Selfless Heroism: An Examination of Atticus Finch

911 Words2 Pages

“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is no the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at what ever cost”- Arthur Ashe. Heroes are not the ones that take the glory for doing the incredible tasks. Heroism is a trait for a human to serve others than themselves. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Atticus Finch, a father of two, defends a black man with the name of Tom Robinson. Atticus takes this case since he is not racist like the others in Maycomb and if he did not take the case, he would not be able to keep his head held high in town. Humble, creative, and even-handle are three characteristics that make up Atticus Finch. To begin with, Atticus is a humble man without showing …show more content…

A very important example of Atticus being even is when he decided to be a defendant for Tom Robinson. As Scout is wondering why her dad is defending a black man, she asks him why is he doing this. Atticus responds with, “If I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this country in legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again” (Lee 83). He also adds, “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us to try to win” (Lee 84). The reason why Atticus is defending Tom is because he knows that Tom did not do it and that everyone needs a fair trial. Atticus hated by others in Maycomb for defending for Tom. Atticus undertakes this case even knowing that he is licked because racism is in a tremendous amount of people of Maycomb and still …show more content…

As the town gathers in the court, all eyes are on Atticus as he is trying to protect Tom Robinson. “Can you read and write?” Said Atticus (Lee 236). Mr. Ewell immediately responds with, “I can most positively can” (Lee 236). Atticus pulls out a pen and hand it to Mr. Ewell. As Mr. Ewell is writing his name on an envelope Atticus takes note that he is left hand dominant. As Mr. Ewell is about to be dismissed Mr. Gilmer made sure the can not use both of his hand to write. “ About your writing with your left hand, are you ambidextrous, Mr. Ewell?” Asked Mr. Gilmer (Lee 238). “I most positively am not, I can use one hand good as the other. One hand good as the other” Mr. Ewell responded with (Lee 238). Everyone knows now that Tom Robinson is innocent since Atticus is remarkably creative when under pressure. Earlier in the chapter the stories said from the opposing side say that Mayella is hurt on the right side of her face. That means that the person who attacked her had to be left hand dominant. It could have not been Tom since he is crippled on his left hand. Since racism runs through a vast majority of people in Maycomb, Tom is convicted guilty and goes to jail. One night he tries to escape and tries to climb a wall and is brutally shot seventeen

Show More
Related

  • Atticus Finch Courage in To Kill a Mockingbird

    1356 Words  | 3 Pages

    Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird was published in the year of 1960, and is one of the few American classic novels awarded the Pulitzer Prize. The racism that is prevalent in many southern American towns in the 1930s is brought to life with profound imagery in To Kill a Mockingbird. There are several characters in the book, yet the true main character is the narrator's father, Atticus Finch. He is a man of great integrity and intelligence. A very heroic figure in more ways than one, Atticus possesses traits like being principled, determined, and, more importantly, he teaches others. When looking at To Kill a Mockingbird, one can see that Lee uses lots of description, dialogue, and actions to portray Atticus as a heroic individual.

    Read More

  • How Atticus Finch and Elie Wiesel Demonstrate Heoric Actions Unintentionally

    556 Words  | 2 Pages

    According to Umberto Eco, “The real hero is always a hero by mistake….” In other words, one doesn’t act heroic as a lifestyle, but by surprise when the time comes to do so. To be heroic means to put others before you in a desperate time of someone else’s despair. Two works of literature that agree with the critical lens are the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee and the memoir, Night, by Elie Wiesel. Atticus Finch and Elie Wiesel both demonstrate heroic actions unintentionally.

    Read More

  • Atticus Finch A Hero Essay

    735 Words  | 2 Pages

    This was heroic because he knew believing him would make hard times fall on him and his family. The main thing was a threat from Bob Ewell who had a vendetta against Atticus after the trial because of what Atticus said during it. A threat that almost caused the lives of Atticus’ children one night they were coming home. Another hardship that fell was the whole community outcased the Finches and treated the differently because of it. A hardship that could be argued to be greater than the ones before was the one on Atticus mentally. Atticus was going through mental hardship because he knew whatever he did the future was already set and it was not in his favor. Doing this showed great courage, an additional part to the definition to hero.

    Read More

  • Atticus Finch Courage Essay

    597 Words  | 2 Pages

    Atticus Finch’s unique, courageous personality and contrarian mindset are proven through his unconventional actions throughout the novel. His stoic nature correlates with his extreme courage, a moral facet of his multi-layered personality that he highlights with various acts of nobility that many in Maycomb do not expect and often despise, but he continues on regardless. Early on, Atticus shows an aspect of his moral courage when he consoles Scout on the topic of getting bullied about his decision to defend Tom Robinson. In this specific instance, Atticus explains to Scout that, “no matter what anybody says to you, don’t you let ‘em get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change” (Lee 101). Letting insults and rude remarks fly over

    Read More

  • Heart Of A Lion In Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird

    1344 Words  | 3 Pages

    Yet he took the case with no hesitation. Atticus knows the difference between what is fair and what is true justice. He is well aware that whites and blacks have many differences with one another, but is also educated enough to know that there truly is no diversity in equity, and tries to teach everyone including his children this. ”You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view- until you climb into his skin and walk around it.(30)” Atticus is encouraging Scout to respect everyone and consider their true potential without considering false accusations in this quote. He applies what he teaches to his children to the people attending the Tom Robinson trial. Atticus is just one man, but with an unprecedented amount of sense of pride, intelligence, and justice. He reflects the image of the town’s people by showing them what they’ve allowed themselves to become based on their beliefs. He genuinely expresses their deepest consternation. In this quote he tells the audience what they are afraid to hear, but need to hear, “She was white, and she tempted a Negro. She did something that in our society is unspeakable: she kissed a black man. Not an old uncle, but a strong young Negro man. No code mattered to her before she broke it, but it came crashing down on her afterwards.(272)” After stating his point and releasing the profound truth Atticus causes for Mayella and Bob Ewell to lose their composure. Nevertheless people of most of the white people of Maycomb continue to refuse to believe that a white woman kissed a black man. But they undoubtedly believe that a black man with a useless left hand beat and raped an “innocent” white woman. Atticus could have predicted the outcome from before he even took the case and refused to defend Tom Robinson. But he

