First, I would refer you to that thoroughly examines this issue.
Atticus might hate prejudice, but his ability to see both sides of the question tells him that prejudice is an integral part of his home, Maycomb County. He is aware of his own position in society, and his own privilege. His decision to represent Tom Robinson at the trial is based, in part, on his recognition that no one else would be...
First, I would refer you to that thoroughly examines this issue.
Atticus might hate prejudice, but his ability to see both sides of the question tells him that prejudice is an integral part of his home, Maycomb County. He is aware of his own position in society, and his own privilege. His decision to represent Tom Robinson at the trial is based, in part, on his recognition that no one else would be able to defend him. In Chapter nine, Atticus discusses this with Scout:
“Do all lawyers defend n-Negroes, Atticus?”
“Of course they do, Scout.”
“Then why did Cecil say you defended niggers? He made it sound like you were runnin‘ a still.”
Atticus sighed. “I’m simply defending a Negro—his name’s Tom Robinson. He lives in that little settlement beyond the town dump. He’s a member of Calpurnia’s church, and Cal knows his family well. She says they’re clean-living folks. Scout, you aren’t old enough to understand some things yet, but there’s been some high talk around town to the effect that I shouldn’t do much about defending this man. It’s a peculiar case—it won’t come to trial until summer session. John Taylor was kind enough to give us a postponement…”
“If you shouldn’t be defendin‘ him, then why are you doin’ it?”
“For a number of reasons,” said Atticus. “The main one is, if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again.”
“You mean if you didn’t defend that man, Jem and me wouldn’t have to mind you any more?”
“That’s about right.”
“Why?”
“Because I could never ask you to mind me again. Scout, simply by the nature of the work, every lawyer gets at least one case in his lifetime that affects him personally. This one’s mine, I guess."
The "personal" nature of the case stems in part from Tom's connection to Cal, but more than that, Atticus realizes that, win or lose, Tom's case represents a great injustice, not just for Tom, but for the entire Black community, and that he is the person best suited to serve as an advocate. To refuse the case would be to turn his back on everything he has stood for. But more than even that, what is at stake is a certain vision of a moral society that Atticus wants to leave his children. Atticus, who can see the good and bad in everyone, sees the case as a way to bring out the good in his town. As he says to Scout, about the people that will oppose him -- "Remember this, no matter how bitter things get, they’re still our friends and this is still our home.” The idea of home, so powerful in this book, includes both good and bad, black and white, empathy and hatred. Atticus's stand against prejudice is his way of defending his home.
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