Justice is never perfect

As I read To Kill a Mockincgbird again I find myself remembering the impressions that I had of this book as a fourth grader. Frankly, I think that fourth grade is probably the best age to read this book at, because it's easy to climb into other skins and walk around in them as a child. I remember being deeply inspired by Atticus Finch, and his quiet reserve of strength.

Plato refers to a set of values which equate to justice in his Republic. Courage, moderation and wisdom. Atticus Finch is certainly one third courageous, one third moderate, one third wisdom and 100% just. What I found inspiring about Atticus is that not only is he a just man, but he is human. Humans make mistakes, just as Atticus makes a mistake when he mishandles the relationship between Scout and her Aunt. But rather than leave the situation alone, Atticus realizes that a mistake is not a mistake until it goes uncorrected.

As the trial begins in Part Two, all the potential of Atticus which is given in Part One is actualized. He shows the Courage to question the integrity of a person, regardless of their race. He displays the moderation to know what to say and when do say it. And he is truly a wise in the way he determines what is right and what is wrong.

Proffessionalism is a lost art. Lawyers today either represent something akin to Machiavelli, or are viewed as a group of incapable fools. Atticus is neither. Because he lives by the above values, he has risen above the standards of his time. Social conditioning means nothing to an Atticus Finch. Justice is blind, and an Atticus unflinchingly defends this princple by defending an innocent black man.

There is a concept of eternal recurrence, which says that after our death we live this life again, but that there is nothing new in it. Everything remains the same, and so we experience nothing new. I can only think of Atticus as having beaten the cycle of this reincarnation by living a life which he would be proud to live over and over again for all eternity. His life serves as a challenge to all of us to "know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do".