Hannah Dewease Dr. Watson English 2 Honors 022 April 2024 Virtues of Atticus Finch “Before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself.”(Lee 120). Throughout the book To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses the character of Atticus Finch to convey themes of courage, wisdom, and benevolence. Atticus demonstrates these themes throughout the book by abiding by his moral convictions, looking past the surface, and standing firm for those who do not have a voice. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee used the character of Atticus Finch to convey themes of courage. One of the main conflicts in To Kill a Mockingbird is when Atticus defends Tom Robinson. This is courageous because despite the backlash from the citizens of Macomb, Atticus still …show more content…
He realizes how important courage is and takes the time to make sure Jem has an untainted view of it. Lastly, the character of Atticus Finch portrays courage when he defies the lynch mob. Atticus could have easily let the mob take Tom Robinson, however he chose not to. This action is important because it clearly defines Atticus' commitment to upholding his morals. Atticus took his life in his hands to defend a man he had only barely known, which is the definition of courage. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee used the character of Atticus Finch to convey themes of wisdom. This idea is specifically shown on page 33 when the text states, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.” This conversation between Atticus and Scout is important because it demonstrates Atticus’s wisdom. Atticus realizes Scout is confused and explains to her the necessity of looking at things from a different
Atticus Finch is a very important character in the book To Kill A Mockingbird. Atticus is the father of Jem and Scout Finch. Atticus is middle aged and has graying black hair, when he talks to people he treats them with lots of respect no matter what that person's race, age or background is like. Atticus is in one of the most important events that occurred in this book, he was the lawyer for Tom Robinson when Tom was accused of Raping Mayella Ewell. A theme that Atticus shows is courage. He defended Tom in court knowing that he would lose from the start but he fought hard to make him innocent. A quote that Atticus says that represents this is, “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with
Atticus tackles a situation that many would avoid. Defending an African American man during the time of segregation. Although he is very much aware of this fact, Atticus still takes on the challenge. “Scout, you aren’t old enough to understand some things yet, but there’s been some high talk around town to the effect that I shouldn’t do much about defending this man.” (86). Atticus states this fact to scout so that he may understand that Atticus is practically defending Tom against the whole town. Although he’s outnumbered by townspeople, Atticus courageously still decides to defend Tom Robertson; even in the face of uncertain failure.
Almost all of the people around him ridiculed, mocked, and even spat in his face. Yet, despite this, “Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson’’ (Lee 276). Atticus and Tom ended up losing the case, but successfully proved that justice was a possibility and people were willing to fight for it. Atticus even says at one point, “This may be the shadow of a beginning”.
During The Great Depression, Tom Robinson, an African American, who is accused of a crime that he did not do. The novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, conveys a major theme of courage. Atticus Finch, is the lawyer of Tom Robinson. He lives with his daughter Scout and his son Jem. Atticus influences Scout and Jem positively by being brave, honest and smart.
In 1960, Harper Lee published a novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, which was one of the most controversial novels of its time. Atticus Finch, the father of a young boy and girl, Scout and Jem, possesses a variety of character traits and the people of Maycomb respect him for them. Atticus is a very upright person who is always willing to help and give advice. Many people of Maycomb look up to him and he is highly respected in his community. Atticus was a lawyer that was appointed to defend a black man, Tom Robinson.
Atticus is willing to defend Tom Robinson because if he doesn't, then he wouldn’t be able to hold his head up or do anything because he took away somebody’s innocence. This shows real courage because Atticus is willing to stand up for the right thing, even though he knows he’s going to lose. Tom Robinson has courage and is willing to defend himself in court. He feels bad for Mayela Ewell and says how he feels bad for her. The town disagrees because of the caste system.
Protecting a Mockingbird Atticus demonstrates his definition of courage by defending Tom Robinson, a black man in court even though the chances of him succeeding are slim. The story To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee takes place in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression. Atticus is a lawyer in this small town and has raised two smart children on his own, Scout and Jem.
Atticus shows how courageous he is many times throughout this novel, including when Tom Robinson was put on trial. Tom is an African American who is accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell. Tom is arrested for this incident and put on trial. No lawyer in Maycomb County wants to defend Tom. Until Atticus is asked to represent Tom. Although Atticus knows this will be a tough
Courage means to stand up for what you know is right because it not right to treat someone wrong because either they are different skin color or they have a problem. For example when Atticus stood up for Tom just because he don’t treat people different he treat everyone with respect. That tolk a lot of courage just to stand up for somebody when other people would not do. The whole town was wanting Tom dead because of his skin and they way mayella lied about Tom raping her. Atticus shows courage when the town wanted tom dead, by defending tom.
In the book To Kill a Mockingbird there are many acts of courage. Some displayed their courage against evil that was strong at that time and help start the recognition of the cruel outlook on African Americans. Some displayed their courage to save themselves or another. Atticus Finch, Jem Finch, Arthur Radley, and Mrs. Dubose display courage exactly as it is defined.
First, Atticus shows courage by standing up against Mr. Cunningham and defending Tom Robinson. Even though he was the only defender at court, Atticus wasn’t afraid to thoroughly explain why the Ewells were wrong. When Mr. Cunningham and his mob of men came to retrieve Tom Robinson from the Maycomb jailhouse, Atticus was told to move aside from the doorway. Out of bravery, “Atticus remained where he was” (pg. 202) even when he was outnumbered. Atticus risked his life to defend Tom Robinson.
Atticus showed courage and to created and positive a change in their society when he was willing to stand up for Tom Robinson. He was willing to stand up for Tom because he wanted to show truth and that what they were doing was wrong. Atticus was a man of his word and was well respected in Maycomb and he was willing to give that up to bring justice and to prove that Tom Robinson was an innocent african american who just wanted is to be with his family. He told scout “you just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don’t you let ‘em get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change…it’s a good one, even if it does resist learning."(Atticus chapter 11)Atticus should that he knows what is coming his way and told Scout that no matter what they say don’t let it get into your head because he knows what he is standing up for people
Even though not everyone is always right, Atticus Finch is a genuine, moral literary character because he knows that you must understand a person and know them before you can judge them, instead of always trying to do what other people are doing or what they believe, he does what he believes is the right thing, and he teaches Scout and Jem important life lessons. To Kill a Mockingbird is a very compassionate and emotional book that explains important life lessons. In this book, the character Atticus Finch shows the reader different viewpoints of his life, which he teaches to his children.
According to Psychology Today “Someone with courage has an attribute of good character that makes them worthy of respect”. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a novel where multiple characters show courage in many different ways and situations. Atticus Finch is a specific character that sticks out to readers. Atticus shows and teaches his children what courage really means during the mad dog incident and in the courtroom. Jem and Scout don’t see their father as a courageous person until he proves himself when he picks up the gun and he saves the day during the mad dog incident.
Learning Module #2: The Literature of Slavery and Freedom In this module slavery has arrived to America, and slave survivors are telling how was being enslaved and beaten. Also how they witnessed horrific deaths and how they could find the courage and bravery to overcome all this experience in order to seek and find their freedom. It is important to mention the slave narratives