To Kill a Mockingbird Essay

“If you shouldn’t be defendin‘ him, then why are you doin’ it?", Scout asks Atticus. (Lee 75). Atticus is thoroughly conscious of the consequences of fighting for equality, however he nevertheless proceeds to attempt to save an innocent man. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee demonstrates that courage, whether it be physical or moral, exposes the content of character ultimately altering society’s depiction of who one is in terms of identity. The novel displays many various forms of valor that exemplify this. They include the courage to support one's beliefs, to change, and to overcome obstacles.

Within the town of Maycomb, supporting what one believes in results in chaos and heaps of negativity. This is exemplified when Atticus accepts Tom Robinson’s case. Atticus strongly supports equality and believes Tom is innocent, leading him to disregard the continuous criticism brought forth by the citizens of Maycomb and accept his case anyhow. One can observe this when Scout asks Atticus why he chose to defend Tom, and he replies saying: "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" (75). Atticus Finch is a man who has lived his whole live abiding the norms of society, if he were to reject the case he would destroy every moral right he once stood for. One sees his character, and understands that Atticus will set himself up for ridicule and a war against his own hometown, to protect an innocent man. Arthur Radley demonstrates one of the most significant signs of courage throughout the course of the novel. He exemplifies courage by not giving into the norms of the town, and instead...

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.... Atticus shows, that sometimes showing valor means to step out of ones comfort zone, and break one's morals. (fix conclusion sentence)

Throughout the course of To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee demonstrates multiple situations where valor is required. One experiences the courage to support one's beliefs, to change, and to overcome obstacles, as if they themselves were partaking in the events of Maycomb. The reader see that courage, physical or moral, shows the content of characters, which ultimately alters society’s depiction of who you are in terms of identity. Just like Atticus said; I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do. (112)

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