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What Is Real Courage

Decent Essays

I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you gain anyway and see it through no matter what,” (Lee, PAGE #). Atticus Finch believes that courage is not fighting with a gun, but it is actually fighting for a cause you believe in even if you know you won’t win.
In the novel, “ To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, the Finches are a well-known family throughout Maycomb County, Alabama. Scout and Jem, children of Atticus, spend their days playing around and trying to find the truth of the rumors circling Boo Radley. Meanwhile, Atticus takes on a case defending Tom Robinson, a black man who is accused of raping Mayell …show more content…

Around the time Atticus takes the case, the news has already spread around town. At school, Scout hears Cecil Jacob insulting Atticus, “He had announced in the schoolyard the day before that Scout Finch’s daddy defended niggers” (Lee, 74). Many of the people of Maycomb had an unfavorable response to this which could've affected Cecil Jacob. These opinions may influence him to believe that Atticus defending Tom is a sin or shameful. As a young child, he doesn’t know any better but to believe in rumors and to listen to what the adults say. Later on, Atticus and his children join Aunt Alexandra for Christmas at Finches Landing. During this time, Scout and her cousin, Francis, are arguing and Francis provokes her by saying, “…. Grandam says it’s bad enough he lets you all run wild, but now he’s turned out a nigger-lover, we’ll never be able to walk the streets of Macomb agin. He’s ruinin’ the family, that’s what he’s doin’,” (Lee,83). Even though they are family, they start to turn against Atticus because his decision could ruin the family’s reputation and name. Since Francis may not fully understand why Atticus is defending Tom, he chooses to listen to his other family members and his opinion is formed and shaped around what they say. In this case, his Grandma tells Francis about Atticus and that influences his opinion. One of the main reasons why the community

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