Atticus Finch “The challenge of leadership is both moral and one of developing the characteristics that make us respected by one another.” Atticus Finch represents the essence of morality, leadership, and paternity in To Kill a Mockingbird. As a character, Atticus is even-handed throughout the whole story, he is one of the very few characters who never has to rethink his position on an issue. It becomes apparent throughout the whole novel that Atticus Finch is extremely well respected in Maycomb by the majority of its residents. This is because of his unwavering morality in all issues that he is forced to deal with. If someone expresses a dislike towards him he will still try to do his best to love everybody, as he says many times throughout the book. He represents a real gentleman, and moral man. His conduct is always courteous despite any kind of provocation. According to Miss Maudie, he is an example of good in Maycomb as a father, Christian, and as a citizen. With the novel being set during the 1930’s, racism is very normal in this small town. Maycomb’s intolerance to all men being equal is, as Atticus says, “Maycomb County’s usual disease” (Lee ). This says that this is something that occurs on a normal basis and that black people are seen to be lesser than everyone else in the town. They also consider their fellow residents to be stupid, lazy, immoral and incapable of equality with them. Atticus, tries to Ewing 2 heal this barrier by representing a black man legally, when he could have easily said no, and not had to deal with all the persecution that came along with representing Tom Robison. He doesn't like criminal law, yet he accepts the appointment to Tom Robinson's case, becasue in his mind it is the right thing to do. He knows before he begins that he's going probably to lose this case, but that doesn't stop him from giving Tom the strongest defense he possibly can. Another reflection of Atticus’s sound morality is that he doesn't put so much effort into Tom's case because he's an African American, but because he is innocent. Atticus feels that the justice system should be color blind, and he defends Tom as an innocent man, not as a black. This displays that Atticus is a man of character and his beliefs and how he acts never faulters even when virtually the whole town in upset with him for defending a black man. Atticus is seen as the leader in this small town, he is the man tht people come to for help. One aspect, is his leadership abilities, the way in which Atticus becomes a role model for the rest of society. He displays qualities and skills that people would like to mirror. It is important that the novel has an influential person, in this case Atticus, as he is someone who can be relied on and looked upon as being a constant person throughout the whole story. Miss Maudie who often speaks highly of Atticus says “ We’re so rarely called on to be Christians, but when we are, we’ve got men like Atticus to go for us” (Lee 247). This means that people look up to Atticus and believe that he will aim to excel at everything he does. This is apparent when Atticus protects the town’s people from the rabid dog by shooting it. This shows the town’s dependence on his protection from things that they cannot control. When talking to his son, Jem, about representing the Tom Robinson, he says, "I wanted