To Kill a Mockingbird Response Paper

Thesis: Atticus shows great courage by standing up for what he believes is right and by going against prejudice. Atticus shows true courage in many ways. First, he shoots and kills the mad dog in the street. He does not fear being killed by the mad dog but instead stands up against it. Second, Atticus does not seek revenge and is kind to Mrs. Dubose after she insults him and his children. Third, Atticus goes through with the trial and defending Tom Robinson. He thinks of others first rather than himself. He says “when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do.” (Lee 112) Atticus shows true courage by shooting the mad dog, is kind to Mrs. Dubose, and goes trough with the trial. One theme of the story is to not judge or have prejudice against others. Atticus kills the mad dog which also stands for prejudice. He also helps defend Tom Robinson which seems to be a bad thing to do at the time because he is African American. It takes courage for someone to stand up for what they think is right rather than to follow what society wants you to do. Atticus says “This case, Tom Robinson’s case, is something that goes against the essence of a man’s conscience – Scout, I couldn’t go to church and worship God if I didn’t try to help that man.” (Lee 87) He also says “but before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.” (Lee 87) Atticus displays the theme of not being prejudice against others by shooting the mad dog and by going against what the society of Maycomb thinks is right by defending Tom Robinson. My opinion is that Atticus is right and extremely courageous for what he does. People everywhere even around me are prejudice even though they should not be just like the people in Maycomb. I believe that everyone is created equally under God and that one person is just as