Atticus's Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird

The book To kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee demonstrate numerous event of courage throughout the book. A main character by the name of Atticus, proves and demonstrates event of courage during the “Dirty Thirties”. Atticus taking on the Tom Roberson case, killing Tim Johnston, and risking his family’s well being in the town of Maycomb, Alabama. These three reasons are the main stepping stones of Atticus’s courage throughout the book To kill a Mockingbird. Tom Roberson, was an African American young male who was falsely accused for the raping of Mayella Ewell. Atticus going against society's expectation, he decides to take on the case. Atticus accepts Tom Roberson's case because he know no one else would want to take the case, and if anyone
else did, he wouldn't put on a good case or care whether Tom was convicted. Atticus knew the odds of getting Tom off from the very beginning, but he knows that he has to try. Coming to an end and hearing both sides of the stories Atticus closes with a final statement. “Gentlemen, I shall be brief,...this case is not a difficult one, it requires no minute sifting of complicated facts, but it does...for all reasonable doubt as to the guilty of the defendant. To begin with, this case should have never have come to trial. This case is as simple as black and white” (Lee 74). Knowing that this trial shouldn’t have even pull through, Atticus still continues on. Racism being the highest it can be, he defends Tom Roberson with all his might. Having known the final outcome from the beginning, he was willing to lose with a winning fight. Exposing Bob Ewell’s wrong doings to the town of Maycomb, showing that Bob is the one who should be placed in jail. Harper Lee stating this trial is as simply as black and white is truly about black versus white.
A mad dog by the name of Tim Johnston, risking the lives of Atticus’s family, was cut short. Atticus pulling a gun shows couraged to protect his loved ones, Scout and Jem. Atticus's courage is when he shoots the rabid dog. A rabid dog wanders into town and is a danger to the citizens. Atticus, who was considered a good shot, kills the dog before it can do any harm. Many think that the rabid dog is a symbol of racism, and is relates to Atticus's defense of Tom Roberson in that he hopes to overcome the racism in Maycomb by showing Tom's innocence. Scout recalling the incident of the shooting of Tim Johnston, she recalls Atticus to being the bravest man alive. Harper Lee exclaiming “It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been to any wars was the bravest man who were lived” (100).
From Atticus taking on the Tom Roberson case to the killing of Tim Johnston, all of his events leads him to risking his family’s well being.
Ruining the wellbeing of his family, Atticus is doing what is right and is doing his best to protect Tom Roberson. Defending a black man is a risky thing to do not only because of the prejudice and racism of the people of Maycomb, but also because of Atticus's reputation in the town. Atticus is risking his career and family name by defending Tom Roberson. He is courageous for justice which is more important than any personal harm that could come about from defending Tom Roberson. Scout overhears Atticus being called a nigger lover is heartbreaking to Scout. Feeling concerned she ask Atticus “You aren’t really a nigger lover are you" (Lee 108). Atticus knowing his reputation will exponentially decrease following the aftermath of the trial. Atticus responds in a way to reassure Scout that his beliefs and values uphold any statements that others may make about him. He states "I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody...it's never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It shows how poor that person is, it doesn't hurt you" (Lee 109). This quote shows that Atticus is uphold all of his ideas and values into the Tom Roberson case. Feeling unconcerned how this may affect his family, he is trusting that he is doing the step of action to end this trial. Knowing that he will fail, Atticus gives it his best shot and
succeed in a way only true courageous people will know.
All throughout the book Atticus has proven and demonstrated acts of courageous events for the wellbeing of his family. Atticus proves that during the “Dirty Thirties” anything is possible to stop social stereotypes among the town. Even though Atticus has lost the Tom Roberson Case, he shows thats not everyone is considered the bad guy. By risking his family’s well being, Atticus always finds a way to insure his family is safe. Even though it may involves Atticus killing a mad dog. Atticus showing his courage for the safety of his family and what is right, he definitely has proven his courage in To kill a Mockingbird.