Atticus, a central character in To Kill a Mockingbird, seems to know the right thing to do in every situation. Whether raising his children or doing his job, he does it to the best of his ability. Sometimes this means risking his safety and popularity. Throughout the story, most of the people in Maycomb think of him as a troublemaker, and few recognize the honorable characteristics he has. The people of Maycomb view his actions through the lense of racial bias and hatred. Atticus tries to demonstrate a new way of thinking to Maycomb and makes his decisions based on doing what is right and showing respect to all people no matter what. Defending a black man in a racially segregated society requires strength and integrity. Throughout the story, Atticus shows incredible virtue through his bravery, level headedness, and dedication. …show more content…
He shows bravery regardless of any fear of personal attack or fear of harm to his children. Although an unpopular decision in Maycomb county, he takes on the job of defending Tom Robinson, a black man, willing to risk the anger of the people in order to do what he thinks right. Even against unlikely odds, he courageously takes on the case, because it would go against his conscience to fail to take action. Showing his perspective on bravery after Mrs. Dubose’s death, Atticus tells his children, “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 you see it through no matter what. (149)” Going against popular belief, he shows his children that real courage is rare, but with it, they can be the one to make a
One central character in Atticus is Atticus Cody. Atticus is a sixty-seven year old white male with blue eyes. He always talked pleasantly with everybody and cares dearly for his family. He hopes for the best of Scott, one of the two sons he has and wishes that he stays happy. All Atticus wanted was for Scott to be happy and know he was loved by him.
Atticus shows true courage by trying every way to help others who were in the need of it. First of all, it is courageous of Atticus to take the Tom Robinson case. Even his own family disagreed of taking the case because of the bias. He takes many risks when taking the Tom Robinson case. He risks the chance of critization by the people that live in the Maycomb County. Mrs. Dubose criticizes him when she said, “Atticus is a Nigger lover!’’ (100). With many prejudice people living in Maycomb County Atticus also risks the chance of not being re-elected for legislature. Secondly, it is
Have you ever been blamed for something you didn't do? In Harper Lee’s To kill A Mockingbird, Atticus is defending a black man because he knows he's innocent and he knows if that was him he would hope he had someone take his side when they know he was innocent. Atticus should take a stand for Tom Robinson because he believes for standing up for the right thing and he also helps others in need.
Atticus is one of the most bravest people in Maycomb. He shows true courage by defending Tom Robinson based on the principle of right and wrong. For example, on page 88, he says, “ It couldn't be worse, Jack. The only thing we've got is a black mans word against the Ewells”. At this moment Atticus explains to his brother Jack, why he had to defend Tom Robinson. Atticus influences his children by being brave enough to defend a black man. Atticus was getting ready to the next trial, by telling uncle Jack that the trial essentially boils down to Bob and Mayella's words against Tom Robinson testimony. Later Atticus shows true bravery by “ Standing outside of Tom robinson's cell, knowing that the men from the town will show up trying to kill
Atticus Finch is a man of principles who is consistent in his views and deeds throughout the novel. Although he is criticized and mocked by many characters in the novel for his tolerant attitude towards the ‘Negros’, people of Maycomb still respect him and keep re-electing him to be their representative in the State Legislator. According to Miss Maudie Atkinson words to Scout, Atticus is a man who does for other people the unpleasant things they have to do. He is a defender of justice and he fights for it even if he is sure that he will be beaten at the end. He also tries throughout the novel to pass these values onto his children.
Atticus Finch, the father of Scout and Jem and a lawyer in Maycomb, is a compelling character in To Kill a Mockingbird. He catches the eye of many readers because of his honesty, courage, and his ability to be a outstanding father. We witness these qualities when Atticus defends Tom Robinson, helps his children grow, and the way he conducts himself with the angry white folks of Maycomb, AL. Atticus Finch is one of the main characters in this book portraying a role of a lawyer defending a black man, in a small-town with a majority of white supremacists. This essay will provide examples of the previous three traits to display how Atticus is a compelling character.
Courage fluctuates on a spectrum of definitions, from performing a service one disdains for the sake of another, to jeopardizing one's freedom for the eradication of racial segregation. In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee investigates the racist undertones prevalent in the trial of Tom Robinson, an African-American man who was erroneously prosecuted for the accused rape of Mayella Ewell, a Caucasian teenage girl. Atticus Finch, a widowed father of two and impartial lawyer, is tasked with the vindication of Tom Robinson; despite the odium and biased ridicule he receives from others. Through Atticus’s character, Lee defines courage as an unwavering resolve. Consequently, one will find themselves constantly defending their perspective
testing his respect, courage, and mental strength to their fullest extent. Atticus is widowed and is forced to raise his two kids, Scout and Jem, with the help of Calpurnia, the maid of the household. Atticus chooses to take the court case of Mr.Tom Robinson, a colored man, in Maycomb County. Maycomb happens to be a very prejudice town set during the Great Depression. He takes this case knowing that most of the towns people will resent him for it. This is where Atticus has to choose between what he thinks is right and what others will think of him throughout different situations in the book.
