How Does Lee Show Moral Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird

“As you grow up, always tell the truth, do no harm to others, and don't think you are the most important being on earth. Rich or poor, you then can look anyone in the eye and say, 'I'm probably no better than you, but I'm certainly your equal,” said Harper Lee, the author of To Kill A Mockingbird. The novel To Kill A Mockingbird tells a story of a Family in Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930’s. Lee writes an informative, emotional story explaining life in the early 30’s during The Great Depression. In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee explores concept of moral courage, and in Atticus, gives the model of a perfect human being, a Christ-like man of courage, integrity, and compassion. Harper Lee gives the model of a perfect human being

One example of this is when Atticus shoots the rabid dog (Tim Johnson) coming up their street. “The rifle cracked. Tim Johnson leaped, flopped over and crumpled on the sidewalk in a brown-and-white heap. He didn’t know what hit him” (Lee 127). Atticus has to shoot the rabid dog when it is coming up his street. If Atticus did not shoot the dog, it could have hurt him or his family. He has to shoot the dog. It is the right thing to do. Another example of when Atticus shows integrity is when he wants to turn Jem in for the murder of Bob Ewell. “You heard what Scout said, there’s no doubt about it. She said Jem got up and yanked him off her— he probably got hold of Ewell’s knife somehow in the dark … we’ll find out tomorrow” (Lee 365). This shows that Atticus has integrity. Most men would not want to turn in their own son for murder. As a father, Atticus would wanted protect his son, but as a moral individual, Atticus knows that someone who commits murder needs to be punished. Even if he thinks his own son killed Bob Ewell, Atticus knows the right thing to do. These examples show that Atticus is a perfect human being and a Christ-like man of