Following one's individual conscience means that a person disregards the popular views of society and chooses to make decisions based on what he or she feels is right. Sometimes life can be confusing when people say one thing is right, but deep down someone feels that those people are wrong. It takes a lot of courage to do or say things against what society says is right, but Atticus, Dolphus Raymond and Link Deas are great examples of doing just that. Atticus does his best with defending Tom Robinson when society says he should just throw the trial; Mr. Raymond lives an alternative lifestyle contrary to what people would like to see a white man doing; and, Link Deas stands up for Helen by giving her a job when the community wants to ignore her for being married to a man who went to trial for rape.
Atticus best explains his conscience regarding the Robinson case to Scout as follows:
"This 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" (104).
Next, Dolphus Raymond explains why he lives a life against the values of traditional, conservative white society:
"Some folks don't--like the way I live. Now I could say the hell with 'em, I don't cdare if they don't like it. I do say I don't care if they don't like it, right enough--but I don't say the hell with 'em, see?" (200).
Basically, Raymond is saying that he plays drunk to save his own and other people's consciences. He gives them a reason to understand why he lives alternatively--and that is by playing a drunk. So, he's living the way he wants to live, but also giving the community some relief from their own ways of thinking at the same time.
Finally, Link Deas gives Tom's widow, Helen, a job when many people in the community are ashamed to help her out.
"But Tom was not forgotten by his employer, Mr. Link Deas. Mr. Link Deas made a job for Helen. He didn't really need her, but he said he felt right bad about the way things turned out" (248-49).
This shows Mr. Deas stepping up and listening to his conscience even though it might be against what others think he should do.
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