Atticus is willing to defend Tom Robinson because if he doesn't, then he wouldn’t be able to hold his head up or do anything because he took away somebody’s innocence. This shows real courage because Atticus is willing to stand up for the right thing, even though he knows he’s going to lose. Tom Robinson has courage and is willing to defend himself in court. He feels bad for Mayela Ewell and says how he feels bad for her. The town disagrees because of the caste system.
Moreover, every other character in the story can be said to have courage, especially Atticus. The book revolves around Atticus and how he has no fear to defend a black man. Atticus is a lawyer that always had justice and never accepts injustice. He defends a black man named “Tom Robinson” who is accused of rapping a white girl whose own father had infact raped. “I’m simply defending a negro his name’s Tom Robinson” “The main one is, if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this country in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again” (Lee,100). These quotes show that Atticus is not afraid and is brave enough to hold his head up in town even if he defended Tom, an inferior in their society. It also shows how well educated and mature he is that he even connects his job to his kids and he always tries to be good to be the best in his kids’ eyes. He wanted his kids to get along with other people and for them to learn courage from them like Mrs. Dubose, for example.
The only people’s opinions Atticus cares about are his children. Atticus is aware of the corruption in Maycomb and the country because of racism. Throughout the novel, Atticus tries to display to his children that “‘Courage is not a man with a gun in his hand. It's knowing you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what’” (112). Atticus wants his children to know that courage is standing up for what you believe in, even if you know you will lose from the start. During the novel, Atticus goes through life thinking through every action. He is aware that the townspeople and his children think highly of him and that he must do what he believes is moral. Not only does Atticus think through his actions, but he takes full credit for them. He never backs down on something he has previously said. Instead, he takes charge of his words, unlike other characters in the book like Mr.Ewell and Mayella Ewell. Also, Atticus shows integrity by defending Tom Robinson to the best of his ability. Unlike most racist Maycomb citizens, Atticus is able to ignore that fact that Tom is African American and instead see him as the person he is inside. When Judge Taylor appointed Atticus for the case, he knew that Atticus would do a good job representing Tom. Judge Taylor realizes that Tom needs a person who will be fair and open minded, and that person ended up being Atticus. Atticus
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
Lee has done a very good job at characterizing the Ewell family, specifically Burris. His descriptions, I feel, would definitely match them in real life. He definitely passed the message that Burris is dirty. He has dirt everywhere on his clothes, in his hair, and on his feet, yes feet, he wears no shoes. Along with the dirt on his clothes, it would not even matter if it was dirty or not, because they are are just straight up messy, they are “ruffled, and tattered. If that does not convince you, he was actually sent home, for being to dirty, by his teacher Ms. Caroline. Also another way to prove Burris is dirty is he has living insects, “Cooties”, in his hair. These things, are very similar to lice, they live in your hair and mess around with your scalp.
Atticus has moral courage when he defends Tom Robinson. Even though people critisize his choice, like when Mrs. Debose says “‘Not only a Finch waiting on tables but one in the courthouse lawing for niggers”’ (Lee 101), Atticus perseveres and defends Tom as well as he would defend a white person. The lionhearted Atticus is willing to defend a black guy, who will likely lose the case, in order to uphold his morals. He also risks his physical health to go protect Tom Robinson at the jailhouse at night. He stands up to an armed mob whose intention is made clear when one guy says, “‘You know what we want… Get aside from the door, Mr. Finch”’ (Lee 151), to which Atticus synonym for courageously replies “‘You can turn around and go on home”” (Lee 151). Atticus puts himsels in mortal peril in order to save Tom Robinson which is remarkably audacious. Despite being an older father, Atticus Finch is by far the bravest character in the book To Kill a Mockingbird.
Atticus demonstrates his courage the most when he defends Tom Robinson. He knows that it is near impossible to win, but he does it anyways because it's the right thing to do “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win” (101). Furthermore, Atticus puts himself in danger to protect Tom Robinson from the Old Sarum bunch and their attempt to lynch him “I don’t look for any trouble, but I can’t guarantee there won’t be any….” (194). Lastly, after the trial finished, Bob Ewell stopped Atticus at the post office corner and spat on his face looking for a fight. Atticus only answered with “No, too old” (291), but the real rationale behind this is he wanted to save Mayella Ewell from another beating because Bob would need to take it on someone and Atticus as the amazing man he is, chooses himself. In conclusion, Atticus is undoubtedly a very courageous man who always goes with what he believes is right and not what others say is right.