Atticus knows that “there’s been some high talk around town to the effect that [he] shouldn’t do much about defending [Tom Robinson]” (100). However, even though his family and friends my disagree, may even think less of him, Atticus’ interaction with this case gives his cause to think greater of himself because he is fighting for what he believes in. This kind of situation is difficult when you’re opposing you’re enemies, but even harder when you are up against your friends. Even so, Atticus on the path he knows is right, risking his popularity and status among the town. Atticus tells Scout, “you just hold your head high and keep your 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” (101). Not giving in to emotion right away also shows courage. There’s courage in going about things the right way – rather than the easy way – and sticking with it; in avoiding being impulsive even when you know you aren’t likely to win the civilized way. There’s courage in standing up for what you believe in, and further, taking pride in it, holding your head high, and not reacting harshly to those who see things another
People can be seen as courageous for standing up for themselves or going to war, when courage should really be recognized when someone goes out of their comfort zone, such as talking to someone new to saying an opinion. As E. E. Cummings says, “It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”. Courage is not only an act; it is what makes a person. To Kkill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a book that portrays the acts of courage both large and small that happen every day. Many people such as Boo, Jem and Scout show courage through the book but one person in particular that shows a great deal of courage is Atticus who shows courage in many different ways in order to protect himself, his family and the town of Maycomb. Atticus Finch,
Humanity often comes with responsibility. To be a man of basic human nature, humanity often shines within. In the novel, "To Kill A Mockingbird", written by Harper Lee, the character Atticus is a role model of humanity. Atticus is an extraordinary example of being a man of humanity and responsibility. There are many different reasons behind this. He isn't a person who judges individuals of their color and doesn't give up on dreams or visions he believes in. His humanity shows throughout the novel, and this is very important to young readers, because Atticus gives off the influence of an important role model.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses repetition to show that being courageous means doing something even if you know you might not come out on top. An example of this is given in chapter nine. In this chapter a boy named Cecil Jacobs makes fun of Scout at school because her dad was defending an African American man. Scout asks Atticus if what Cecil Jacobs said was true. Atticus confirms what Cecil says, but tells Scout that it is the right thing to do. Scout asks her father,
One way that Atticus illustrates courage is in his defence of Tom Robinson during the sexuall asult trial. He chooses to defend Tom an african american man he believes is innocent. In the novel Atticus is courageous in the sense that he doesn’t care what others think of him. He is repeatedly called a “negro lover” and looked down on by the white community. Although he is being harassed he doesn’t care,and continues to defend Tom Robinson. He does this because he truly believes that Tom is innocent and feels that if he doesn’t fight for Tom he will lose his honor and respect as can be seen from the quote, Atticus to Scout “If I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent his legislature,I couldn't even tell you or Jem not do something again.” (100, Lee) He believes in his heart that it is
In the book To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus tells Scout that courage is “when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.” Atticus has shown a lot of courage to his kids. Atticus showed courage by accepting the Tom Robinson case, by standing his ground at the jailhouse, and by standing up to Aunt Alexandra about Calpurnia. He even tries to get his kids to follow in his footsteps.
The first reason that Scout is courageous is she stood up to a mob that was going to attack her father Atticus. She pointed out Mr. Cunningham and made him realize what he was doing. She told Mr. Cunningham about his children at home and what they would think of him if he continued with the mob and beat up her father. “He’s in my grade,”I said,”and he does right well. He’s a good boy.” I added, “a real nice boy. We brought him home one time. Maybe he told you about me, I beat him up one time and he was real nice about it. Tell him hey for me won’t you?” (Lee, 205).
Even though Some people, like Aunt Alexandra thinks Atticus is raising scout wrong because she doesn't like to wear girly clothes. Atticus acts like a teacher to his children, he teaches them wondrous things. Atticus punishes his kids when the deserve it. Jem and Scout are shown to be respectful and treat people the same.
Atticus’ courage is shown in multiple ways through his court actions and his stand against racial discrimination. For instance, as a lawyer, Atticus defends the innocent, despite controversial thoughts of others, this is proven true in the Tom Robinson court case. During this discriminative period, most African Americans brought to court for an accused crime were deemed guilty, despite the clear evidence that proved their innocence. When Jem thought Atticus’ defense of Tom will bring Tom to justice, Reverend Sykes said: “I ain’t ever seen any jury decide in favor of a colored man over a white man”(Lee 279). This proves Atticus’ courage because he chose to fight for a colored man to prove that he is not guilty of an alleged crime, despite knowing the usual outcome of the case and the disapproval he will receive from others.
Prejudice exists everywhere, but not with everyone. Some people choose to defy it, especially if it seems unreasonable, or immoral. This is found throughout the book To Kill a Mockingbird. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout learns to defy unreasonable social norms, and unfair ones as well, by the action of adults around her, namely Atticus and Miss Maudie Atkinson. By gardening while wearing men’s overall, Miss Maudie shows Scout that you do not always have to conform to the social norm of women only wearing dresses to be respected. By risking his life, and going above and beyond to defend Tom Robinson and help his family, her father, Atticus Finch taught Scout to defy the racism that permeate Maycomb.
"Courage is when you know you 're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what" According to Atticus Finch, an honest lawyer in Harper Lee 's novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" courage is not a man with a gun in his hand. "Real courage" is when you fight for what is right regardless of whether you win or lose. Atticus fits into this definition of what "real courage" is and demonstrates it several times throughout the novel.
"Jem, I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It 's when you know you 're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what." This insightful statement was told by Atticus Finch to his son, Jem Finch. Many people in Maycomb had to deal with racism, hatred, and discrimination because of their skin color or because of the court case. Most of them, if not all, showed true courage by standing up for what they believe in and keeping their heads up high. Harper Lee uses many scenes and key characters to develop the theme of real courage for instance, Jem, Atticus, and Miss Maudie go through a journey to discover, understand and to show that real courage is mental courage in the face of physical and emotional torment.
"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along."- Eleanor Roosevelt. You are not born with courage, it 's something that’s created over time. Being courageous is never a lucid decision, it determines the quality of a person 's mind as it 's faced with difficulty, danger, pain, and a test of bravery. The book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee develops the theme concerning courage to show the difficulty and the necessity of acting boldly. The characters Atticus, Scout, Arthur Radley and Mrs.Dubose display an act of courage as they are faced with feasible but difficult situations.
Courage is not only about winning or losing; it is also about the moral strength to do what is right rather than succumbing to personal prejudice. Atticus- Scout's father, his
Atticus showed his children that he was a brave man when he stepped into the street to face down a dangerous dog. Although he didn't believe that act was especially brave and he was completely not interested in proving anything to his children but Jem and Scout were proud of, and impressed by, his courage in such a dangerously unsteady situation. But shooting something wasn't really Atticus' idea of courage. He looked courage on a more thinking-related level, as a moral thing, not as something that can be proved with a weapon. During 1930s, white people were considered superior than black people and there was racism. Atticus being a white men also showed courage by going against the Maycomb people and willingly defended Tom Robinson, a black men. Due to that he was often called N-lover by other white people. Despite of those criticisms given by many of the town’s people, he did his best to defend Tom. He said, "If I didn't I couldn't hold my head up in town, I couldn't represent this country in legislature, I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do something".(page 75). On page 149, Atticus says : “Son, I told you that if you hadn't lost your head I'd have made you go read to her. I wanted you to see something about her. I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you