Atticus Finch is the consciousness and moral clarity in Harper Lee's classic To Kill A Mockingbird. He is the fictional character that I believe I most closely emulate.

In the Southern town of Maycomb in the early 1900s confusion and bigotry reign. Extreme prejudice, close-mindedness, and willful ignorance characterize the people of this town. The worth of an individual seems to depend on that individual's coloring, and African Americans have virtually no chance of winning even small victories in their quest for justice. Nevertheless, in this setting of intense dogmaticalness, there remain a few unbiased, reasonable individuals in existence. Among these few is Atticus Finch.

In this story, Atticus represents rational, mature thought. He is recognized by all as a stable figure in a world filled with high-strung, racially charged, emotional people. He understands and appreciates the worth of each and every individual and when push comes to...