a Mockingbird 211Nevertheless, Atticus takes the high road in the trial, relying on logicand facts and, most importantly, relying on his belief, perhaps againstall evidence of what he knows to be true about his community, that thejury will act in a logical, reasonable, and ethical manner. He takes theposition that he knows the jury will not stoop to the level of mind thatbelieves in all the racial stereotypes pointing against consideration ofthe facts. In his closing statement Atticus argues, “In this country, ourcourts are the great levelers. In our courts, all men are created equal.I’m no idealist to believe firmly in the integrity of our courts and ofour jury system—that’s no ideal to me. That is a living working reality!”(208). Most significantly, Atticus urges them, “In the name of God, doyour duty” (208). But it may be of little use to urge men to do theirduty when there are conflicting definitions of what their duty is. Thejury ultimately believes that they are doing their duty by supportingthe accusations of the white Mayella Ewell, regardless of how baselessthose accusations are, and Atticus’s propositions regarding equality andduty are rejected by the populace, who are not ready to hear them—orto live them.This is why Atticus’s defeat becomes akin to the hero’s sacrifice.The fact that Atticus, according to Kathleen Murphy, “acts as thoughhis hometown were peopled by rightminded folk, presenting himselfto a jury of coveralled farmers as one who ‘has confidence in yougentlemen’” may not make it so—at least not yet (20). A jury of TomRobinson’s peers does not judge him; his peers sit in the segregatedgallery overhead, viewing, almost as a silent Greek chorus, the travestybelow. Their little consolation is the gratitude they feel toward Atticus,as the courtroom clears of all but him; all the members of the gallerystand as he leaves. Reverend Sykes admonishes Scout to “Stand up.Your father’s passin’,” as they honor him in the only way that theycan, the small, but significant, way that one honors everyday heroes(214). Atticus is defeated and demoralized for the day, in the nameof a greater good that he may not even see in his lifetime. It is forthis reason that Maudie, in consolation to Jem, who finally seems tounderstand the importance of his father’s strength, says, “Some menin this world are born to do our unpleasant jobs for us. Your father’sone of them” (218). These kinds of unpleasant jobs cannot be avoidedif societies are to change and grow, and heroes like Atticus are theforces for such social change.