Courage throughout history has always been interpreted in many different ways; cowardice, defiance, and even idiocy. Often it is hard to recognize true courage until many years have passed. True courage is showing bravery and standing up for your beliefs and principles in times of strife. “Courage isn’t a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway” –Harper Lee. There are three characters that I believe showed true courage in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird: Scout, the tomboyish daughter of Atticus Finch who defended her family in times of hardship, Atticus Finch, the man who decided to defend a black man in court, much to the dismay of the town of Maycomb and Mrs. Dubose, the old morphine …show more content…
He shows true courage by taking the “Tom Robinson” case even though it cost him the respect he had from his fellow citizens. “Atticus, are we going to win it?” “No, honey.” “Then why—” “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win” (Ch. 9, Pg. 76). Atticus said. Atticus knew all along that he was going to lose the case when he took it but he took it anyway. He took it because he knew it was the right thing to do. He tells Scout that he could not hold up his head in town if he did not take it. He is showing true courage for standing up for his principles at a bad time. A second time when Atticus was courageous was when Tim Johnson “The Mad Dog” was threatening everyone on the street. The minute Calpurnia called Atticus at his office he came home straight away to deal with the dog. “Maybe I can tell you,” said Miss Maudie. “If your father’s anything, he’s civilized in his heart. Marksmanship’s a gift of God, a talent—oh, you have to practice to make it perfect, but shootin’s different from playing the piano or the like. I think maybe he put his gun down when he realized that God had given him an unfair advantage over most living things. I guess he decided he wouldn’t shoot till he had to, and he had to today “Looks like he’d be proud of it,” I said. “People in their right minds never take pride in their talents, said Miss Maudie” (Ch. 10, Pg. 98). This quote explains that Atticus was the best marksman in Maycomb. He was like Katniss Everdeen with a rifle in his hand. He eventually decided though that his talent gave him an unfair advantage over living creatures, so he stopped shooting. Then, once Tim Johnson starts acting crazy and becomes a threat to everyone in the neighborhood, Atticus is very reluctant when Sheriff Heck Tate tells Atticus to take the rifle and shoot the dog
In the book, Atticus has to explain this to Scout by telling her “If I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my 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). By saying this Atticus means if he denies this case he is doing the wrong thing and is running from a situation where he could help a man who has done nothing wrong, he couldn’t ask for Scout and Jem to do the right thing when he didn’t when he had the chance. This quote shows that Atticus has courage because he knows that this case isn’t being judged fairly and if he denies the trial, it shows his children that they can run away from things that challenge them. Also, by Atticus taking this case he is proving to the people that even though Tom is a colored man he should be treated and given the same efforts as a trial of a light-skinned man.
(Lee 121)” One of the neighbors dogs became rabid and Jem told his dad about it. Jem opened the door and Atticus said, “stay inside son! (Lee 125)” Although he is overprotective he is also very secretive about his past to his kids.
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.
Atticus even said in the book that he was afraid what the effect of the case would have on his kids. He didn't want his kids to end up bitter and racist when they grew older. The night that he sat in front of the jailhouse, he knew that he was in trouble but he wasn't going to move out of the way. Aunt Alexandra didn't want Calpurnia to stay but Atticus stood up to her and told her that Calpurnia was a faithful family member. I agree with Atticus’s definition of courage
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.
“He also is willing to stand up against the odds-he knows he’s ‘licked’ before he even begins” (Text 2). Atticus knows he will not be able to win this case even if Tom Robinson is innocent. Unfortunately the town and the jury are corrupt and will not give Tom a fair trial. Almost anyone can see that Atticus Finch defends Tom Robinson to show compassion through the “Golden Rule” and set an example for his children.
Atticus took the case because he thinks that Tom deserves a fair trial, he wants to confront the prejudice of Maycomb, and because of his morals. Atticus wants to give Tom the fairest trial he can have. “There’s been some high talk around town to the effect that I shouldn’t do much about defending this man” (Chapter 9, Page 100). What this implies is that Atticus is aware of the prejudice that is bombarding Tom, even before he enters the courtroom. Knowing that the trial’s outcome is nearly inevitable, Atticus takes the position to give Tom a chance and to ensure that he has the greatest chance of an innocent verdict.
Jem and Scout are outside playing in front of their house when Jem saw the dog, he ran inside to get Cal, the kids’ housekeeper she immediately called Atticus and he brought the sheriff. The sheriff decides that he cannot shoot the dog because is not a very good shot, so he tells Atticus to take it. The author says “I haven’t shot a gun in thirty years --”(Lee 110) . Atticus knows that he had not shot a gun in a very long time knew, that Heck Tate was not going to shoot the dog because he was afraid he would miss. So even though he hadn’t shot in a while he took it anyway to make Heck Tate feel more
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 '.
He also demonstrates his defense for not only people, but for animals too. In Chapter 10, Atticus is shown to be reluctant to shoot a disease-ridden dog, as it is implied he believes he would not shoot any living things until he had too, thus showing respect for animals and living things
Tim Johnson was not just a lovely dog that was unexpectedly infected by rabies. He was not just introduced for entertainment. Tim Johnson was introduced to for a far greater reason. This scene is a revelation to the reader. This scene reveals how Atticus Finch is always called upon to the dirty work for the county.
Rosa Parks refused to relinquish her seat on a public bus to a white man. Parks knew the consequence of this action. Yet she persisted and fought racism. The concept of courage is prevalent in Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird. She demonstrates how true courage is not the absence of fear but rather perseverance and integrity in the face of adversity and potential repercussions.
Courage in To Kill a Mockingbird By Harper Lee’s very definition, “Real courage is when you know you 're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” Courage comes up so many times in this story throughout almost every single character. The characters that I will be proving the acts of courage in in this essay are Mr. Heck Tate, Mr. Dolphus Raymond, Aunt Alexandra, and Miss Maudie. Theses characters may not show quite as much courage as some of the others but they do help prove what real courage is. Heck Tate is the sheriff of Maycomb County, which means his job is to protect and serve the people of his jurisdiction.
Tom was charged for something he never did and was pleaded guilty. Atticus was being courageous and he possesses integrity for standing up for Tom. The first reason it makes sense for Atticus to stand up for Tom is because back then black people were treated as slaves and they weren’t appreciated like the whites were. Atticus was also being very courageous.
If you were faced with an impossible feat would you give up or keep trying? The story of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, is told through a young girl named Jean Louise Finch although she is more commonly known just as Scout. The book discusses heavy, real world problems such as racism and abuse through the eyes of a young girl. Atticus shows ambition throughout the book when he stands up for Tom Robinson and battles his case out to the very end. The first time we see the ambition of Atticus is on page 195.