The creative novel of To Kill A Mockingbird carries the reader the year of 1933 and shares the hardships experienced by two kids in quiet Maycomb County. As the flare of racism catches on, tempers flare and opinions grow out of control, the main characters (Scout and Jem Finch and Dill Harris) must sustain their beliefs and gain the courage to fight off their attackers. Harper Lee truly reveals that courage is a factor won by wisdom not by force throughout her book to Kill A Mockingbird with the help of his characters of Scout, Mrs. Dubose and Atticus.
Scout Finch, Atticus’ daughter, experiences the rising tension of different opinions, even at her school and is forced to choose between fighting or being wise in multiple instances. Atticus
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Atticus is well known for his peaceful ways in Maycomb County and gladly took the Tom Robinson case later on in the story as to prevent the racist fires from entering his home. Earlier on in the book, when Jem destroyed Mrs. Dubose’s Garden Atticus sent him to read to her every single day. Eventually Jem asked Atticus why he would ever send him in to see such a wretched woman, Atticus explained why he wanted Jem to be around such a respectable lady. “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway“ (Lee 115). This quote directly correlates to the main theme as Atticus explains to Jem why he had him read to Mrs. Dubose; Mrs. Dubose simply knew that in order to get over her morphine addiction she would end up having to give up her life sooner. Yet instead of just letting in she fought through and that is what made Atticus respect the woman so much. As much as Atticus respects Mrs. Dubose, Tom Robinson and every single black person in Maycomb county respect Atticus even more. Atticus always tries to see every situation from the other person’s point of view and so when he was given the Tom Robinson case, he gladly took the case and used every tool he could to free Tom. Atticus explains to Scout why he took the court case in Tom’s favor, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view” (Lee 30). This explanation opens the reader’s eyes to see that, in a situation, instead of acting right away, Atticus thinks about the other person’s point of view and tries to see the world through their eyes for a moment. This again supports the theme of courage as it suggests that Atticus always tries to use his wisdom to prevent a situation instead of getting physical to solve his
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
To Atticus this case resembles chance. He believes that everyone should have a fair chance to speak out for what they believe in. As Tom Robinson’s trial took place, Atticus was determined to prove Tom’s innocence as his testimonies prove that towards the case but is declared guilty. This has occurred because Tom Robinson felt sorry for Mayella when Atticus was questioning Bob. This has lead the jury not to believe that a black man could feel sorry for a white woman.
Harper Lee’s, To Kill a Mockingbird, is a novel that takes place in a small town, called Maycomb, in Alabama, narrated by Jean Louise “Scout” Finch. Scout learns how to deal with many things in everyday life, including racism and criticism. While learning about these things, she finds that courage is being shown by not only herself, but by other role models around her, including her father, Atticus Finch. The theme of courage is very significant in the novel.
Atticus shows courage by defending Tom Robinson in court and by going so far as to defend his life as he sleeps in a jail cell. Atticus’ motivation for all of this is his wanting for wanting his kids from “Catching Maycomb’s usual disease” (Lee 117) of prejudice and racism, seeing that if he doesn’t take this risk and give it everything he’s got, he can do nothing to keep his children from becoming like the rest of the town. Atticus’ devotion to keep his children with open-minds drives his courage to the point where he puts himself between a mob of Maycomb’s hateful racist folks and the man that he is
In the book to kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the story shows the meaning of true courage between characters. One example in the book ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ shows Atticus shooting the rabid dog in Chapter 10. Atticus hasn’t shot a gun in many years, but when Atticus gets a call from Calpurnia he rushes home to see for himself. Heck Tate states that he isn’t a great shot and that, that dog needed to be put down swiftly. Atticus takes the gun and within one good look, shoots the dog and ends the life of a struggling, out of control dog.
Despite race discrimination around the world, there are still people who overcome and persevere through these challenges - often at great risk to themselves. During the 1930s, in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, a small town called Maycomb held a trial against an innocent African American man accused of raping a Caucasian woman. The reader experiences life in Maycomb through the eyes of ten year old girl name Jean-Louise Finch, Scout. In this case, Atticus Finch, Scout’s father, was assigned to be the lawyer for the accused, Tom Robinson. However, Atticus has integrity and tries his best for Tom even if his own life is at risk.
Austin Crim Russell Honors English 15 March 2023 Courage When people think of the word courage they usually think of a knight or a king, they do not consider themselves courageous. When courage is needed some people can step up when no one else will, that is courage. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, one of the main characters Atticus Finch shows great courage to his children and his town when he does the stuff no one else can or will do.
and Atticus are examples of courage in To Kill a Mockingbird, demonstrated by their benevolent acts of kindness and equality, and how they didn’t let what the status quo at the time dictate their opinions. In the beginning, Walter Cunningham did conform to racist beliefs of the town and ignored the evidence that proved Tom's innocence, but he realizes he is wrong, and preaches that Tom be acquitted while he sits on the jury. Atticus is one of the people to sway Walter Cunningham to believe in equality. Atticus convinces him, and other people, to believe in the evidence that all proved Tom's innocence, and through him and Walter a small racist town begins to change little by little. The movement of equality has been going on since before the civil war in the 1860s, today, people would like to say we are equal, but with court cases like Trayvon Martin attracting so much controversy, it shows that society still has a long way to
Jem 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.
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. What Atticus meant when he told Scout what courage was, was that even if you know that you're going to lose something it doesn't mean you shouldn't try.
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.
To Kill A Mockingbird Essay “ 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 that you’re liked before you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” [ Atticus Finch]. This quote states what real courage is. In the book To kill a Mockingbird there are 3 main characters who represents courage.
To Kill a Mockingbird - Courage "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. "The only thing we 've got is a black man 's word against the Ewells '.
To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee and set in the early 1930s, follows through the young eyes Scout, Jem and Dill and their development throughout the book. The book reflects the dominant view of racism, through the use of the characters who see the world through innocent eyes. Through the use of characterisation Harper lee invites the reader to view Scout, Jem and Dills loss of innocence through the racist beliefs of the 1930. Throughout the novel Scout gradually loses her childhood innocence as she encounters life's many injustices. Jem loses his innocence by realising the racist stereotypes of the people in Maycomb and Dill loses his care free attitude by seeing how Maycomb treat Tom Robinson.
Furthermore 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