Real Courage

As Atticus decides to defend Tom Robinson, who is a black man. Many citizens of Maycomb don't understand his choices for doing so. Atticus is questioned by Scout, she asks him “If you shouldn’t be defendin’ him, then why are you doing it?” Scout says that to Atticus because people from Scouts school have been telling her that defending a black man is a negative thing to do. By asking Atticus this, it shows that others see black people as lower class compared to others. As the majority of Maycomb see them that way, they don't understand why Atticus should and would defend them. Atticus sees the whole situation as him just “Simply defending a Negro,” because he sees everyone nas an equal which everyone else should too. As the citizens of Maycomb don't understand why Atticus is defending Tom, some finally start to see the trial just like Atticus. In chapter 15, a mob is called upon Atticus for defending Tom. It is led by Mr. Cunningham, who has a son named Walter, which Scout goes to school with. While the mob is after Atticus because of him defending Tom, Scout is able to stop the mob. She stops the mob by telling Mr. Cunningham about his son and how Atticus has helped their family, which then calms him down to see the mob isn't right. As Scout’s kindness towards Mr. Cunningham helps him decide to call off the mobs, it also helps him to see Atticus is a good person for defending and helping Tom Robinson because Atticus did the same towards him. Atticus’ choice to defend and help black people is hard to understand for many, butin the end it is important to realise why he choses to defend

The whole town of Maycomb is racist, which makes Atticus’s job harder trying to defend Tom Robinson against the word of a white man.Tom Robinson’s case is unjust since he is black and the majority of Maycomb revert to the stereotype that all blacks are immoral and criminals. “Quote” shows that it is a situation where little is possible to do when defending a black man because the town of Maycomb is deeply affected by racism they tend to only make decisions based on the race and so immediately think Tom Robinson is guilty, that he did indeed raped Mayella when there was so much evidence to prove otherwise. This is challenging for Atticus, since he has to persuade everyone to pretend there is no stereotype about blacks and that they are human

Atticus's strong sense of morality and justice motivates him to defend Tom Robinson with determination, giving it all he has. He shows this when he says, "Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try and win." (pg.82). He says this to Scout after she comes home from school angry at Cecil Jacobs for making fun of Atticus in the schoolyard. Atticus tells her to fight with her head instead of her fists. He wants the people of Maycomb to hear the truth about Tom, "That boy may go to the chair, but he's not going till the truth's told." (pg.159). Atticus is putting everything a man holds dear, dignity, respect, honor and status, on the line to protect Tom. He later shows more bravery when he goes to the jailhouse to

In the novel, Atticus Finch is used 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 other whites from confirming

Atticus, however, was a brave Christian man with moral values. He was polite and humble, and saw everyone as equals. Scout said of her father, “It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived.”Atticus shows that he is above the people of Maycomb when he took Tom Robinson’s case, rather than sharing their racist feelings. However, he still respected their choice; “They're certainly entitled to think that, and they're entitled to full respect for their opinions... but before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience.” Even when he and his family were deemed as outcasts, he didn’t drop his case. He discouraged his

While numerous citizens in Maycomb express how “Atticus[‘s] aim to defend him. [Is] what [we] don’t like about it”(Lee, 218) and that he has “got everything to lose from this... I mean everything.”(Lee, 195) Atticus full heartedly stands behind the fact that if he didn’t defend the Tom Robinson case he “couldn’t hold up [his] head in town... [and] couldn’t represent this county in the legislature.”(Lee, 100) This reveals the moral importance this trial means to Atticus, as he believes that everyone should be treated equally, regardless of their skin colour as “men are not to be trusted around women—black or white... a truth that applies to...no particular race of men.”(Lee, 273) Atticus’s personal definition of courage is revealed to Jem after he is forced to read to Mrs Dubose for an entire month. As defined by Atticus, real courage is “when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.”(Lee, 149) Similarly, Atticus’s raw motives concerning the Tom Robinson trial run on the evident fact that he knew he was “licked a hundred years before start[ing]”(Lee, 101) Mr Robinson’s trial, but nonetheless defended him to his last breath. Atticus’s definition and actions correspond and show the reader how his values are congruent, no matter the situation. All in all, Atticus’s personal beliefs and values suggest to the reader

