Atticus Showing Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird
In the 1930’s, there was a immeasurable amount of discrimination towards black people in the United States of America. The majority of the country were segregated due to conniption that people had lacking slaves to work for them. Most people in the United States did not want anything to do with black people, but there were some who showed courage for black people. In the book to Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch, a lawyer, shows courage by choosing to defend Tom Robinson, a black person, through Atticus’ moral values of equality.
Atticus Finch displays courage by choosing to defend Tom Robinson in court. First, Atticus takes a case that no other lawyer would want to take because of racism. Atticus takes the case because he
tells Scout, “‘The main one [reason] is, if I didn’t, I couldn’t hold my head up in town’” (100). Atticus is willing to defend Tom, he is willing to take the consequences. Because Atticus is willing to help Tom, he does not care what danger may occur to him. Second, Scout mentions, “This was the second time I heard Atticus ask that question in two days, and it meant somebody’s man would get jumped” (202). If Atticus had not received this rumor, Tom could have died unjustly. Also, if Scout, Jem, and Dill did not show up, Atticus could have gotten injured or killed.Atticus shows courage because he is doing what the majority of people would not have stood up and taken the case.
Next, Atticus is fighting for his moral value of equality. Atticus believes in equality because when he tries to convince the jury, he argues, “‘But there is one way in this country in which all men are created equal’” (274). Atticus says this because he is telling the jury in what he believes in due to the fact that they want Tom dead. If Atticus did not believe in equality, he would not have put up a fight for Tom. Because the men are being racist towards Tom, and not considering listening to him, Atticus uses the Declaration of Independence and declares, “‘The most ridiculous example I can think of is that the people who ran public education promote the stupid and idle along with the industries- because all men are created equal’” (274). Atticus believes in equality no matter what the other people in the county or in the country believe or do. Atticus hopes the jury will listen because they have prejudice,and seem to want to kill Tom.
Atticus Finch displays courage by choosing to defend Tom Robinson in court. First, Atticus takes a case that no other lawyer would want to take because of racism. Atticus takes the case because he
tells Scout, “‘The main one [reason] is, if I didn’t, I couldn’t hold my head up in town’” (100). Atticus is willing to defend Tom, he is willing to take the consequences. Because Atticus is willing to help Tom, he does not care what danger may occur to him. Second, Scout mentions, “This was the second time I heard Atticus ask that question in two days, and it meant somebody’s man would get jumped” (202). If Atticus had not received this rumor, Tom could have died unjustly. Also, if Scout, Jem, and Dill did not show up, Atticus could have gotten injured or killed.Atticus shows courage because he is doing what the majority of people would not have stood up and taken the case.
Next, Atticus is fighting for his moral value of equality. Atticus believes in equality because when he tries to convince the jury, he argues, “‘But there is one way in this country in which all men are created equal’” (274). Atticus says this because he is telling the jury in what he believes in due to the fact that they want Tom dead. If Atticus did not believe in equality, he would not have put up a fight for Tom. Because the men are being racist towards Tom, and not considering listening to him, Atticus uses the Declaration of Independence and declares, “‘The most ridiculous example I can think of is that the people who ran public education promote the stupid and idle along with the industries- because all men are created equal’” (274). Atticus believes in equality no matter what the other people in the county or in the country believe or do. Atticus hopes the jury will listen because they have prejudice,and seem to want to kill Tom.