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Atticus's Conscience In To Kill A Mockingbird

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True courage is when a person does what he or she believes is right even when he knows he will fail. Atticus Finch sets aside his pride and reputation to be humiliated for defending Tom Robinson a black man, this is one of the truest acts of courage. Scout was questioning Atticus about why people say such offensive things to him. “ They’re certainly entitled to think that, and they’re entitled to full respect for their opinions. - I’ve got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.” said Atticus to Scout(pg139). Atticus is showing that he respects others opinions, although they might try to hurt him. But he believes in his conscience. After Mrs.Dubose dies, and Atticus explains to Jem about …show more content…

Atticus stood by him and his belief of Tom’s innocence till the end. The day Heck Tate came to to tell Atticus the news of Tom being kept in jail till the trial, was the day Atticus could have been beaten by a angry lynching mob for his client. Nevertheless, that night Jem, Scout and Dill followed Atticus to check up on him. “We saw Atticus look up from his newspaper. He closed it, folded it deliberately, dropped it in his lap, and pushed his hat to the back of his head. He seemed to be expecting them.”(pg201) Mr.Finch was at the steps of the country jail for the mob to come lynch Tom. But since he knew they where coming he made his way to the jail and stood guard for Tom. How did Atticus expect to defend Tom? He had no weapon, no ally. Atticus stood there with his newspaper with only his words. Oneday Scout was questioning Atticus on why there is so much unpleasant talk about him lately, and then ask if Atticus was going to win the case. He said no and said, “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.”(pg101) This is Atticus admitting he will lose this case, he’s openly telling that he will lose because of the Country’s history. But to him that doesn't mean he shouldn't try to defend who he believes is innocent. Atticus is a profoundly great lawyer. In both these quotes he shows that including that he is a great lawyer to Mr.Tom Robinson. When

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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.” (p. 83). Furthermore, he states that this case is one he is affected personally by, and that even though he knew that they were not going to win, he agreed because, “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.” (p. 84). This example reveals that even though Atticus knows he is going to lose, he wants to do everything in his power to give Tom the best chance in case justice prevails.

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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.

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To begin, Atticus should defend Tom because he knows he is a good innocent man. For example, when atticus proves Tom is innocent when cross examining Bob Ewell. “You’re left handed, Mr Ewell” (pg 237) This quote shows how Tom was innocent because Mayella Ewell was beaten by a prominently

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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.

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It makes sense for Atticus to take a stand to defend Tom Robinson because that was who Atticus was,

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“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.

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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.

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Within the novel, Atticus is defending a black man by the name of Tom Robinson who was accused of raping a young woman. How Atticus handled this trial is widely considered to be fair. He asked just and equal questions to all the witnesses along with Tom and Mayella, the girl who cried rape. Why does Atticus do this instead of just giving up on Tom? It is simply explained with “if I didn’t

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and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do” (Lee 128). Atticus teaches Scout that true courage is standing up for what you believe in no matter the consequence. Even though Atticus knew he was going to lose the case with Tom Robinson, he was able to do it because he knew it was the right thing to do and it needed to be done.

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For example, when Atticus is surrounded by a crowd of riled men because Atticus is upholding Thomas Robinson’s case, Atticus states,

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Atticus was given an impossible case to win, but he dedicated a majority of his time on the case. “This case, Tom Robinson 's case, is something that goes to the essence of a man 's conscience — Scout, I couldn 't go to church and worship God if I didn 't try to help that man” (104). This quote truly portrays Atticus’s character and mindset. During this time period, not many other lawyers would feel this way about that particular case. Atticus’s implies that he would not be able to carry on with his life without helping Tom Robinson and that he wanted to help Tom walk away a free man.

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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 '.

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822 Words | 4 Pages

"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 '.

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980 Words | 4 Pages

He knows the rest of the town will disapprove, but he believes in the innocence of this man and does not care of his complexion. In this moment, Scout and Jem only see how everyone will downgrade them and see them differently. Atticus shows, it does not matter what others think, all that matters is that you support what you believe in. This shows how Atticus is a strong character who contributes a lot to the overall lesson

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352 Words | 2 Pages

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.

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