    Read More

  • Is Atticus A Hero In To Kill A Mockingbird

    1071 Words  | 3 Pages

    To begin with, Atticus Finch is a hero due to his morality. Atticus shows his morals by his reaction to Scout saying the phrase nigger-lover. Scout asks Atticus what a “nigger-lover” is as a result of someone at school calling her father one resulting in a fight with Scout. “You aren’t really

    Read More

  • Theme Of Heroism In To Kill A Mockingbird

    789 Words  | 2 Pages

    Atticus Finch was a true hero, in my eyes. He had all the essentials to being a hero, such as; respect, equality, and quiet dignity. Sure, Mr. Finch didn’t quite reach his goal of winning the Tom Robinson case, but it was the fact that he attempted it, knowing he would lose. A hero is not someone who achieves something, but is a person that attempts to. The journey to your goal might even be more important than the actual achievement, because on your way to the top, struggles appear and you overcome them by learning new lessons to live by in life. In conclusion, Atticus Finch truly is America’s greatest hero.

    Read More

  • Courage in To Kill A Mockingbird

    544 Words  | 2 Pages

    Courage is the thing which can be found in a child to an old man. It needs a lot of courage to take out courage from the heart. It is like a brain. It depends on the person, how and when he uses it. This tiny word has the power to convey the whole gesture of a person. According to Harper Lee?s genius ?To Kill a Mockingbird?, Courage is when you know you are licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through it through no matter what.

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mockingbird Moral Courage Essay

    855 Words  | 2 Pages

    How far would you go to do the right thing if it had the potential to hurt you in the long run? In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, that was a question that the characters had to ask themselves when they knew they had to do the right thing but did not know how far they should go. In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee demonstrates moral courage throughout the book by using the literary elements such as conflict and characterization.

    Read More

  • Atticus Finch As A Heroic Character In To Kill A Mockingbird

    911 Words  | 2 Pages

    Atticus Finch is a heroic character in To Kill A Mockingbird. A hero is a person who is known for certain achievements and qualities. Atticus is known for many qualities he displayed during the novel, as well as various achievements. This makes him a heroic character. Atticus Finch is a hero because he defended a black man in court, proved his abilities and intelligences, and cared for everybody equally.

    Read More

  • Atticus Finch: The Perfect Role Model

    1551 Words  | 4 Pages

    True role models are those who possess the qualities that we would want to have in the near future and those who interest us in a way that make us want to be a better person. They teach us more about ourselves and encourage us to make better choices. A role model is not just someone who is successful, but someone who has had similar experiences that we have had. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee demonstrates that Atticus Finch is a true role model. Over the course of the novel, Atticus stands up for his beliefs, respects everyone despite who they are and behaves as a true father. Atticus is truly the ideal role model.

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mockingbird Courage Essay

    833 Words  | 2 Pages

    Firstly, Atticus demonstrated mental courage when he undertook the task of defending Tom Robinson, a black man who was wrongly accused of rape, in court. He had to persevere through many hardships in order to make a statement in the community. Atticus knew he would not win the case against the all white jury and like Mrs. Dubose in her struggle against morphine, Atticus lost before he even began. Nevertheless, Atticus knew that Tom was innocent and was willing to stand up for him because nobody else would. Since Atticus stayed true to himself and did only what is morally correct, he fought this case with great determination. He wanted the people of Maycomb to know the truth about what happened to Mayella Ewell, but even the truth would not free Tom Robinson. "That boy might go to the chair, but he's not going till the truth's told." (Lee, 146) Atticus showed true courage in going against Maycomb, a mostly prejudice town. He was given names like “nigger lover” and was looked down upon heavily but that did not stop him. On the other hand, Mayella Ewell decided to lie about the case because othe...

    Read More

  • Courage in To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

    837 Words  | 2 Pages

    "Courage is when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what" According to Atticus Finch, an honest lawyer in Harper Lee's novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" courage is not a man with a gun in his hand. "Real courage" is when you fight for what is right regardless of whether you win or lose. Atticus fits into this definition of what "real courage" is and demonstrates it several times throughout the novel.

    Read More

  • Unarmed Bravery in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

    737 Words  | 2 Pages

    Many Children receive Bravery Awards every year around the world, and none of them hold any weapons or punch someone in the face to prove that they are brave, unlike what the majority of people picture it. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus believed that true bravery and courage is facing the negativities of life and society persistently, and by sticking to your belief no matter what the cost is. Jem and Mrs. Dubose are two characters that strongly apply to Atticus’s meaning of bravery and courage.

    Read More

  • Theme of Courage in To Kill A Mocking Bird

    792 Words  | 2 Pages

    Atticus was incredibly courageous taking on tom Robinsons case against the prejudice of Macomb County and he shows incredible courage when he says, "Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try and won." He wants the people of Maycomb to hear the truth about Tom Robinson, "That boy may go to the chair, but he's not going till the truth's told." Chapter 15, Page 146. He was against the whole white community including his own sister practically said that he was a disgrace to his family Atticus tells scout when she asks him why he is taking the case he 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.

    Read More

More about Selfless Heroism: An Examination of Atticus Finch

Open Document