Atticus Finch Integrity

Imagine trying to do the right thing without having the courage to go against others, it would be impossible. The ability to do the right thing takes courage and Harper Lee illustrates this idea in her novel. In To Kill A Mockingbird we see that courage is important because without courage it is impossible to do the right thing.
Atticus Finch has integrity because of his tremendous courage. People who are not courageous often follow the ideas of others, but those who are courageous also have integrity because they are able to stand up for what is right even when the odds are against them. For example, the fact that he defends Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman, despite what everyone else thinks, shows that he has courage.
When Atticus is talking to Scout about why he is defending Tom Robinson he says, “If I didn’t I couldn’t hold my head up in town” (100). Atticus is known for doing the right thing even when it goes against the public opinion. Furthermore, as Atticus explains his reasoning to Scout he says, “[He] could never ask [her] to mind [him] again” (100). Atticus tries to impose his morals upon his children throughout the book and he is always telling them to do the right thing no matter who is watching. He has integrity because he does what is right and sets good examples for his children. Later when Scout asks Atticus if they are going to win he says, “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us to not try to win” (101). Atticus defends Tom for a number of reasons, but mostly because he believes that everyone is equal in the eyes of the law. He defends Tom because he is an innocent man on trial for his life due to his race and not the fact that he has committed a crime. In his closing speech, he says, “To begin this case should have never been brought to trial. This case is as simple as black and white” (271). Although Atticus knows that the chances of victory are slim, he is courageous enough to stand up for a just cause. Atticus has integrity because of his courage to fight for what is right no matter what. All of these examples show how Atticus has integrity because of his courage. Furthermore, Bob Ewell lacks courage, therefore he lacks honor. For example, when Mayella Ewell is on the witness stand Atticus asks her, “I mean is he good to you, is he easy to get along with?” then Mayella says “He does tollable ‘cept when-” (245). Bob Ewell, Mayella’s father, is known to be a drunk and an abusive person. As her injuries are on the right side of her face conducive to being hit with someone’s left fist, it is obvious that Bob Ewell beats his daughter. As Atticus continues to question Mayella he asks her, “Why do not you tell the truth child, did not Bob Ewell beat you up?” (251). It becomes extremely obvious that Bob Ewell, having beaten his daughter, willingly accused an innocent man of a terrible offense. This shows that because he lacks the courage to face the consequences of his actions he lacks honor. In the closing arguments of the trial, Atticus states that “The defendant is not guilty, but someone in this courtroom is” (271). In this statement, we see that if you lack courage and knowingly condemn an innocent man then you lack honor. Lastly, Boo Radley has courage thus allowing him to be selfless and allowing him to save Jem and Scout.
After Jem and Scout were attacked, Scout describes what happened to Heck Tate. She says, “Mr. Ewell yanked him down ... Then someone yanked Mr. Ewell down” (361). Although Boo Radley is a recluse, he has tremendous courage and this is shown when he saves Jem and Scout from Bob Ewell. As Scout recollects the evening’s events she says, “The scuffling noises were dying but I heard someone wheezing ... I began walking toward the road and I could see a man walking towards my house carrying Jem” (359). Due to his courage, Boo Radley is not only able to stop Bob Ewell from hurting Jem and Scout, but also throws himself into the limelight by showing himself to Heck Tate and Atticus. If he lacked courage then he would not have been able to be selfless in Jem and Scout’s time of need and they would have been severely injured or may have died. When Atticus is talking about telling the townspeople that Boo saved his children Heck Tate says, “To take the one man who’s done you and this town a service and draggin’ him with his shy ways into the limelight is a sin” (363). Most people who had done something like Boo would want to be recognized, but he has the “courage” to go unrecognized and wishes not to be thanked for his actions. These are all examples of how Boo Radley’s courage allows him to be selfless.
In To Kill A Mockingbird, courage gives us the ability to do what is right. If more people were courageous then our world would be a better place. Courage allows us to make a difference in our world and allows us to blaze a path rather than follow the mistakes of
others.