Examples Of Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird
Courage is being able to face difficulty and do what others are afraid to do, without caring about what others think of you. Courage is commonly interpreted incorrectly, a courageous person is more than just a strong person who fights for someone. A courageous person would be able to face situations with self-confidence and resolution, a will do something even if they are afraid of the out outcome. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, she demonstrates courage is doing what is right no matter what society thinks through how Atticus and others defend the helpless throughout the novel. An example of courage in the book is when Atticus takes on the role of defending Tom Robinson, a black man who was accused of rape. When Tom Robinson gets
accused of rape, Atticus was appointed to defend Tom Robinson. Atticus knows that he cannot win, but he still defends Tom Robinson when no one else can. Atticus refers to Tom Robinson as a trial that all lawyers fear, and he knows that doing this court case will have large impact on his reputation and his family. When Jem asks Atticus why he is defending Tom Robinson, Atticus says, “For a number of reasons...The main one is, if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again....I could never ask you to mind me again. Scout, simply by the nature of the work, every lawyer gets at least one case in his lifetime that affects him personally. This one’s mine, I guess.” (Page 101).
Atticus realizes that this is a special case that recognizes his attention and that it is his duty to defend Tom Robinson. When Atticus states that he would not be able to hold his head up in town, he is saying that he knows that it is important to do the right thing. Atticus thinks that even if people disagree with you about something, you should still do it if you know that it is the right thing to do. Atticus knows that the right thing to do here is to defend Tom Robinson. He is able to summon the courage to defend Tom Robinson while ignoring the town of Maycomb’s insults and racial slurs. He also knows that he is damaging his reputation and his family's name, but he won’t turn his back on those who need his assistance. Atticus is courageous because he fights for what he believes in, and that’s more important to him than winning.
accused of rape, Atticus was appointed to defend Tom Robinson. Atticus knows that he cannot win, but he still defends Tom Robinson when no one else can. Atticus refers to Tom Robinson as a trial that all lawyers fear, and he knows that doing this court case will have large impact on his reputation and his family. When Jem asks Atticus why he is defending Tom Robinson, Atticus says, “For a number of reasons...The main one is, if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again....I could never ask you to mind me again. Scout, simply by the nature of the work, every lawyer gets at least one case in his lifetime that affects him personally. This one’s mine, I guess.” (Page 101).
Atticus realizes that this is a special case that recognizes his attention and that it is his duty to defend Tom Robinson. When Atticus states that he would not be able to hold his head up in town, he is saying that he knows that it is important to do the right thing. Atticus thinks that even if people disagree with you about something, you should still do it if you know that it is the right thing to do. Atticus knows that the right thing to do here is to defend Tom Robinson. He is able to summon the courage to defend Tom Robinson while ignoring the town of Maycomb’s insults and racial slurs. He also knows that he is damaging his reputation and his family's name, but he won’t turn his back on those who need his assistance. Atticus is courageous because he fights for what he believes in, and that’s more important to him than winning.