How Does Lee Show Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird

Did you know that the novel To Kill A Mockingbird sold over 40 million copies? Nelle Harper Lee was born on April 28, 1926, in Monroeville, Alabama, a sleepy small town similar in many ways to Maycomb, the setting of To Kill a Mockingbird. Like Atticus Finch, the father of Scout, the narrator and protagonist of To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee's father was a lawyer. In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee explores the concept of moral courage, and in Atticus, gives the model of a perfect human being, a Christ-like man of courage, integrity, and compassion. Atticus is a man of courage. Atticus has been asked to defend Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman. It is a case he cannot hope to win, but he tells Scout

Atticus speaks to Mayella Ewell kindly. Atticus questions Mayella, but first asks her some background questions to show the jury what kind of family she comes from. At first, Mayella takes exception to Atticus calling her "Miss Mayella," and the judge has to explain that Atticus is imply being polite. “Won’t answer a word you say long as you keep on mockin‘ me,” she said. “Ma’am?” asked Atticus, startled. “Long’s you keep on makin‘ fun o’me.” Judge Taylor said, “Mr. Finch is not making fun of you. What’s the matter with you?” Mayella looked from under lowered eyelids at Atticus, but she said to the judge: “Long’s he keeps on callin‘ me ma’am an sayin’ Miss Mayella. I don’t hafta take his sass, I ain’t called upon to take it.” Atticus resumed his stroll to the windows and let Judge Taylor handle this one.Judge Taylor was not the kind of figure that ever evoked pity, but I did feel a pang for him as he tried to explain. “That’s just Mr. Finch’s way,” he told Mayella. “We’ve done business in this court for years and years, and Mr. Finch is always courteous to everybody. He’s not trying to mock you, he’s trying to be polite. That’s just his way.” (Lee, 243). He treats everyone on the stand with the same respect, no matter who they are or where they come from. Atticus treats everyone like equals. He does not treat blacks differently from whites. He does not care what race they are. In his mind everyone deserves the same rights. He treats Mrs.Dubose

Throughout the novel, Atticus was so persistent with Boo’s privacy. “What are you doing with those scissors, then? Why are you tearing up that newspaper? If it’s today’s I’ll tan you.” “Nothing.” “Nothing what?” said Atticus. “Nothing, sir.” “Give me those scissors,” Atticus said. “They’re no things to play with. Does this by any chance have anything to do with the Radleys?” “No sir,” said Jem, reddening. “I hope it doesn’t,” he said shortly, and went inside the house(Lee, 53). He does not want the kids to interfere with the Radley’s privacy. He does not want the kids playing around with the Radley’s story of Boo. Atticus goes personally to Tom Robinson’s wife when he was shot. “Did you hear about?… No? Well, they say he was runnin‘ fit to beat lightnin’…” To Maycomb, Tom’s death was typical. Typical of a nigger to cut and run. Typical of a nigger’s mentality to have no plan, no thought for the future, just run blind first chance he saw. Funny thing, Atticus Finch might’ve got him off scot free, but wait—? Hell no. You know how they are. Easy come, easy go. Just shows you, that