How Does Atticus Show Courage

“It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare.” (Mark Twain) In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee there are not many characters that show moral courage. One particular character that shows moral courage is Atticus Finch. This character always does what he believes is right. Atticus shows courage not by being aggressive or killing, but by standing up for what he believed in a sophisticated and determined way. Atticus whose moral courage is

Courage is defined as "the quality of mind or spirit enabling one to meet danger or opposition with fearlessness." According to Atticus Finch, one of the main characters in To Kill a Mockingbird, "Courage is when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what." (pg.121). Harper Lee clearly portrays the theme of courage in her novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. One likes to think of a hero, as strong, brave, and meeting all challenges head on. All the characters in this book have a different view as to what courage

Moreover, every other character in the story can be said to have courage, especially Atticus. The book revolves around Atticus and how he has no fear to defend a black man. Atticus is a lawyer that always had justice and never accepts injustice. He defends a black man named “Tom Robinson” who is accused of rapping a white girl whose own father had infact raped. “I’m simply defending a negro his name’s Tom Robinson” “The main one is, if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this country in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again” (Lee,100). These quotes show that Atticus is not afraid and is brave enough to hold his head up in town even if he defended Tom, an inferior in their society. It also shows how well educated and mature he is that he even connects his job to his kids and he always tries to be good to be the best in his kids’ eyes. He wanted his kids to get along with other people and for them to learn courage from them like Mrs. Dubose, for example.

According to Eleanor Roosevelt, “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” (Goodreads). Throughout To Kill a Mockingbird, courage is represented by Atticus, Scout, and Boo Radley. In the novel, some of the characters learn a lot about courage. The novel takes place in Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression. Throughout the book, many characters have to find courage.

Bravery is demonstrated by the desire for lawfulness. Atticus Finch tries to teach his children that throughout the book To Kill a Mockingbird. He leads by the example of himself, and others in the sleepy country town of Maycomb.

In 1960, Harper Lee published a novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, which was one of the most controversial novels of its time. Atticus Finch, the father of a young boy and girl, Scout and Jem, possesses a variety of character traits and the people of Maycomb respect him for them. Atticus is a very upright person who is always willing to help and give advice. Many people of Maycomb look up to him and he is highly respected in his community. Atticus was a lawyer that was appointed to defend a black man, Tom Robinson.

What does Harper Lee want us to learn about courage in his novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird”? Throughout the book, courage is demonstrated by many of the characters in different ways and in different circumstances. Atticus, a father and well-known lawyer in Maycomb, was the most courageous person in the book, and was the character that Harper Lee represented as “the heroic individual”. Atticus is courageous for taking Tom Robinson's case because in doing so he risks his families and his own safety; also, Mrs. Dubose is courageous for trying to stop her addiction to Morphine. With courage Atticus was true to his values.

He overcomes the brutal comments of those around him. Atticus not only shows courage in his profession but also towards the family. “You just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anyone says to you, don’t let ‘em get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change…it’s a good one, even if it does resist learning” (Lee 86).

One character who showed courage in To Kill a Mockingbird was Atticus. An example of him displaying courage is him defending Tom Robinson, even when he is looked down upon, scorned, and threatened for doing so. He knows there is basically no chance he can win this case, but he believes in Tom’s innocence, and defends him to the end. “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.” (Lee p. 87) Atticus needed courage to do what he did, even in the face of his family and him being rejected by their community.

Mini Research Paper Acts of courage are everywhere but no one really pays attention them. Courage is a recurring theme in the book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Atticus, Jem, and Boo are some of the characters in the story that continuously show acts of courage throughout. Atticus defends a colored man in the court of law, Jem laying hands on the terrifying and dreaded Radley house, and last but certainly not least Boo Radley Shows the most courage when he ends a man's life to save Jem and Scout.

In To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee uses Atticus Finch to teach a lesson of bravery and perseverance to his children and the reader. His choice to continue to defend Tom Robinson contributes to the credibility of his lesson. When asked about this case by Scout, he tells her, “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win” (Lee 87). Atticus shows courage even when he is first appointed to defend Tom Robinson by trying his best to win. He truly believes in the innocence of Tom, but racial prejudice prevents whites from confirming it.

Jem and Scout are extremely surprised when they discover their father is a talented marksman. Atticus never mentions or uses his talent; he is reluctant to shoot a gun even when it is deemed necessary. The children wonder why Atticus has never told them of his talent; in their minds, marksmanship is an impressive and glorious skill. They discover Atticus' motive for this omission when he mentions he does not want his children to get the "idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand.

The following quote said by Atticus, shows who he really is and what he wants to do. Jem looks up to his father like children look up to police officers. I like the way Atticus teaches his son what real courage is. Like the common saying "actions speak louder than words", Atticus shows his character usually through his action rather than speech. By telling this to gem, he gets rid of the idea in Jem's head that having a gun in your hand isn't courage.

Jem and Scout look up to Atticus and have the highest regard for him. Atticus purposefully teaches his kids valuable life lessons such as do not kill a mockingbird, stand in other people’s shoes, and show respect. When they learn about a “non-boring” secret--he is the best shooter in town-- from Atticus’s “boring” life, they learn yet another life lesson, in addition to Atticus’s overarching lesson, do not kill a mockingbird, an innocent life, but they also learn about what is important in life. Atticus “kills a mockingbird”, the dog, in order to protect his family. The fact that Jem wants to stay “humble” about his father’s skill with a gun while Scout wants to “brag” individualizes the two characters.

In his closing statement Atticus states, “The defendant is not guilty, but somebody in this courtroom is” (Lee, 271). Waiting to judge others pays off because Atticus was able to prove Tom’s innocence and expose Bob Ewell for domestic