Courage is needed when there is a deep fear of an outcome. Atticus Finch has agnostophobia which is the fear of the unknown. Things that are unknown can be scary because there could be wide range of possible explanations, such as something that are very unpleasant to them. They can be afraid of going to unknown places or even meeting someone who never met or heard of before. Some are worry about the time moving forward as there's many unknown and unexpected events to occur. (Culbertson, 1995) Atticus Finch states the following about courage. Courage is following through even though one knows that he is defeated. "I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when …show more content…
He is being courageous by spear heading through this fear he has. By facing this fear he has he represented Tom Robinson to his best ability. He does an exceptional job in proving Tom Robinson’s innocence. (Jones, 2010:145-164) Even though this is still not enough to convince an all-white jury that Tom Robinson is not guilty. This also why Finch stress the importance of courage throughout this novel. Courage according to him is only needed when one fears something. His own actions in arguing the Robinson case demonstrates what a courageous person is, and this also exemplifies his behaviour throughout the trial, which embodies the values of dignity, integrity, determination and …show more content…
According to Scout and Jem, their father is one of the most uninteresting people in their town; "Our father," Scout tells us, "didn't do anything"(Lee, 1960). Once at Christmas Finch gave his children air rifles but he refuses to teach these two anything about how to shoot the rifles. That winter, however, something happened which also foreshadow the case against Tom Robinson and the resurfacing of Boo Radley, it snowed for the first time in years. Miss Maudie’s, the Finch’s neighbour, burned down, and a “mad dog” called Tom Robinson appeared in the streets of Maycomb in February. The sheriff, Heck Tate, refuses to shoot the dog. To Scout and Jem’s amazement, the sheriff gave the job to Atticus. When Tom Johnson finally made up his mind, in front of the Radley house. He set course to his original idea. Only to take two steps forward, to stop and to raise his head. We saw the dog’s body go rigid. With moves that went so fast that it seemed as though all the moves happened at the same time. Atticus’s hand yanked a ball-tipped lever, when he slowly brought the gun to his shoulder. The rifle cracked and Tom Robinson leaped, flopped over and crumpled on the sidewalk in heap that was a brown-and- white colour. The poor animal did not know what hit
This event occurs in Chapter 10, when a rabid dog, whose name is Tim Johnson, is seen wandering down the street where the Finch's live. The sheriff arrives with a rifle, but is worried that he'll miss and accidentally shoot into the Radley house, so he convinces Atticus to take the shot. The Finch children watch incredulously from the front door as their father seamlessly brings the rifle up, aims, and fires; they watch the bullet hit Tim Johnson, making the old dog flop over, dead, in the street, and yet they hardly dare to believe it. Their father, an expert marksman? The man practically blind in one eye, who can't play football because he's too old, is a crack shot? This new discovery makes Scout and Jem greatly reconsider their opinion of Atticus, as they realize that he can, in fact, do things that the other dads do, but he chooses not to.
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
“I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.”(Lee 149) This quote is from Atticus Finch and this is the definition of what a courage is. This specific quote will affect the characters throughout the book. “Courage is daring to do what is right in spite of the weakness of our flesh” This quote is by Preacher Green in The Help and this is also an accurate definition of courage. Through Dialogue both To Kill A Mockingbird and The Help was equally accurate conveying courage. Courage is not a man with a gun but doing and standing up for what is right despite our disadvantages or
Courage can mean being adventurous or doing something by yourself for the first time. Real courage is having perseverance, determination and doing what you believe in. According to Atticus Finch in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, real courage is “when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” Mrs. Dubose, Boo Radley, and Atticus show their courage by never giving up when things get tough or being afraid of going against societal norms.
