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How Does Atticus Finch Show Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird

Decent Essays

Atticus Finch, the father of Scout and Jem and a lawyer in Maycomb, is a compelling character in To Kill a Mockingbird. He catches the eye of many readers because of his honesty, courage, and his ability to be a outstanding father. We witness these qualities when Atticus defends Tom Robinson, helps his children grow, and the way he conducts himself with the angry white folks of Maycomb, AL. Atticus Finch is one of the main characters in this book portraying a role of a lawyer defending a black man, in a small-town with a majority of white supremacists. This essay will provide examples of the previous three traits to display how Atticus is a compelling character. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus exhibits courage. Following the events of Jem being punished for his acts of ruining Mrs. Dubose’s plants, on page 112, Atticus tells Jem, “It’s [courage] is when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.” This is foreshadowing for Atticus’s main role of defending Tom Robinson. On page 215, Miss Maudie tells Jem, “I simply want to tell you that there are some men in this world who were born to do our unpleasant …show more content…

Even though he knew Jem and Scout would find out on their own, he wants Scout to know in advance what he believes will be the outcome of the trial. Atticus knows of Scout’s presence when he is talking to his brother about how the outcome of the trial, and how the people of Maycomb will react. The last sentence of chapter 9 is Scout stating, “But I never figured out how Atticus knew I was listening, and it was not until may years later that I realized he wanted me to hear every word he said.” At the end of the book, after Bob Ewell attacks the children and is killed, Atticus believes Jem did it. Even though he wants to protect his own son, he knows the right thing to do is take it to court and tell the truth. All of these events convey

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