In addition to being an attorney, Atticus is also
Maycomb's representative to the Alabama state legislature in Montgomery. Atticus runs
unopposed each election, and this fact probably better illustrates his stature and
importance to the town than any other single statement in To Kill a
Mockingbird. People may not always agree with Atticus' decisions, especially
when he decides to defend a black man accused of raping a white woman, but the town
knows they have no better man to represent them. He is hand-picked by Judge Taylor for
the important trial instead of the usual public defender, Maxwell Green, and the people
know Atticus will do his best to prove Tom innocent.
"... you know the court appointed him to
defend this nigger."
"Yeah, but Atticus aims to
defend him. That's what I don't like about
it."
Maudie explains to
Jem that some people
"... were born to do our unpleasant jobs for us.
Your father's one of
them."
Maudie adds
that
"We're so
rarely called on to be Christians, but when we are, we've got men like Atticus to go for
us."
Even Dolphus Raymond
recognizes Atticus' importance. He tells Scout that
"... you don't know that your pa's not a
run-of-the-mill man, it'll take a few years for that to sink
in..."
And Atticus' standing
with the black community is evident: They stand in his honor following the trial and
send him baskets of food as a way of thanking him for his staunch
defense.
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