In today's society, courage is defined as the ability to succeed without changing who we are as a person or what we believe in hoot courage, justice is weak and society is corrupt. In Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize winning novel "To Kill a Mockingbird', courage is presented through the characters Atticus Finch and Mrs Henry Lafayette Dubose as they confront their issues and embrace life regardless of what others think. Harper Lee constructed her narrative during a time of prejudice and injustice against Black Americans; hence courage was vital to overcome the racial discrimination many faced Both Atticus and Mrs Dubose along with the crucial events in the novel teach Jean Louise Finch, as well as the audience, the significance of courage and create an understanding that courage exists in several forms, Courage is often seen as the physical bravery an individual can display in a fearful H ever, it is also when an individual knows there is no chance of winning, but continues to fight for what they believe in. Harper Lee constructs a masculine image of this type of courage through Atticus and his handling of the mad dog incident. When comparing Atticus to the other fathers in Maycomb, Jam and Scout think of him as old and feeble' though the mad dog occurrence reveals a side of him that had not yet been discovered by his children; that he was once the best marksman the town with the name of one shot Finch'. Heck Tate insists that Atticus should kill the diseased animal even though
Atticus is courageous for defending a black man accused of rape,Tom Robinson, against a white women ,Mayella Ewell, Bob Ewell’s daughter, in a predjest community and be ridiculed by people in his community, friends and family included. Atticus has the courage to stand up for what he believes in and takes ridicule from people in his community to defend Tom Robinson even when he knows he will lose the case. Atticus says to uncle Jack ”’It couldn’t be worst, Jack. The only we’ve got is a black mans words against the Ewells’. The evidence boils down the you did it-I didnt. The jury couldn’t possibly be expected to take Tom Robinson's word against the Ewells…’’’. This shows Atticus is courageous because he knows people are angry and saying he is wrong and he still stands up for what he believes in and defends Tom Robinson when he knows he's losing the case in the end. Atticus is courageous for standing up for what he believes is
“Real courage is when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” Atticus Finch. This quote is proved to be true in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee as it demonstrates the true definition of courage. The book takes you along the journey of young girl, Scout Finch, during a time where colored people are thought less of. She experiences this first hand as her father, Atticus Finch, has been assigned to defend a colored man who has been accused of raping a white female. Scout along with her elder brother Jem, learn the definition of courage through some of the characters and how they act to the events that occur before and after the trial. In Harper Lee’s, To Kill a Mockingbird, many characters are great examples of trusting yourself when all odds are stacked against you. Throughout the novel the characters that display courage are Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson and Boo Radley.
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.
Courage is the commitment to begin without any guarantee of success. One will dare to take risks, have the strength to be compassionate, and the wisdom to be humble; courage is simply the foundation of integrity. What someone does in these moments of being very brave will reveal how strong someone really is, regardless of how much weight someone can deadlift. The courage of each character in "To Kill A Mockingbird" manifests itself in their battles against the corrupt forces of their world.
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.
A significant representation of courage is seen within Atticus. Within To Kill A Mockingbird Atticus speaks of the Tom Robinson trial as a trial all lawyers fear. He must face a court case that will have a profound personal effect upon himself and his family. Atticus summons the courage to recognize that there is a need for justice and that it is his duty to achieve this. Maycomb is a town tainted with stereotypes and racism. Atticus has the courage to overcome the fear of other peoples' dislike. He must face the fear of straining the lives of his two young children and family name. The courage Atticus embodies stems from his "satisfactory" character. Atticus is righteous and unable to turn his back on those who truly rely upon his ability to show empathy. He overcomes the heartless comments of those around them, to see the necessity of his involvement.
Webster's dictionary defines courage as "mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty." 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." (Chapter 11, Page 124) No matter how you define it, Harper Lee definitely portrays the theme of mental courage in this book. The book demonstrates that mental courage is fighting what you believe in no matter the consequence. It is one of the most predominant themes and is shown in many of the characters, including Atticus, Jem and Scout, who all show mental
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.
In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus’s views on courage are similar to those of Steve Pavlina. Atticus believes that courage is taking risks even if one knows that there is a chance of failure. In “The Courage To Live Consciously” by Steve Pavlina. the author writes about facing fears and what is actually means to have courage. Pavlina discusses ways to work up to one’s greatest fear, starting small. He tells the readers that it will be hard to face a fear and to take step towards a certain goal but the chance of success is worth it in the end. Atticus Finch shares his definition of courage with his kids in To Kill A Mockingbird. He said, "I wanted you to see something about her—I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of
Courage is the ability to do something that frightens you. The main character Atticus has a huge amount of