IMAGO DEI AND SPIRITUAL INDIFFERENCE 53 Miss Maudie’s response illustrates the complacency that has seized Maycomb. Not only is Maycomb guilty of pride and arrogance, but they also simultaneously refuse to dirty their hands to address the suffering around them. This lack of integrity among the churchgoers of Maycomb County is especially apparent in their attitude toward Atticus, who is a prominent citizen and the town’s resident hero. Through Maycomb’s association with Atticus, the townspeople can be Christian by extension. Comments such as, “There are some men in this world who are born to do our unpleasant jobs for us. Your father’s one of them,” illustrate that through Maycomb’s association with Atticus, a sense of Christian responsibility is unnecessary. Their complacency was undergirded by their association with Atticus, which was all that was necessary to salve their conscience and respond with inaction. The townspeople who recognize injustices around them but do not act demonstrate a greater fear of their fellow man than of the judgment of God. Seemingly, Atticus is the only one who truly sees the situation clearly when he explains that he chose to defend Tom Robinson because the case “is something that goes to the essence of a man’s conscience—Scout, I couldn’t go to church and worship God if I didn’t try to help that man.” Taking a Stand and Standing Alone To Kill a Mockingbird evokes Philippians 2:3-5: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” If the citizens of Maycomb had practiced the truths of these verses, they would have treated everyone with dignity regardless of the person’s race or class. However, that humility might come at the cost of alienation from their community, which is a price that few are willing to pay. Only Atticus Finch has the courage to set aside his pride and reputation to do what is right. He suffers humiliation and alienation for defending Tom Robinson. He knew he would. He also knew that he was
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM4ODY=