How Does Atticus Show Courage

Depending on the person, the idea of courage has many different meanings. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird's, the definition of courage is “when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do” (149). The novels definition explains that one needs to do the right thing even if one doesn’t win.

Just like his career as a lawyer, Atticus shows us that his perspective on others is “innocent until proven guilty.” He likes to see the best in people at all times, that is until they do a distasteful act to tarnish this view. Atticus believes in this because people never know what another person’s circumstance is. "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." (Lee, pg. 39) Atticus really understands and believes what he is saying, he represents that when he restates this principle in a way he know Scout can understand it, by saying “climb into his skin and walk around in it.” Showing that he understands Scout’s point of view while he is saying this statement. What Harper Lee is trying to tell us here is just what it is telling you, people have reasons for doing what they do most of the time, so try not to judge them right away, you never know their reasoning.

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

Atticus Finch is remarkably courageous throughout the novel. Atticus does not retaliate when Bob Ewell spits in his face, goes to Tom’s cell knowing there would be a mob, and does his best in court to exonerate Tom. Firstly, Atticus does not retaliate when Bob Ewell spits in his face. Atticus says “ ‘...if spitting in my face saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take’ ” (Lee 218). Atticus is being disrespected in one of the worst ways by a man he could destroy, but knows that he was helping a victim of abuse, Mayella, so he does not make things worse by retaliating. Secondly, Atticus knows there is a mob coming, but nevertheless goes to Tom Robinson’s cell to defend him. Atticus knows the possibly dangerous mob is coming, with Scout observing “He seemed to be expecting them” (150). However, Atticus recognizes that he is Tom’s only hope, and utilizes his immense courage to face the mob. Thirdly, Atticus does his best to defend Tom in court. As Scout tells us, “Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed” (241). Atticus knows from the beginning he has next to no chance to win the trial, but still tries for Tom’s sake, for the other black people in the community, and for the chance he could appeal it and change laws for the good of African Americans. Atticus is an amazing example of courage in the face of adversity for his actions in To Kill A Mockingbird.

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.

It took an unimaginable amount of courage for Atticus to take the Tom Robinson case knowing he and his children would be harassed by all the other townspeople. For instance, when “My folks said your daddy was a disgrace an' that nigger oughta hang from the water tank” (105). Also, Atticus knew he had a very low chance of succeeding in winning the case, but he took it anyways. He knows the town will think differently about him solely because he is defending a black man. He also knows that his children will be shown a lot of hatred. Even knowing this, Atticus takes the case and tries his best. Not only did he know he would take hatred, he also knew he would lose. But, he knew this case would define who he was “every lawyer gets at least one case in his lifetime that affects him personally”(96). While talking to the Judge he knows that he will most likely not win, but that does not change his mind. He knows just because Tom Robinson is black that he will not win. The Jury will see the white man who claims his white daughter was raped and believe him with no doubt. No matter what Atticus says to try to change the jury’s mind, he knows he can only try his best. To summarize, Atticus shows courage knowing not only that the town would hate him, but also that he would lose the

Jim Crow racism was the belief that whites are superior to non-whites. This idea generated rules of Jim Crow racism that mainly caused segregation between whites and non-whites. The segregation of restaurants, schools, and churches were because of the idea of Jim Crow racism. It was the social norm to wear black face and yell racial slurs at non-whites. Black face was worn by a white man with the man usually mocking people of color about their race and behavior, by yelling racial slurs. Black face was usually seen on television or theater. The oppression of non-whites was horrid because they faced various consequences when they broke a Jim Crow law, such as lynching or hanging. The use of Jim Crow racism has reduced over the past eighty

In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch is represented as the stereotypical, all well-knowing fatherly figure to Jem and Scout, and more than oftenly teaches them moral lessons and how to behave as they are transitioning into young adulthood.  Three values that Atticus Finch heavily instills within his children is to live humbly, swear by equality, and have respect for everyone no matter what color your skin is or what you believe in.  These values shape and mold each Jem and Scout into independently minded children who learn wrong from right as the book’s plotline continues.

In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, a character by the name of Atticus Finch explains to his child “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. You rarely win, but sometimes you do.” (128). Atticus is teaching his son an important lesson about courage, while using his own to take on a seemingly impossible task.

In the beginning epigraph of To Kill a Mocking Bird, Harper Lee quotes a statement made by Charles Lamb: "Lawyers, I suppose, were children once." As told through the eyes of the rambunctious elementary school child, Scout Finch, we see not only how she and her brother's lives are affected by their community, also how they develop and mature under the watch of their father, lawyer Atticus Finch. As a wise role model to his town of Maycomb as well as his children, Atticus Finch becomes a prominently admirable character. As a father, lawyer, friend, and foe, Atticus Finch proves himself to be an honest, selfless, and courageous human being. Throughout many of the

Q1“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 through it no matter what.”

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 something you do to frighten someone or something. The book To Kill A Mockingbird takes place in Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930s. The Main characters are Atticus, Jem, and Scout. Atticus is a lawyer and a father of two children. He is a lawyer that is trying to defend a black man because he was charged of raping a white girl. This book is all about what courage is and how life was back on the 1930s.

I think one of the original hooks of the book “How To Kill A Mockingbird” is that Atticus Finch was standing up and taking the side of a black man, in this time and day that was something unheard of. People hear that Atticus is behind a black man and fighting for his freedom and this catches their attention because thats not a common thing. Atticus knows its probably a dangerous choice to support the black man in his fight in court, but he also understands the black mans struggles and has empathy for him, especially if he didn’t do it. This is the message he is trying to teach his kids and the people he’s around.

As we were reading to kill a mockingbird I realized that Atticus Finch Is a really great father and lawyer. What really caught my eye in the book was when they accused Tom Robinson of allegedly raping Mayella Ewell. The fact that Tom Robinson only has one good arm and is left handed when Mayella Ewell had punch marks on her along with her neck being choked, all the evidence that Atticus presented showed that Tom Robinson was innocent. And then Tom Robinson ends up being guilty and what happened to him at the kind of end wasn't right and all Atticus wanted was justice and what end up happening to Tom Robinson was very unfair, just because of his skin color. If I was in Atticus position I would be disappointed because you would think people would see all the injustice happening at this time. And would see that what was happening ruined his life and they wouldn't like if that happen to them.