To Kill A Mockingbird Atticus Actions

In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee shows that courage is not an easy action to carry out in the world, but, will make the world a better place overtime. Since Atticus is helping an innocent black man, Tom Robinson, Atticus receives many negative reactions from his family and the citizens of Maycomb, leaving him with no support, but, he perseveres throughout the novel. Atticus is defending him because he knows it is the right thing to do because Tom is actually innocent. Since Atticus is defending an innocent black man, the whole town of Maycomb is against his decision, but he knows what he is doing is right. He is getting a lot of negative reactions, from his own mother, sister, and even his very young nephew, Francis. Francis

Francis declares that Atticus’s actions in raising his children, Jem and Scout, and defending Tom Robinson are not acceptable and will ruin their family name. He hears this from Atticus’s own mother who is not very keen on him defending Tom. With Atticus’s actions that they do not see as good, his family believes that they will not ever be able to live in Maycomb. Atticus knows that what he is involving himself in will not be easy for him and more importantly, his kids, he hopes that this complicated case will not come to influence his children in negative ways: “What bothers me is that she and Jem will have to absorb some ugly things pretty soon…I hope and pray I can get Jem and Scout through it without bitterness, and most of all,

He hopes that no one will judge Jem and Scout in light of their father defending a black person. More importantly, he hopes that his children will not become racist and bitter due to seeing how ugly and complicated of a case this case will be due to involving two races. He knew what he is getting himself into is not going to be easy, he says to Scout,” You might hear some ugly talk about it at school, but do one thing for me if you will: you just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don’t you let ‘em get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change… it’s a good one, even if it does resist learning"(101). Atticus knows that he and his family are going to face a lot of derision from many people in their town, he expresses to Scout that she will have to face a lot of criticism. It will be for the higher purpose of defending/helping Tom Robinson, an innocent man that deserves justice. He also expresses to Scout that she should not listen to what people say and not let the negativity get to her. He tells Scout that she should hold her head high and not to be violent. Atticus is defending Tom Robinson because he