"First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do." This quotation by Epictetus, a great Stoic of his time, describes Atticus Finch's reasoning during the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Atticus, the single father of two children, Jean Louise Finch (Scout) and Jeremy Atticus Finch (Jem), is a strictly static character whose strong views and sound judgment shape his relationship with them. The relationship between he and his children bases itself on the views of himself, because he is the parent. He shows these views in how he handles himself, and how he interacts with people in the novel, most of all his children. Atticus causes his children to admire him, thus making them want to follow his methods. This philosophical basis of the relationship between Atticus and his children is one of stoicism.
At this point, stoicism may be a foreign word. …
