To Kill A Mockingbird Examples Of Courage
The novel To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee in 1960, deals with many aspects of courage in a difficult time for many of the characters. The novel takes place in Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression. It follows Scout Finch’s life as she navigates a community of people dominated by laws and customs that serve to separate and oppress black people. Along the way, she encounters several people who are able to summon the courage to try to improve the lives of some in this small community. Courage is the ability to overcome something even in the face of danger or pain even with the knowledge that failure possibly awaits. The main theme of courage is shown in this story through Atticus’s actions to defend Tom Robinson, Mrs. Dubose’s …show more content…
Atticus, a lawyer, faces the difficult task of defending Tom Robinson, a black male, against the accusations of rape. Judge Taylor asks Atticus to defend Tom and he accepts, knowing that his decision will cause chaos around him. Tom Robinson deserves a defense under the law and Atticus knows he is the best or only person to provide that defense. Scout asks Atticus why he took the case if some believe he shouldn’t, and he responds by saying, “if I didn’t, I couldn’t hold up my own head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again” (Lee 86). Atticus, aware of the racial tension and disapproval in Maycomb’s white community, chooses to do the right thing. He dares to risk the safety of both himself and his kids to defend Tom Robinson. Atticus’ actions of defending Tom Robinson against the accusation of rape, display his …show more content…
When Jem and Scout are walking home from the Halloween pageant, they are attacked by Bob Ewell. However, Boo Radley Intervenes and fights off Bob Ewell, ultimately saving the children’s lives. After Boo Radley gets the kids back to their house, Heck Tate Tells Atticus that Bob Ewell has died. Heck Tate insists on Boo’s innocence and states, “I never heard tell that it’s against the law for a citizen to do his utmost to prevent a crime from being committed” (Lee 317). They both know that Boo had killed him but Heck Tate insists that Bob Ewell fell on his own knife. Boo Radley’s act of heroism shows that he is not the cowardly and dangerous figure that the town has made him out to be, but rather a brave and selfless
How Does Lee Show Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird
742 Words | 3 PagesHe could risk everything, including his job and his reputation, for defending Tom Robinson. This shows Atticus is deeply committed to his job and to the case because he knows that this causes controversy due to discrimination and prejudice based on race. Atticus could just represent him, not do a respectable job, and not have anyone think less of him, however, he wants to give the best defense for Tom because then he could be easily prosecuted without a thought about
How Does Lee Show Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird
769 Words | 4 PagesI mean everything.” ( 195) He knew that he had to take the case and defend Tom Robinson in court because it was the right thing to do, and he had to set an example for his kids, he had to show them that even though orders may not like it, you have to stand for what’s right and what you believe in. Another example of Atticus showing courage is when he goes to the prison cell to guard Tom Robinson’s sell from the Lynch mob, since in Page 194, Officer Tate was informing Atticus that trouble was most likely to go down, he decided to go alone at night in an attempt to stop the mob from getting to Tom Robinson, who he knew was innocent, in order to teach his kids that racism is
How Is Atticus A Good Role Model
915 Words | 4 PagesTom Robinson was being charged with rape and everyone in the town was against him. Atticus saw the injustice and did his best to defend Tom. “... if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature” (Lee 75). Atticus is explaining to Scout why he couldn’t leave Tom without any help. Atticus is always looking out for his children.
To Kill A Mockingbird Quotes That Show Courage Essay
991 Words | 4 PagesAtticus is appointed a case by Judge Taylor to defend a black man named Tom Robinson who has been accused of raping a white girl named Mayella Ewell. Because of the racism and prejudice against black people, he believes that he will not win this case and could risk the life of Tom Robinson. Because of this case, Scout gets bullied by Francis about how his dad is defending a black man, Atticus later talks to Scout about how “[Tom Robinson] lives in [a] settlement behind the town dump….there’s been some high talk around the town to the effect that I shouldn’t do much about defending this man” (Lee 86). Atticus knows that something bad can happen to him if he were to defend Tom Robinson but still does so because he has the courage to do it. After the trial had ended, Atticus was waiting for news but he did not expect something so terrible and heartbreaking, Tom Robinson, unfortunately, died after being shot several times.
How Does Lee Show Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird
693 Words | 3 PagesThe novel To Kill a Mocking Bird is written by Harper Lee in 1960. The story takes place in the tired old town of Maycomb, during the Great Depression. It is inspired by the author's own experiences growing up during these hard times. During the novel, Scout and Jem mistake physical strength for courage. However, true courage is the inner desire to do what is righteous, no matter the consequences that result from your decision.
