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How Does Atticus Show Courage

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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 …show more content…

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

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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

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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.

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Atticus constantly teachers kids to be understanding and have compassion for others. An example of this is the way Atticus handles the case of Tom Robinson as he strives to provide defense against him. This is stated in the book when it says “Im simply defending a negro-his names Tom Robinson. ”(Page 86). Jem sees first hand the importance of standing up for what is right even if its

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When chosen to defend Tom Robinson, a black man accused of rape, he must`decide to truly defend Robinson or not. Atticus’ choice to protect him shows immense integrity and dignity although it earns him cruel criticism from his neighbors and family. When Scout asks Atticus why he took the case, he replies that he would never be able to ask Jem and Scout to mind him again if he didn’t take the case. Atticus would have lost his dignity and respect for himself if he hadn’t attempted to save Tom Robinson from an unjust fate. One can only strive to attain such integrity and dignity as the character of Atticus

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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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