How Does Atticus Show Courage

Courage, as defined by Collins Dictionary, is “the quality shown by someone who decides to do something difficult or dangerous, even though they may be afraid”. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee has created many characters who exhibit such courage, even in the face of adversity, and develops this into a major theme. Atticus Finch, Arthur Radley, and other members of the Finch household and Maycomb community, display amazing courage in the things they say, but more importantly in the way they act. These characters all contribute to the novel’s theme of showing courage through adversity.

Throughout To Kill a Mockingbird, courage is represented many times. Atticus represents courage when he takes the Tom Robinson case, stands up to Bob Ewell, and when he shoots Tim Johnson. Scout represents courage when she stands up for Walter, punches cousin Francis, and when she breaks up the mob. Boo Radley represents courage when he kills Bob Ewell, saves Scout and Jem, and strokes Jem. Courage is still very important because if we don’t have courage, then we won’t take risks. If we don’t take risks, then we won’t achieve

Courage is shown by different characters in varying ways throughout the novel. These characters are Jem, Boo Radley, Mrs. Dubose and Atticus. Jem shows a small amount of courage when Atticus decides to face a lynch mob. Jem understands who they are and what they want to do, but he still refuses to go home and remains to defend his father. Boo Radley also shows courage by putting all his fears of the outside world behind him to save Jem and Scout's lives.

Courage is the ability to do something in the face of pain, grief or fear. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus serves as an example of true courage to the town when he shoots the sick dog Tim Johnson, defends Tom Robinson in his legal troubles and allows Mr. Ewell spit in his face.

The definition of courage is the ability to do something that frightens one. To Kill A Mockingbird is set in Macomb County is the 1930´s. The book in narrated by scout, but some other major characters include Atticus and ¨boo¨. Across this book, these three characters find their own meaning of courage. As a reader, we get to see what they do to show courage, and the sacrifices they make to get there. Throughout To Kill A Mockingbird courage is shown as doing something even when consequences await. In To Kill A Mockingbird Scout, Atticus, and ¨Boo¨ Radley display courage.

Atticus tackles a situation that many would avoid. Defending an African American man during the time of segregation. Although he is very much aware of this fact, Atticus still takes on the challenge. “Scout, you aren’t old enough to understand some things yet, but there’s been some high talk around town to the effect that I shouldn’t do much about defending this man.” (86). Atticus states this fact to scout so that he may understand that Atticus is practically defending Tom against the whole town. Although he’s outnumbered by townspeople, Atticus courageously still decides to defend Tom Robertson; even in the face of uncertain failure.

In the book To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Atticus describes courage as being "licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do" (112). This is a very important theme in the book because it highlights fighting losing battles and staying determined through difficult times. There are many references to fighting a losing battle such as Atticus' defense of Tom Robinson, Mayella Ewell's fight to rise above her father and her social status, Mrs. Dubose's struggle with addiction, and Dolphus Raymond's battle against racism. Tom Robinson was a black man accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman.

After Scout fights with Cecil Jacobs at her school for calling Atticus a ‘nigger-lover’, she is told by her father to “ just hold your head high and keep those fists down.” (Lee, 76) Atticus is expressing that one should not let others get to them and stand up for themselves. She takes up the courage to do so the next time she is yelled at by the boy, although with much difficulty. Through this account, Scout’s willingness to learn and grow is portrayed. Also, Scout is able to stand by her morals when she confronts the mob with Jem and Dill. She demonstrates this by kicking the man who harmed Jem and eventually repressing the mob to leave the county jail, in order to protect her brother and Atticus. The ultimate fear Scout conquers was her unease of ‘Boo’ or Arthur Radley. In the beginning, she identifies Arthur as a mysterious and frightening person who lives on the other side of the street. After Arthur saves Scout and Jem from Bob Ewell’s attack, she realizes that Arthur wasn’t so frightening anymore and learns to embrace her fear. She does so by walking Arthur home and when she stands on his porch for the second time, not with fear, but with understanding. Scout was able to progress as an individual, stand up for her beliefs, and embrace her fears throughout the

