Lessons from Atticus

"The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience"

- Atticus Finch -

It's the 50th anniversary of Harper Lee's masterpiece, "To Kill a Mockingbird". Ms. Lee never penned another work. Why bother? Her first effort was so masterful as to assure that any further attempts would pale by comparison.

I love the book and I love the movie made from the book. I can't think of a more perfect actor to play Atticus Finch than Gregory Peck. His melodious baritone evenly dispensed wisdom in such a quiet and unassuming manner as to command respect and assent.

After viewing the movie and reading the book more times than I can count, I have come to the conclusion that the greatest lesson Atticus taught us was that there was always room for manners. Emily Post stated that manners exist to make people feel at ease with each other; and Atticus Finch was a man who, even in the most extreme circumstances, NEVER forgot his manners.

From diffusing the anger and ire of Miss Dubose to making young Walter feel at ease at the dinner table. Atticus treated all with respect and kindness. Even Bob and Mayella Ewell were treated with respect; although in Bob Ewell's case, one gets the impression that Atticus remembered his manners to preserve his own dignity rather than Mr. Ewell's

I can't think of any greater scene in the history of cinema than Atticus Finch wiping Bob Ewell's spittle from his cheek, then casting the handkerchief aside and walking around his adversary to the car where his son waited and watched. Without a word, Atticus told his son what it meant to really be a man.

After Tom Robinson's conviction, when anyone would excuse Atticus for not remembering the niceties of social convention, Sheriff Tate drove up asking for a conference with Atticus who was in mid conversation with his neighbor, Miss Maudie. Upon hearing Sheriff Tate's request, he didn't just turn from his conversation but rather asked Miss Maudie to excuse him first. I wonder how many of us, under similar pressure and disappointment, would remember such a small social convention?

But Atticus' greatest lesson came after the attack on his two children. When his only son lay unconscious in bed, his prognosis undetermined, Scout discovered Boo Radley hiding behind the door. I never fail to smile through a blur of tears when I see the shy man start suddenly and cower when his hiding place is discovered, only to calm down when Atticus' reassuring voice offered the proper words of introduction that one would expect to hear at a cotillion, "Miss Jean Louise Finch? Mr. Arthur Radley"

As the father of a child who is very reminiscent of Boo Radley, I am also grateful that Atticus never failed to grant the young man with special needs the dignity of his proper name...refusing to call him Boo like the rest of the town...hence the quote at the beginning of this post.

In reading Harper Lee describe her father, and watching Gregory Peck's portrayal on the screen, I cannot help but realize that here is a man who is as close to being like Christ as any other man I can think of.

So....a belated note of gratitude to Harper Lee for her book and for showing to us that the best things are always those that inspire us to greater levels of perfection