Discrimination and Rape in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird depicts life in a small southern town of Maycomb, Alabama in 1930s during the depression. It is a story told by a young girl named Scout, whose father is Atticus Finch, a courageous lawyer. In the novel, Atticus is asked to defend, Tom Robinson who is accused of rape. Although Atticus believes Tom is innocent, he realizes that society will not give him a chance but decides to defend him anyway. The small Southern town is shaken by the trial as Atticus makes the town question their morals as they find Tom guilty. Throughout the story Scout matures and learns about different types of courage not only from her father but also from people she least expects to display courage. In Harper Lee’s, To Kill a Mockingbird, a true sense of heroism is displayed when the main characters show different types of courage in various difficult social situations.

The main character is Atticus Finch. He is a widower, father, lawyer, and neighbor who is just an ordinary man living his life in a simple small community (Jones 34). He is a sincere and considerate human being who has strong beliefs about equality and is uninterested in what others have to say or think about his actions. He is a man trying to teach his children, Scout and Jem, the lessons of courage through his own life. He displays courage by choosing to defend Tom Robinson. When Atticus Finch is asked to defend Tom Robinson he immediately accepted, not caring about how others would look at him (Asimow 96). By not being concerned about what others think, Atticus is able to show his children the courage of standing up for what you believe in regardless of the social consequences.

Later, Atticus reveals his courage to the town when he ...

... middle of paper ...

...uth in the face of all the lies being told about him in court. He continued to show his morality and courage even when he refused to call Mayella a liar but said she did not remember the truth correctly. Finally, Boo “Arthur” Radley was found to be the unexpected courageous character that saved the lives of the children. A recluse, who never left his house, not only found the courage to leave his house, but also went above and beyond by protecting the Finch children against the murderous intentions of Bob Ewell. These three characters showed an immense amount of courage in their own difficult situations not by winning fights or killing but just standing up for what is right and moral. Harper Lee, through these characters showed that their courage allowed them to take moral responsibility by being respectful, kind and essentially becoming the heroes in the novel.