Courage’s Distinct Traits as Presented in To Kill a Mockingbird Courage is a common theme expressed throughout countless novels spanning years, but in To Kill a Mockingbird, courage drives the plot of the novel and helps the main characters gain a better grasp of the world around them. Throughout the span of the novel, each of the characters are forced to take new perspectives on the events unfolding in front of them to overcome the deeply rooted prejudice of an old Southern town. Scout, Jem, Atticus, and other characters central to the plot of the novel discover that it takes different forms of bravery to overcome obstacles, and that each form is strong in their own right. Courage, as elucidated by Harper Lee in To Kill A Mockingbird, is

One day Calpurnia sees a mad dog and calls Atticus and Maycomb’s sheriff. Atticus arrives at the scene of where the mad dog is and he takes the risk of whether saving people or causing the dog to get even madder. He kills the dog with one clean shot and it shows courage because not many people can shoot good after many years of not shooting and under pressure like Atticus did. All in all Atticus showed courage throughout the story many times, and like he said “real courage is fighting for what is right whether you are right or

Calpurnia, Atticus’ housekeeper, spotted a mad dog down the street. They called Mr. Heck Tate, the sheriff, and he brought Atticus with him to the scene. Tim Robinson, the mad dog, was slowly advancing down the road and they were running out of time. They decide to shoot the dog before it gets ay closer and hurts somebody. Heck Tate takes the gun but realizes he can not get an accurate shot from that far and gives the gun to Atticus, because he knows he can hit the dog in one shot. Atticus resents shooting the dog, and states that, “I haven't shot a gun in thirty years---” (Lee 127). This shows that Atticus puts others needs before his own because he is very uncomfortable when dealing with guns, yet he does it anyway to make sure everyone is kept safe. Atticus knows that the town's safety is mandatory, and does whatever he can to make sure it is kept

Atticus has moral courage when he defends Tom Robinson. Even though people critisize his choice, like when Mrs. Debose says “‘Not only a Finch waiting on tables but one in the courthouse lawing for niggers”’ (Lee 101), Atticus perseveres and defends Tom as well as he would defend a white person. The lionhearted Atticus is willing to defend a black guy, who will likely lose the case, in order to uphold his morals. He also risks his physical health to go protect Tom Robinson at the jailhouse at night. He stands up to an armed mob whose intention is made clear when one guy says, “‘You know what we want… Get aside from the door, Mr. Finch”’ (Lee 151), to which Atticus synonym for courageously replies “‘You can turn around and go on home”” (Lee 151). Atticus puts himsels in mortal peril in order to save Tom Robinson which is remarkably audacious. Despite being an older father, Atticus Finch is by far the bravest character in the book To Kill a Mockingbird.

Atticus is one of the most bravest people in Maycomb. He shows true courage by defending Tom Robinson based on the principle of right and wrong. For example, on page 88, he says, “ It couldn't be worse, Jack. The only thing we've got is a black mans word against the Ewells”. At this moment Atticus explains to his brother Jack, why he had to defend Tom Robinson. Atticus influences his children by being brave enough to defend a black man. Atticus was getting ready to the next trial, by telling uncle Jack that the trial essentially boils down to Bob and Mayella's words against Tom Robinson testimony. Later Atticus shows true bravery by “ Standing outside of Tom robinson's cell, knowing that the men from the town will show up trying to kill

Courage is often shown by actions of helpfulness, braveness, or just doing the right thing. When the mad dog, Tim Johnson, was advancing down the street, Calpurnia called Atticus Finch first, instead of calling the sheriff because she knew only Atticus could kill Tim with one shot. Atticus could shoot better than anyone in Maycomb, but it takes him a lot of courage to shoot the mad dog, because he hasn’t shot a gun in thirty years. Also, he doesn’t want to shoot unless he has to for the sake of not having an “unfair advantage over most living things” (130). Atticus is fearful because he hasn’t held a gun in thirty years and he’s afraid he’ll disappoint Maycomb. He also doesn’t even want to be the person to kill Tim Johnson because Atticus thinks it is unfair that he has a talent against other animals.

Courage is strength. Courage is honesty. Courage is standing one’s ground no matter what. Courage is standing up for others. In Harper Lee’s classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout and Jem Finch, along with their father Atticus, live in Maycomb County, a small, mainly racist town in Alabama during the Great Depression. The Finch family’s neighbor, Mrs. Dubose, and Atticus display acts of personal courage in the story. Specifically, Mrs. Dubose displays courage in her honesty and strength, and Atticus displays courage in his responses to racism based threats and keeping others safe.