Another theme that is shown in To Kill a Mockingbird is courage. In the book, a blacked man named Tom Robinson is accused of raping a white girl. The father of the white girl, Bob Ewell is the one that said he saw Tom Robinson rape his daughter. Atticus, the father of Jem and Scout, shows a lot of courage by defending Tom Robinson in court. In the book Atticus says, “In our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always wins” (Lee 295). This shows that he basically knows that it's impossible for Tom to win in court, but he defends him anyways because he thinks it’s the right thing to do. Atticus tried his best to help Tom win, but in the end it didn’t happen. Tom should’ve won but just like Atticus said there’s no way a black man is going to win against an all white jury. If somebody else would’ve defended Tom, he probably would’ve lost in court right away, but Atticus tried really hard to win it for him. Therefore that is how Atticus showed courage in the book, he went along by himself to go against all the whites and defend the black man, Tom Robinson, because he thought it was the right thing to do.

“Scout, simply by the nature of the work, every lawyer gets at least one case in his lifetime that affects him personally. This one's mine, I guess.” (Lee, 101) The following quotation establishes the reason why Atticus has chosen to defend Tom Robinson during the trial. Atticus explains to his children that he knows he doesn’t stand a chance, but he will try anyways, encouraging Scout and Jem to stand up for what they believe is right. “‘Lemme tell you somethin' now, Billy,’ a third said, ‘you know the court appointed him to defend this nigger.’ ‘Yeah, but Atticus aims to defend him. That's what I don't like about it.’”(Lee, 218) Despite what people might think, Atticus continues to go along with what he believes is right even when people are judging

In the book, To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee portrays courage through Atticus, specifically when he stands up for what he believes in. So he supports and fights the case for Tom Robinson, even though he knows he is going to lose the case. Atticus fought the case in which Tom Robinson was blamed that he raped a white girl, during this time Atticus says, “There is nothing more sickening than a low grade whitman who’ll take advantage of Negroes ignorance” (pg 296). Atticus attempts to win the case and keeps hope, even when aware of the outcomes. In addition, he wants Tom to go through a trial, which will make it easier to figure out who is guilty and who is not. Lee portrays Atticus as being socially and morally courageous since he is doing the right thing even though his social reputation could be hurt in front of the townspeople. Also, Lee proves that Atticus understands and wants Scout to realize that courage is not only shown through one’s physical strength, however it is portrayed by one’s actions as well. In the beginning of the book Scout thought that courage is when someone is brave or uses their physical strength to perform an activity, like Jem and when he ran and touched the front door of the Radleys house. But when Atticus explains about Mrs. Dubose and how she is courageous,

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

Tom Robinson is an innocent man protected by Atticus despite how scary the situation is. The children do not realize what they were witnessing at the time, but they end up understanding and learning from the experience. Also proving courage Atticus states,“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 see it through no matter what.”(page number) This quote points towards the fact that Atticus knows he’s not going to win the case, but makes his best effort to win the case.Atticus takes his time to explain things as best he can for the kids. When Atticus hears of Scout’s awful first day, he attempts to teach her to control her temper and

The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience” (Lee 140). Scout speaks her concerns about the rumors to Atticus, but Atticus keeps calm and does not follow the flow of beliefs of the town. The quote implies, if he wants to be able to live in a community like Maycomb, he does not have to agree with their beliefs. Atticus has the courage to ignore and defy the ignorance and the gossip from the townspeople shows his character. Atticus does this case because he must fight for his own sense of justice and respect, even if it causes him some backlash.

Atticus said “Simply because we were licked 100 years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win”(Page 101). He is saying that no matter the circumstance you should do what is right. Atticus says “I hope and pray I can get Jem and Scout through it without bitterness and most of all without catching Maycomb's usual disease Why reasonable people go stark raving mad when anything involving a Negro comes up...”(Page 117). This is saying that Atticus believes that people should not be judged by skin color and that he hopes his kids don't become racist. Due to atticus believing that you should always do the right thing he should defend Tom

Citizens in Maycomb show heroism and the good in themselves by helping others. Atticus is doing the good by defending Tom Robinson when most were against him. Scout asks him why he is on Tom’s side, and he replies, “I’m simply defending a Negro- his name’s Tom Robinson. He lives in that little settlement beyond the town dump. He’s a member of Calpurnia’s church, and Cal knows his family well. She says they’re clean-living folks.”(Lee, 100) Atticus believes that everyone is created equal and that everyone deserves a chance. People were making fun of his family because it was not normal in this time to do this. Atticus showed courage and hope when he stood up for Tom Robinson.

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.