caustic(Noun) Any substance or means which, applied to animal or other organic tissue, burns, corrodes, or destroys it by chemical action; an escharotic. caustic(Noun) The envelope of reflected or refracted rays of light for a given surface or object.
Answered by Aslan. As Atticus has explained to Scout many times about this, He is doing this becasue he values equailty and justice. He believes that everyone is equal and therefore just because Tom Robinson is black, doesn't mean that he should not defend him.e says to Scout many times, if he did not defend this man, he could never tell Jem or her (Scout) not to do something. He has to set a good example for his children and if he expects them to do something or follow certain values, then he must display them first.
Atticus Finch is a lawyer as well as the father of Scout and Jem. Being a man full of good morals and a hope for justice, he teaches his children to also stand up for what is right. Showing his commitment to racial equality, he courageously agrees to defend Tom Robinson in court, causing conflict among his towns people.