Examples Of Real Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird

“Real courage is when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” Atticus Finch. This quote is proved to be true in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee as it demonstrates the true definition of courage. The book takes you along the journey of young girl, Scout Finch, during a time where colored people are thought less of. She experiences this first hand as her father, Atticus Finch, has been assigned to defend a colored man who has been accused of raping a white female. Scout along with her elder brother Jem, learn the definition of courage through some of the characters and how they act to the events that occur before and after the trial. In Harper Lee’s, To Kill a Mockingbird, many characters are great examples of trusting yourself when all odds are stacked against you. Throughout the novel the characters that display courage are Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson and Boo Radley.

Atticus showed tremendous courage even when he knew that it might result in physical injury. He gives a good example of how to act when faced with moral dilemmas.

A significant representation of courage is seen within Atticus.  Within To Kill A Mockingbird Atticus speaks of the Tom Robinson trial as a trial all lawyers fear.  He must face a court case that will have a profound personal effect upon himself and his family.  Atticus summons the courage to recognize that there is a need for justice and that it is his duty to achieve this.  Maycomb is a town tainted with stereotypes and racism.  Atticus has the courage to overcome the fear of other peoples' dislike.  He must face the fear of straining the lives of his two young children and family name.  The courage Atticus embodies stems from his "satisfactory" character.  Atticus is righteous and unable to turn his back on those who truly rely upon his ability to show empathy.  He overcomes the heartless comments of those around them, to see the necessity of his involvement.

Atticus tackles a situation that many would avoid. Defending an African American man during the time of segregation. Although he is very much aware of this fact, Atticus still takes on the challenge. “Scout, you aren’t old enough to understand some things yet, but there’s been some high talk around town to the effect that I shouldn’t do much about defending this man.” (86). Atticus states this fact to scout so that he may understand that Atticus is practically defending Tom against the whole town. Although he’s outnumbered by townspeople, Atticus courageously still decides to defend Tom Robertson; even in the face of uncertain failure.

Atticus Finch displays Christlikeness in his life by making a very tough decision. Surprisingly, he bravely volunteers to defend an African-American man in a tough case. Taking on this case means that he will never be looked at the same by others, but instead of letting this scare him off he boldly stands up to the challenge. A mean old man named Bob Ewell falsely accused innocent Tom Robinson of the rape and abuse of his daughter. Bob earned all the beliefs of the townsfolk because Tom Robinson was a black man and back then segregation and racism was a common performance. However, unlike all of his fellow neighbors, Atticus refused to believe the false allegations when the evidence was so weak. He knew that all people no matter what color their skin was deserved to have a fair trial and an honest person to defend them. This exemplifies

People often ask, “what is courage?”. Courage is doing what is right, no matter what the circumstances are. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch shows what real courage is throughout the novel. Real courage is when someone fights for what is right, no matter what the final decision is. Atticus is the perfect person to display real courage. Atticus is a courageous man, honest lawyer, and a great role model for his two kids Scout, formally known as Jean Louise Finch, and Jem, formally known as Jeremy Atticus Finch. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus represents the importance of doing what is right while being courageous.

Tom Robinson was blamed for a rape and beating that was done by Bob Ewell, although the town can detect the false story, only Atticus stands to his defends due to his black skin. He argues in his defence by saying, “Tom Robinson quote” (Lee ) This quote shows that he is innocent and is telling the truth, all the bits and pieces from his defence make sense and stay the same throughout as opposed to the Ewell’s

“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 anyway and you see it through no matter what." (Lee p. 128) To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel by Harper Lee about two children named Scout and Jem and their father Atticus Finch. The plot revolves around the children growing up and all the things the family goes through as a result of their father defending a black man accused of rape in court. Courage is doing the right thing even if you’re afraid to do it. Atticus, Scout, and Jem each display courageous acts throughout the novel, even when it was difficult to do so.

In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird courage is defined as standing up for what one believes in. Throughout the part one of the book Atticus stands up for what he believes in even though he is heavily criticized. Out of every character introduced so far Atticus has shown by far the most cnjourage. Scout and Jem show courage by trying to communicate with Boo Radley even though all of the terrible rumors.

Additionally, Scout reflects on the injustice of Tom Robinson’s trial, acknowledging that “Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men’s hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed” (Lee 241). Despite the odds stacked against him, Atticus shines through as he fights for the rights of an innocent man. This example of Atticus’s courage in defending Tom Robinson serves as a powerful example of his determination to do what is right, even in the face of adversity. Atticus’s courage in To Kill a Mockingbird shines as a ray of hope in a town filled with racial injustice.

By truly defending Tom Robinson in court, he shows his kids that even though Tom may be of a different race, he is still a human being who deserves equal treatment. Atticus tries to show his kids throughout the novel that they should not treat a person differently based on their skin color, but instead based on how that person treats others. Next, Atticus teaches equality to his children is by explaining to them the misbehavior of others. In this case, Mr. Ewell is the character with many unadmirable actions. Atticus says “‘whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash’”(220). The moment Atticus calls Mr. Ewell trash marks a spot inside Scouts mind. Atticus is always teaching Jem and Scout to be respectful to others. Therefore, when he calls Mr. Ewell trash, Scout realizes the power and meaning behind what her father had just said. By judging a person's actions instead of their appearance, Atticus is able to understand why people do what they do. He realizes that Mr. Ewell accused Tom of raping his daughter because he was trying to regain any chance he had for the community to think more highly of him and his family. Bob

Each faces a trial that seems impossible, but take it head on and push with all the force they have. Standing by his morals, Atticus shows courage by taking on the case of Tom Robinson and doing all he can to help the innocent man. He shows real courage and bravery because he knows that he is trying to win a losing battle, yet he fights for all it is worth. Atticus recognizes that “[Courage is] when you know you’re licked before you begin but you

Atticus is thought of poorly since he is simply defending a Negro (77). Atticus continues to defend Tom to the best of his ability even though The jury couldn’t possibly be expected to take Tom Robinson’s word against the Ewells (91). Atticus defends Tom because, if he didn’t he couldn’t maintain up his head on the town, he couldn’t constitute this county in the legislature (78). This shows how Nobel he may be but it also shows how he is being brave simply to do the right thing even if it is a disgrace (79) to the town of Maycomb. His representation of Tom additionally shows irrespective of how many insults he receives he sticks to himself and what he believes.

Courage is usually shown as having great strength and bravado. However, there is another kind of courage, the quiet, humble type, in which an individual stands for his beliefs and principles. To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee, is filled with many themes and lessons, but the overriding theme is courage. In To Kill a Mockingbird, courage is the ability and willingness to confront fear, pain, danger, uncertainty and intimidation, to stand for what is right. Many of the book’s characters depict this virtue, but none more than Atticus Finch does. He shows courage as a parent, lawyer and member of his community. Atticus believes that courage, like charity, starts at home.

Courage is strength. Courage is honesty. Courage is standing one’s ground no matter what. Courage is standing up for others. In Harper Lee’s classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout and Jem Finch, along with their father Atticus, live in Maycomb County, a small, mainly racist town in Alabama during the Great Depression. The Finch family’s neighbor, Mrs. Dubose, and Atticus display acts of personal courage in the story. Specifically, Mrs. Dubose displays courage in her honesty and strength, and Atticus displays courage in his responses to racism based threats and keeping others safe.