preview

What Is Atticus Finch Courageous

Decent Essays

Bethany Hamilton once said “ courage doesn’t mean you don’t get afraid”. Courage means you don’t let fear stop you”. Hamilton gives a great description of what it takes to be courageous. Although some people face individual issues, others face racism throughout the society. Courage has no restriction, anybody can be courageous. Harper Lee uses one of her main characters Atticus Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird, to show how courage can help anyone overcome trials and tribulations.
Atticus Finch is the prime example of a courageous man in the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird. Mr. Finch took on the case of a negro man who was accused of raping a white woman. Atticus Finch knows that society will view him as a “nigger lover(Lee 100)”. He then goes on …show more content…

Although he was a fantastic lawyer, he was also once known as “deadshot” (Lee 101) This is significant because a rabid dog appears in Maycomb. Atticus knows his abilities, but other people did not know. Miss Maudie states, “ people in their right minds never take pride in their talents” (Lee 102). Atticus shoots the dog knowing people will look at him a different way. The rapid dog represents the racism in the county. While nobody else will shoot the dog/ racism down, Atticus does. He knows the people of Maycomb will hate his decision in taking up for a “nigger”, but he goes by his heart and does it anyways. The father of the victim was the most upset. Although he knows the truth, he refuses the truth. “ Mr. Bob Ewell stopped Atticus on the post office corner, spat in his face, and told him he’d get him if it took the rest of his life”(Lee 221). Atticus does not retaliate and fight fire with fire, because of his courageous character. Mr. Finch felt sorrowful for the victim. The author, Harper Lee, uses Atticus Finch as a godly archetype. Atticus represents Jesus in his own ways. He forgives those who rebel against him and tries to save the county of Maycomb. He wants the county of Maycomb to look past the color of someone’s skin, and look at their insides.. Harper Lee wrote this novel in 1926. The United States still faces racism today. Martin Luther King Jr. once said in the 1920’s, “ look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their

Get Access