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.
There are many examples of courage throughout To Kill A Mockingbird. It just so happens that Atticus Finch displays most of those examples. He not only defined courage in the best way, but he also fits it like a glove. One being defending Tom Robinson, another when he goes to the jail in the middle of the night, and lastly, when he follows his morals even though he could lose his son. Of course, most people think of the trial when they hear Atticus’s name.
Atticus’s definition of courage is going through with something you believe in even when you know it might go wrong. In the book, there are many courageous acts that happen but Atticus Finch shows the most courage all around. Atticus willingly takes on the Tom Robinson case knowing many risks and threats could come from his decision. Atticus is a honest lawyer that
The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines courage as the ability to do something that frightens one. Many characters in Harper Lee’s mid 20th century novel To Kill a Mockingbird display courage in numerous ways. One character however, jumps out. When first reading the book, most people would say that courage is displayed by those like Jem, Scout, Tom, or Atticus.
Many people in the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, show courage in different ways and forms. Like the character Atticus Finch, who is extremely courageous and brave. Atticus used courage when he defended Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman. Atticus wasn't sure he was going to win the case, but he tried anyways because he felt he had to do the right thing. Jem thought his dad won the case
Showing courage is taking risks, knowing the outcome might not be what you want. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, courage is displayed by many characters. The importance of showing courage is letting the audience of the book know anyone can have courage. For example, Atticus was able to defend a black man, not knowing what people would to him. While Scout stands up for herself, having no idea how Aunt Alexandra will react.
Atticus, however, did what he knew was right and defended Tom with passion. Atticus’s choice to defend Tom was heroic, but had major consequences for his kids. Amongst other things, such as almost getting Jem and Scout killed and letting them run free without
Having courage opens a window of infinite possibilities. Courage is maybe doing something that others will not do, or pursuing dreams no matter what obstacles stand in the way. Atticus, Jem, and Scout, all show great courage for the situations they are put in. “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view … until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” A quote by Atticus Finch.
He strongly believes in following his conscience, no matter the cost. For example, Atticus defends Tom Robinson, a slave, knowing that he cannot win the case and that he will get ridiculed for defending a black man. Nevertheless, he persists in defending Tom to the best of his ability, telling Jem that "Courage is . . . when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what" (149).
Furthermore he defends a black man in court. At the time (and maybe still even now) Maycomb, Alabama, is from our perspective a really racist county, and in this culture it takes a lot of courage to go against the tide and not to judge a black man merely of his skin colour or origin, but instead to put his worries before ones own. Most people in Maycomb, who believe black Tom Robinson is innocent, also believe that there is no chance of winning the case and they lack the courage to risk getting a bad reputation with nothing to gain from it. Atticus is probably the only one whose moral views forbid him to look
"Jem, 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 you 're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what. " This insightful statement was told by Atticus Finch to his son, Jem Finch. Many people in Maycomb had to deal with racism, hatred, and discrimination because of their skin color or because of the court case.
Do you see people having courage in their society? Harper Lee puts courage as a central idea of To Kill a Mockingbird just as courage is a central idea in The Giver and if you have read the book then you would know that Jonas uses his courage to change society. It is almost the same thing in To Kill a Mockingbird except Atticus is trying to stop racial segregation in the society. If you haven 't read To Kill a Mockingbird then you have to know it is a fictional story about a girl named Scout who grew up in the 1930’s when segregation was all over America. I believe that Harper Lee adds courage as a key component of the overall To Kill a Mockingbird story because courage can change a whole society as she proves in her book.
His definition of courage is when every odd is stacked against you, every person is telling you to stop, or you know that you will fail but try anyway. “It’s when you know you are licked before you begin but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” (pg149) Mrs Dubose is a good example of Atticus’ form of courage. Atticus sent Jem to read to her every day to show him a true form of courage “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand.” (pg 149)
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.
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.
