Examples Of Atticus Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird

In the novel, to Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Atticus is portrayed as a virtuous man with lots of integrity. Atticus always had good moral values that he wishes everyone else could have. He was also always a good parent, telling Jem and Scout about a strong sense of morality. He even told them that they couldn’t use the word “nigger” or “nigger-lover” even though everyone else does, “”Scout,” said Atticus, “nigger-lover is just one of those terms that don’t mean anything--like snot-nose. It’s hard to explain--ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebody’s favoring Negroes over and above themselves.” (Lee 144). Atticus believes in equality for all of men so he defends African American from prejudice, and even Tom Robinson in court. This story reveals Atticus’s courage and dedication for defending Tom Robinson but Atticus demonstrates his virtue and good moral values through his quiet everyday actions and teaching his children to judge only after looking at the world through other points of view.

Atticus believes that
African Americans are equal and he teaches this to his children. He was a kind, protective, and patient father who “let his kids be themselves and nurtured their unique personalities” when teaching them good morals (McKay 5), he didn’t want to change them. A good father represents a hero and teaching kids by example is a good father. Atticus wasn’t only always honest with Jem and Scout, he was also honest in everything he did himself. Another way he teaches his kids good morals is by having Calpurnia as their household cook. This is another example of teaching by example because it subtly teaches them that African Americans are equal because Atticus treats Calpurnia as an equal, along with other African Americans around him. Calpurnia being around Jem and Scout during their childhood is constantly teaching them lessons that help them view the world differently.

Atticus doesn’t only teach his children these morals but spreads them to other people to try and change their segregational ideas. Atticus had similar values and beliefs as James Folsom from “The Courthouse Ring.” Folsom told the judge when they were meeting for his second term as governor, “All men are just alike,” (Gladwell 1). They both believe in equality and both want white people to change their views on African Americans. Atticus explains to scout that she’ll “see white men cheat black men every day of [her] life… 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.” (Lee 295). Atticus believes this, he knows this, he knows that they are only beginning to destroy discrimination against blacks and wants Scout to know that it will be happening during her life.

Atticus’s decision to represent Tom Robinson, even though he knew he was going to lose and even though the whole Maycomb county was against him, took a lot of moral courage, but his message from doing this was to reveal to everyone what Bob Ewell really was and to help the jury recognise the truth in what he was saying.
After the trial that Atticus lost, Ewell threatened Atticus and spat on his face. In response, Atticus just took out a handkerchief and wiped his face. The usual response, the “manly”, response ends up in some kind of fight, “but it can take greater strength to refuse to sink to another man’s level and to simply walk away with dignity” (McKay 4). Atticus is a true man. He knows that he destroyed all of Ewell’s credibility during the trial and that he would need some kind of stupid comeback. Although Ewell didn’t see him as a man, he didn’t care and just walked away with no anger or anything, just like a true
man.

In conclusion, Harper Lee characterizes the people in “To Kill A Mockingbird” in a complex way with both flaws and perfections. Through her writing we see Atticus’s quiet dignity and virtue being spread among the people of Maycomb County, we see Atticus treating people with fairness and kindness and as equals without any prejudice. He shows empathy towards others, putting their needs above his, and always knows to never judge someone before looking at their point of view.