Theme Of Heroism In To Kill A Mockingbird

Danielle Hernandez

Ms. Sickler

English 2

2 April 2014

America’s Greatest Hero

In To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, there is a great amount of heroism displayed throughout the book, which takes place in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama.

Harper Lee has portrayed true heroes as people who persevere through hardships, even if they know that they will lose. Despite the many heroes throughout the whole book, including Mrs. Dubose and the Finch children, I believe that Atticus Finch is the real hero because he takes the biggest risk of all, but knows that the outcome may not turn out so pretty.

Atticus Finch shows, in many ways, the true definition of a hero, but no situation was more important than the Tom Robinson trial. In Maycomb, the thought of taking a negro’s word instead of a white man’s was ridiculous to the citizens, especially over a matter as serious as a black man raping a white woman. Regardless of this information, Atticus still takes on Tom Robinson’s case and tries to make as big of a difference as possible. When Scout asks him if he thinks that he will win the case, Atticus subtly replies “No, honey” (76). Atticus goes on to explain, “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try and win” (76). Basically, Atticus believes that just because it is unlikely that he will win, it does not mean that he should just give up without trying. Throughout all the discrimination, Atticus remains tough and tries to achieve his goal, no matter how hard it is. This was an example of moral courage. Even Scout knows how hard her father is trying by comparing Atticus’ efforts to “watching Atticus walk down the street, raise a rifle to his shoulder and pull the trigger, but...

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...o, or not, you should at least respect his life lessons taught throughout To Kill a Mockingbird.

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.

Works Cited

Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. New York: Warner Brooks, 1982.

“ fortitude”. Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, 2014. Web. 6 April 2014