“All heroes and heroines share several characteristics in common: they embody characteristics of their society's values” (Reilly). The word “hero” is likely to conjure up images of strong, powerful, and resilient men battling monsters and evil forces. Achilles, the legendary Greek warrior whose story is told in Homer's Iliad, and Superman, the invincible savior of the planet Krypton, are two such examples. However, there is a new breed of hero, the modern hero. The modern hero is not necessarily a strongman stereotype. Throw away assumptions regarding the definition of a hero. However, the modern hero still exemplifies moral and righteous qualities. Atticus Finch, a character in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, is righteous and virtuous. Modern society holds justice and virtue in high regard. According to Dahlia Lithwick, Atticus Finch has motivated thousands of people, including herself, to pursue a career in law (1). Finch's influence on so many people strongly attests to his honorable character. And like this new breed of hero, Finch isn't traditionally tough or formidable. In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch is a modern hero seen through his ordinary circumstances, his noble qualities, and his daring actions. Atticus Finch is an ordinary man living a mediocre life. A modern hero is not blessed by the gods; he has no otherworldly abilities (Reilly). And Atticus comes from an anonymous background. Atticus grew up on Finch's Landing, a self-sustaining farm founded by his ancestor Simon. While tradition held that men remained at the Landing, Atticus pursued a career in law, then paid for his brother's medical studies (Lee 4). He returned to Maycomb and practiced as a... middle of paper... line defending a complete stranger. This is why, perhaps, he is more heroic even than characters like Achilles and Superman. He lacks invincibility and divine powers. All Atticus Finch has is a strong conscience and a burning desire to do what is right. Scout says, “Atticus was weak” (89). Physically it may be, but morally and rightly it is titanic. Works Cited Lee, Harper. To kill a thrush. New York: Warner, 1982. 4-5, 29-30, 74-5, 89, 91-6, 105, 112, 137, 205, 246. Print.Lithwick, Dahlia. “My legal hero: Atticus Finch.” Theguardian.com. Guardian News and Media, 1 September 2010. 1. Web. 22 March 2014.Moore, Andrew. “To kill a thrush simultaneously.” To kill a thrush. Np, n.d. 14. Web. 03 April 2014. Reilly, Kathryn. “Classic and modern heroes”. Sophia.org. Sophia, Defining a Hero section, The Modern Hero section. Network. March 22. 2014.