Atticus Finch is a man who fought for what he believed in. He stood up for what he thought was right not what the rest of the town thought. Atticus was real brave for defending Tom Robinson in court, he knew a lot of people would get mad and try to hurt him, but Atticus stood up for what he believed in. Atticus had a lot of courage he was the only man in town that would fight for Tom Robinson, because he knew it was wrong to accuse him of something he did not do. I think Atticus knew that Tom Robinson did not have a great chance of wining the case, but he tried to do the best that he could to prove that Tom Robinson was innocent. I think that Atticus is in some way the town’s spokesmen, there is a lot of people in town that have the same views on racism as Atticus but, they were scared to admit it. The town knows that Atticus is right but no one wants to agree with him because they are scared for there own selves, that’s why I think Atticus is very courageous he is not scared in admitting that he is not a racist, and that he will try to prove that Tom Robinson is innocent. Atticus believed that everyone is equal. He believed that all races should be treated the same no matter what. I think that Atticus was real frustrated with the town’s racial beliefs. Atticus was a great man because, he could decide what was wrong and what’s right, something that the rest of the town had trouble doing. Atticus had convinced the jury that Tom Robinson was innocent, that’s why it took them so long to make there decision, but in the end there was no way that the jury was going to believe a black man over a white man. I think what Miss Maudie said was very correct “ well, we’re making a step-it’s just a baby step, but it’s a step”,(216) that’s what she said after the trial, what she means is that the town will not start to except blacks overnight, but slowly the town is starting to understand that being black does not make you a bad person. The town new that the Ewell’s were a bunch of liars, but they couldn’t chose a black man over a whit man, so Miss Maudie is saying someday they will. “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em but remember it’s a sin to kill a
He was a black man, accused of raping a white women. The Tom Robinson trial was a true trial of good versus evil. Scout’s father was chosen to defend Tom in his trial and tried his hardest providing with all the information that Tom was a innocent man. He fought, “The witness for the state, with the exception of the sheriff of Maycomb County, have presented themselves to you gentlemen, to this court, in the cynical confidence that their testimony would not be doubted, confident that you gentlemen would go along with them on the assumption—the evil assumption—that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women, an assumption that one associates with minds of their calibre.”(Lee 205) At this point in Atticus’ closing speech he and just about everybody else in that courtroom knew Tom Robinson was innocent. The evidence just did not match up with what was presented. Though Tom was innocent, the jury didn’t look past the color of his skin, so was sentenced to
Atticus is a man integrity and morals. Throughout the novel Atticus is always trying to do the right thing in different situations. First Atticus tried to comfort after she told him about her
In conclusion, Atticus shows praiseworthy courage and behavior, in many instances, throughout the story by taking the road not taken. Not by fighting or killing, but by standing up for what he believed in; in a civilized and determined way. His strongest motivation; however, were his kids. He is unique compared to others by taking this road as he defended a black man, putting people before himself and his teaching methods are different. Atticus has made a vast amount of changes to Jem and Scout and has been a great role model. He wants to live without regrets, and to him that's the only way you can say you really lived at all.
...ll spits in Atticus’ face and threatens to get even with him, he tells everyone that you need to walk around in some else’s shoes to understand their motives.
In the opening chapters of “To Kill A Mockingbird,” Harper Lee introduces several subtle instances of racism. However, when Jem and Scout are welcomed into Cal’s Church in chapter 12, the reader really gets to travel behind the false disguise of Maycomb County’s white society to see the harsh realities of the injustices suffered by the blacks. The black community is completely separate from the whites -- in fact, Cal lives in a totally different part of town!
Atticus shows great compassion and tolerance when he stands up for the Negroes. He stands up and represents Tom Robinson because he believes that everyone should be treated equally in the court of law. He knows that because Tom was a Negro there would be a slim chance of winning. That fact never discouraged him though because he says that the main reason he is representing Tom is because, ' if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature'; (75). He recited a speech, which clearly states that Tom Robinson is not guilty. In that speech he says, 'our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal'; (205). He believed that prejudice and stereotyping is wrong and he tries to teach these morals to Scout and Jem.
Atticus’s courage has been demonstrated repeatedly throughout the course of the novel. When Atticus was given the trial for Tom Robinson, he had the valor to stand up for what he thought was right. He knew from the beginning that he had no chance to win the case, but he still defended Tom anyway. At one point, Atticus was trying to teach Jem that courage is “...when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what” (Lee 149). This is exactly what Atticus has done and will always do. He saw the trial all the way through to the end. Atticus is the perfect example of someone who shows bravery.
Scout, Atticus’s daughter was getting a lot of trouble because her father was defending a colored man. A lot of her classmates told her that her daddy was a “n------ lover”. Atticus told her “to never say that word again” . Atticus has respect for everybody and cares for everyone. While Tom was in jail Atticus went to Tom’s family’s home to check on the family and fill them in on the case. Not only can you tell that Atticus cares about everyone but his job
Whatever Atticus has to say in the trial means nothing. Even before the trial started, people were giving him and his family a hard time. Like when Francis said, “I guess it ain’t your fault if Uncle Atticus is a nigger-lover”(83). In fact, Atticus
Atticus remained a pillar of righteousness in a town whose moral foundation was weak to say the least. When Atticus took Tom Robinson's case, he didn't treat the case differently from any other he might take on. He knew that there was no way that Tom would be saved from death no matter how well he defended him. From opening to closing statements, Atticus remained vigilant in his defense of Tom.
Atticus’s real courage drove him to put aside the criticism and risk, and take up and fight the Tom Robinson’s controversial case. It is evident that these three characters in To Kill a Mockingbird display acts of real courage, even when they know they are fighting a losing battle.
Atticus is a good man, a just man. He upholds his morals, and judges by his conscience. He is shaken but not moved by the town of Maycomb in their gossip and hypocritical ways. When offered Tom's case, Atticus knows he will take it on. He won't just stand there with no proper defense for Tom, but he will let the truth be known, and prove that Tom is innocent. "...that boy might go to the chair, but he's not going till the truth's told."
Furthermore, Atticus showed true bravery when he went against Maycomb, a generally prejudice town, in order to defend Tom. He understood that taking the case would make him an object of scorn and ridicule. That no one would forgive him for believing in a black man's word rather than a white man's. Even his own sister expresses disapproval of his decision, practically telling him he was bringing disgrace on the family. But, no matter how much his reputation suffered, he did not change his mind. Standing up for his convictions was more important then what people thought about him..
Scout believes at the beginning of the book that courage is all to do with physical feats like fist fighting. Scout and Jem though Atticus was courageous when he shot the mad dog, but Atticus just shrugged it off telling his children that that is not ?real courage?. The children soon see that moral courage is more valuable after Miss Dubose said "Your father's no better than the niggers and trash he works for!" Chapter 11, Page 113 after they walked past her house. On the way back Atticus just walked by and told Mrs. Dubose, ?you look as pretty as a picture? Mrs. Dubose was so stunned that she could not say a word back to him. Later Jem and scout leaned how courageous Mrs. Dubose really was after Jem cut up her camellia bushes, the kids found out that she was a morphine attic brave enough to get off the drug that killed her.
...Scout, I couldn?t go to church and worship God if I didn?t try to help that man.?? Atticus would help a man if it is the right thing to do, he does not consider what people think of him, he will only be bothered if does not help, then he is going against his moral beliefs. Atticus shows his beliefs, truthfulness, and justice.