How Does Lee Show Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird
1001 Words | 5 PagesAtticus felt responsible for Tom’s death, “Cal, I want you to come out with me and help me tell Helen.” (238) Atticus shows real courage defending Tom Robinson despite all of the adverse opinions from Maycomb County. He fought for what was right regardless of whether he won or
To Kill A Mockingbird Coming Of Age Quotes
1449 Words | 6 PagesHe is a kind man that doesn’t believe in using violence and believes that everyone should be treated equally. That is another reason why he chose to defend Tom Robinson. Atticus thought that Tom deserved a fair trial, and even though he knew that they probably weren’t going to win the case, he wanted to try for the sake of Tom and his family. “‘If you shouldn’t be defendin’ him, then why are you doin’ it?’ ‘For a number of reasons,’ said Atticus.
To Kill A Mockingbird Quotes Courage
1376 Words | 6 PagesWhat one may not know is that courage comes in many different forms. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee introduces the reader to a variety of different types of themes such as courage. The theme of courage in the book To Kill a Mockingbird teaches the reader that different types of courage are needed to try to make what may seem impossible, possible as shown through moral, physical, and mental courage. To begin, moral courage is an inspiring theme that makes the characters try to make the impossible,
Examples Of Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird
548 Words | 3 PagesFirst, courage is shown by the way Atticus goes about dealing with Tom Robinson’s case. Even though he believes that he will fail due to the injustice towards black people at this time. When confronted at the jailhouse, by the mob, about releasing Tom to be lynched, Atticus stands up for Tom. When told to move over Atticus responds with “You can turn around and go home…”(Harper Lee 172)
Examples Of Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird
994 Words | 4 PagesThey might stand up to a supernatural entity or save the world from an evil villain. In the historical fiction novelTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, many characters show courage. The story is set during the 1930s in Maycomb, Alabama, where we follow a young girl named Scout as she grows up with her lawyer father Atticus and her older brother Jem. One summer, her father is chosen to defend a black man named
Loss Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee
1336 Words | 6 PagesThe courtroom is a place everyone should be equal and Atticus firmly believes that. Atticus also knows in this case, Tom Robinson will not have justice, he knows the jury will be in vote of Mayella’s story, just because she is white. This shows Atticus’s courage not only because he is going against what the jury and state belief in order for Tom Robinson to have justice, but because he is still fighting even when he knows he will lose. Atticus shows courage by doing
Examples Of Moral Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird
740 Words | 3 PagesJem further understood the true meaning of moral courage when he saw Atticus defending Tom Robinson, a black man. Although Atticus was hugely outnumbered and even cornered by Mr Cunningham and some other people, he did not back down from them. Instead, he seemed even more determined to win the case and prove Tom Robinson 's innocence to all of Maycomb County. Almost everyone in Maycomb County had criticised Atticus and his children for taking up the case of defending Tom Robinson and they were even called "nigger lovers" by many. At first, Jem did not understand why his father chose to defend Tom Robinson when he knew that people would whisper and gossip about it and that the possibility of him winning the case was very low.
How Does Lee Show Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird
634 Words | 3 PagesAnother courageous act is when Atticus takes on the Tom Robinson case. He informs Jack that “The evidence boils down to you-did--I-didn’t. The jury couldn’t possibly be expected to take Tom Robinson’s word against the Ewells’” (88). Knowing that he will lose this case, Atticus still gives it his all. Atticus is one of the bravest people in the small
How Does Atticus Show Courage
726 Words | 3 PagesCourage is a powerfully portrayed theme throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. First of all, courage is shown through multiple characters' actions throughout the novel. Tom Robinson is on trial for raping a white woman and is very hated throughout Maycomb. Not just any white man would stand up and defend a black man in this time period. Atticus gets plenty of backlash from people throughout the community for defending Tom Robinson in this trial.
Symbolism Of Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird
1317 Words | 6 PagesFurthermore he defends a black man in court. At the time (and maybe still even now) Maycomb, Alabama, is from our perspective a really racist county, and in this culture it takes a lot of courage to go against the tide and not to judge a black man merely of his skin colour or origin, but instead to put his worries before ones own. Most people in Maycomb, who believe black Tom Robinson is innocent, also believe that there is no chance of winning the case and they lack the courage to risk getting a bad reputation with nothing to gain from it. Atticus is probably the only one whose moral views forbid him to look
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