In Harper Lee’s great novel To Kill a Mockingbird

by | Jun 2, 2025 | ENGLISH

In Harper Lee’s great novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Fitch says this, “They’re
certainly entitled to think that, and they’re entitled to full respect for their
opinions… but before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself. The
one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.” What part
does personal integrity and a Christian conscience play in the way we should
conduct research and compose our own academic essays? Does the Bible speak
to the subject? Where and how?

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Atticus Finch’s profound statement in To Kill a Mockingbird speaks directly to the core of personal integrity and the guiding force of conscience, principles that are highly relevant to how we approach academic research and writing, especially from a Christian perspective.

Personal Integrity and a Christian Conscience in Academic Work

  1. Truthfulness and Honesty:

    • Personal Integrity: At its heart, academic integrity demands honesty. This means accurately representing sources, avoiding plagiarism, and presenting research findings without manipulation or bias. Just as Atticus must live with himself by upholding his convictions about justice, a scholar must live with themselves by upholding the truth in their work. Fabricating data,

Atticus Finch’s profound statement in To Kill a Mockingbird speaks directly to the core of personal integrity and the guiding force of conscience, principles that are highly relevant to how we approach academic research and writing, especially from a Christian perspective.

Personal Integrity and a Christian Conscience in Academic Work

  1. Truthfulness and Honesty:

    • Personal Integrity: At its heart, academic integrity demands honesty. This means accurately representing sources, avoiding plagiarism, and presenting research findings without manipulation or bias. Just as Atticus must live with himself by upholding his convictions about justice, a scholar must live with themselves by upholding the truth in their work. Fabricating data,
    • convictions about justice, a scholar must live with themselves by upholding the truth in their work. Fabricating data, misrepresenting arguments, or stealing intellectual property compromises not only the academic endeavor but also one’s own character.
    • Christian Conscience: A Christian conscience compels a commitment to truth because God is truth (John 14:6). Lies, deceit, and dishonesty are condemned in scripture (Proverbs 12:22, Colossians 3:9). Therefore, a Christian scholar is called to pursue truth diligently and present it faithfully, recognizing that their work can reflect God’s character. Plagiarism, for example, is not merely an academic offense; it’s a form of stealing and deception, which a Christian conscience would strongly condemn.

  2. Diligence and Excellence:

    • Personal Integrity: Doing one’s best work, even when it’s challenging or unobserved, is a hallmark of integrity. It means thorough research, careful analysis, rigorous argumentation, and clear communication. It’s about striving for excellence for its own sake, not just for a grade or recognition.
    • Christian Conscience: The Bible encourages believers to do all things “heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23). This principle applies directly to academic pursuits. A Christian conscience would motivate a student or researcher to approach their work with diligence, thoroughness, and a desire for excellence, understanding that their efforts, no matter how small, can bring glory to God. Sloppy work, superficial research, or a lack of attention to detail would be seen as falling short of this calling.

  3. Respect for Others’ Intellectual Property:

    • Personal Integrity: Respecting copyright, intellectual property, and proper attribution demonstrates respect for the work and effort of others. It acknowledges the contributions of those who came before us and builds upon a foundation of shared knowledge.
    • Christian Conscience: The ninth commandment, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16), extends beyond perjury to all forms of misrepresentation and deceit, including claiming others’ work as one’s own. Moreover, the principle of loving your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39) implies respecting their intellectual labor and giving credit where credit is due. Stealing another’s words or ideas is a violation of this love.

  4. Humility and Openness to Correction:

    • Personal Integrity: An honest scholar is willing to acknowledge the limits of their own knowledge, to revise their understanding in light of new evidence, and to accept constructive criticism. It’s about a commitment to learning and growth over defending one’s ego.
    • Christian Conscience: Humility is a core Christian virtue (Philippians 2:3, James 4:6). A Christian conscience would prompt a scholar to approach research with humility, recognizing that human knowledge is finite and that intellectual arrogance can hinder the pursuit of truth. Being open to peer review and correction is a practical expression of this humility, allowing for refinement and improvement of one’s work.

  5. Ethical Considerations in Research:

    • Personal Integrity: Beyond citations, integrity demands ethical conduct in all aspects of research, especially when dealing with human subjects or sensitive data. This includes ensuring privacy, obtaining informed consent, and avoiding harm.
    • Christian Conscience: The “Golden Rule” – “whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them” (Matthew 7:12) – provides a foundational ethic for research involving human beings. Principles of compassion, justice, and respect for human dignity (which derives from being made in God’s image, Genesis 1:27) would guide a Christian researcher in ensuring that their methodologies are morally sound and that no harm comes to participants.

Does the Bible Speak to the Subject? Where and How?

While the Bible does not explicitly mention “academic essays” or “research papers” (as these are modern constructs), its timeless principles regarding truth, integrity, diligence, and respect for others provide a robust framework for how a Christian should conduct themselves in these endeavors.

  1. Truthfulness:

    • Proverbs 12:22: “The Lord detests lying lips, but delights in people who are trustworthy.” This directly applies to presenting research accurately and honestly.
    • John 8:32: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” This highlights the value of truth, which is the ultimate aim of academic inquiry.
    • Ephesians 4:25: “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” This extends the call to truth-telling to all interactions, including academic ones.

  2. Diligence and Excellence:

    • Colossians 3:23-24: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” This is perhaps the most direct biblical mandate for academic excellence from a Christian perspective. Our studies, essays, and research are not just for professors or grades, but ultimately an act of service to God.
    • Ecclesiastes 9:10a: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” This encourages thoroughness and dedication.

  3. Respect and Justice (including intellectual property):

    • Exodus 20:15: “You shall not steal.” This fundamental commandment applies to intellectual property just as much as physical property. Plagiarism is a form of intellectual theft.
    • Exodus 20:16: “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” This extends to misrepresenting sources or the work of others.
    • Romans 13:7: “Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” This principle of giving what is due applies to giving proper credit to authors and sources.

  4. Humility:

    • Proverbs 11:2: “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” This warns against intellectual arrogance and encourages a posture of continuous learning.
    • James 4:6: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” This spiritual principle has direct implications for how we approach our academic standing and interactions.

In conclusion, Atticus Finch’s personal conviction resonates deeply with a Christian understanding of conscience. For a Christian, conducting research and composing academic essays isn’t merely an exercise in intellectual rigor or adherence to institutional rules; it’s an opportunity to embody biblical principles of truth, integrity, diligence, humility, and respect, ultimately reflecting a commitment to living consistently before God. The conscience, informed by scripture and the Holy Spirit, acts as an internal compass, guiding the scholar toward ethical and excellent academic practice.

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