Isocrates The Educated Man versus Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird :: To Kill a Mockingbird Essays

The Greek philosopher Isocrates describes the characteristics of an ideal citizen in his essay, The Educated Man. From his point of attitude an improve man is not one who has pursued higher teaching however one who has good character and contributes to his society. In harpist lees To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch is portrayed as an enlightened man because he has excellent morals and knows how to conduct himself. Atticus and the meliorate man are both the ideal and perfect members of a partnership and family. They are strong-minded, charismatic, and honorable traits that most people strive for. The diction that Harper Lee uses when describing Atticus Finch helps create the image of the perfect and meliorate man.Isocrates addresses the howevert that an educated man has self-restraint and is always in control of his actions. An educated man never lets temperament, selfishness, or weakness overcome himself. Ones ability to carry himself in a honorable fashion is s elf-assertive for being a true educated man. Isocrates established a nurture of rhetoric is 392 B.C. that taught the art of persuasion to orators. From Isocrates perspective, an educated man is not punctuall(a)y overcome by his misfortunes, bearing up under them bravely. (line 9-10) By persuading others, an educated man can win arguments, or judicial trials in Atticus case, without having to be ill-mannered. When Atticus loses turkey cock Robinsons case he doesnt blame the jury for being prejudice or even Bob and Mayella Ewell for lying. Atticus stays calm under pressure and during stressful times. Later, when Atticus discuses Toms death with Aunt Alexandria, he tells her that I told him what I thought, but I couldnt in truth say that we had more than a good chance. I guess Tom was tired of taking snow-clad mans chances and preferred to take his own. (p. 235-236) Atticus knows that killing Tom Robinson was unnecessary and that they would have had a good chance with a re form jury. However, he does not lose his temper and continues to think clearly. Even with all the things that he and his family have had to pass away, he understands that violence or revenge ordain not solve any of his problems. It is in this way that he is an educated man. Another characteristic of an educated man is that he is able to endure things he feels is distasteful.