How Does Atticus Finch Show Courage

In the classic novel To Kill A Mockingbird, author Harper Lee takes on the malignant impact of racism, a deeply rooted problem, from a different perspective and teaches readers what it truly means to be a good person as she brings to life one of the most virtuous characters in American literature-Atticus Finch.
Told through the eyes of a young child, readers learn about the heavy prejudice embedded in the people of Maycomb County and the loss of innocence that is brought upon the kids as a racial conflict spurs a series of significant events in their quiet town. Taken place during the early years of the Great Depression, Maycomb must face its biggest problem-racism. Atticus Finch is the lawyer who defends this case and ultimately brings a

Atticus Finch displays true moral courage when he agrees to defend Tom Robinson, an innocent black man unjustly accused of raping a white woman. He strives to instill justice, righteousness, and acceptance in his fellow citizens. In a discussion with his kids, Atticus says,“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” (Lee 105). He doesn’t care that the citizens of Maycomb, including his own family, look down on him now because he is defending a Negro. Their disapproval does not stop him from upholding his ethics and morals. He ignores the insults, threats, and ridicule thrown at him and his family like the gentleman that he is. Atticus is, without a doubt, a man of great integrity and is willing to do the right thing even if the majority goes against him. Another important type of courage Atticus models is his physical courage. To protect Tom from the angry mob, Atticus sits outside Tom’s cell ready to defend him. He was “propped against the front door...reading” as Tom slept unaware of the danger coming (Lee 151). Although it means risking his own safety, Atticus lives up to his principles. He feels it is only right to protect Tom because he is, after all,