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Examples Of Moral Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Moral Courage – To Kill a Mockingbird

1930’s America was absorbed by catastrophic events, such as the Jim Crow Laws and the Great Depression. This era has pleaded for heroes with enough moral courage to overcome these dilemmas and encourage a better tomorrow. The root of moral courage is defending and upholding righteous beliefs, for the progression of society and preparing to face repercussions in the process. In fact, many of literature's iconic novels have instilled moral courage within characters to challenge the audience to follow in their footsteps. Our modern world continues to be faced with decisions that require moral courage like the Black Lives Matter protests, which successfully delivered radical reform and action related to racial …show more content…

Yet, one brave character, Atticus chose to do what he knew was right, over preserving his name. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus chooses to display moral courage and represent Tom, despite the fact that “most folks (pg.116)” thought “[Atticus] was wrong (pg.116)”. This shows that Atticus had a strong moral compass and was courageous enough to overcome societal pressure, by defending a black male. In addition, Atticus had gone above and beyond, for the defendant, by guarding Tom’s jail cell in an act to protect him from the lynching mob, despite being well-aware of the certain danger he would encounter. Heck Tate advised Atticus, “I don't look for any trouble, but I can't guarantee there won't be any (pg.160)”. Atticus replies, “Don’t be foolish, Heck. This is Maycomb (pg.160).” This instance promotes to the audience’s Atticus’s willingness to protect Tom from the lynching mob, regardless of his own and family’s safety to uphold his standards and values, of integrity and acting in an ethical manner. He concluded “before I can live with other folks, I have got to live with myself …show more content…

Radley is understood to be mistreated by his father in his childhood and was locked away in his home for a minor infraction, making him the gossip of the town in Maycomb. Early in the book, Jem depicts Boo as a terrifying monster who had “blood-stained hands (pg.14)” and a “long jagged scar (pg.14)” from “din[ing] on raw squirrels and cats (pg.14)”. The author creates this gruesome imagery through the frightening connotations of Boo’s description to highlight the children’s’ negative perception of him. However, Boo is a hapless and innocent individual. The audience is first positioned to view Boo as such when he showed an unanticipated act of heroism, saving Jem and Scout from Bob Ewell’s attempted murder. Boo was well aware of the terrible remarks that the children had made about him, yet he chose to demonstrate an act of moral courage, stabbing Mr. Ewell and in turn saving the lives of the Finch children. This act was considered especially brave as Boo left the security of his home and placed himself in harm’s way to do the right thing and save the children. In today’s world, people like Boo are few and far between and actions as courageous as his help create a better

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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.

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Atticus knew the consequences of supporting tom because of his skin and how bad segregation was in his town. He knew the community of Maycomb would dislike his actions and call him and his family names like “negro lover”. Scout asks Atticus why he was defending Tom he says“ The main one is 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). Atticus could not live to know that he did not serve justice in his county, and that even though he would be called names or looked at differently, Atticus would still be doing the right thing.

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There was a long jagged scar that ran across his face; what teeth he had were yellow and rotten, his eyes popped, and he drooled most of the time.” Little do they know that Boo Radley will play a huge part in their survival at the end of the book when the crazy Bob Ewell Attacks them and Boo Radley protected them, something that Jem and scout would’ve never imagined, But something that the reader could foreshadow. Due to Boo’s acts of kindness like when he returned Jem’s pants sowed after he got them caught on the barb wire fence while he was snooping and around and also the gifts he left in the knot of the tree that helped him build a deeper sentimental relationship with Jem and Scout even if the kids did not know it. Boo had built such a relationship with them that he had done something extremely courageous and protects Jem and scout from Bob

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When fear is a factor it is very difficult to show courage. In the end Boo came through and turned out to be a hero even though he was misunderstood.

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Another 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

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In 'To Kill A Mockingbird' the idea of living according to one's beliefs requires courage through the character of Atticus Finch. As a moral compass in the novel, Atticus embodies the importance of following one's conscience despite societal pressures. When defending Tom Robinson, a falsely accused black man, Atticus declares, "Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win" (Pg 76). This quote highlights Atticus's unwavering commitment to justice, even in inevitable defeat. His willingness to confront the deeply ingrained racism of Maycomb County exemplifies the courage needed to challenge prevailing opinions.

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Despite knowing that doing so could endanger his personal life and reputation, he is prepared to defend Tom Robinson, a black man who has been charged with a terrible crime. Even when it is challenging, he thinks it is crucial to speak up for what is right (pg.100). Atticus's compassion towards others makes him a deeply empathetic and caring character and is one of the many reasons why he is so beloved by readers of all

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They 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

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Harper Lee wants to tell us that it takes courage NOT to kill a mockingbird Courage and the symbol of the mockingbird are two of the most important, or in fact in my opinion the most important themes, which are addressed and displayed in the highly praised, but also controversial novel “To Kill A Mockingbird” written by Harper Lee. I will try to interpret these two motives and show how they are strongly connected to each other. There are many different types of courage and many people who all show it in their own personal way. If people talk about bravery and courage, they mostly think of the physical kind of courage. But there are also other kinds, which are often forgotten or cast aside by their big brother: moral and emotional courage.

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Atticus, a white lawyer in a racially divided town, knows that taking on this case will put him and his family at risk of being ostracized by the community. However, he decides to take the case because he believes in the fundamental principle of equality and justice for all. As Atticus states, "Courage is not a man with a gun in his hand. It's knowing you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway

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Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird examines the idea of courage, both physical and the courage of your convictions. Physical being the usual perceived form of bravery, while courage of your convictions Atticus calls the second type of courage real courage, and tries to teach his young children the meaning of courage. Atticus believes that real courage is standing up for what you believe in, and following through with your goals even when there is no hope, because “you rarely win”. Jem and Scout learn about courage from Mrs. Dubose, Atticus Finch and Arthur “Boo” Radley.

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Mood gave the novel tension, surprise, and sadness which help make the novel more interesting and a meaningful theme. Imagery in the novel created a unique sense of language and created better images of moral courage of the characters. Harper Lee’s theme of moral courage in her novel To Kill A Mockingbird can be compared in reality in the same way. In reality, most people are treated unequally and the history of slaves are both compared with similarity in the novel. Moral courage can be anywhere, like in books and even in the real

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Freedom is defined as “the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.” However, prior to 1989, citizens of Berlin, Germany were somewhat unaware of this concept that seems so commonplace to Americans. The Berlin wall was built through the middle of the German capital, separating east and west Europe. The eastern half was ridden with economic restraint, poverty, and communism, while the western half was quite acquainted with freedom and the pleasures of the western world. Ronald Reagan, the president of the United States from 1981-1989, spoke at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin in 1987, urging the government to tear down the dividing wall and expose both halves to personal and economic freedom.

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In the story Boo Radley plays the role of Scout and Jem’s guardian angel. He watches over them and helps them when they get into trouble. In the first chapters, the kids make fun of Boo, they taunt him. All they know about him is what they have heard, that he is a crazy man. Throughout the story though, Boo proves them wrong.

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740 Words | 3 Pages

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.

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