...Atticus is the most honest, shows the most courage, and pacifistic throughout the novel To Kill A Mockingbird. Atticus plays a big part in the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. He is one of the main characters and is a good guy. He supports African Americans. He seems like one of the only few guys that do in Maycomb. He hates violence and does not prefer to ever use it. Thesis Statement Throughout the novel of To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus determined honest, courage, and pacifistic. Body (paragraph 2,3,4) Atticus shows honestly throughout the book. If you wanted to trust someone Atticus was the guy. He was an honest man. Some examples of him being honest is that he never lied during the trial. He never lied about something for Tom Robinson. He told the jury the truth about everything. Another example is when he comes out and says he will defend Tom Robinson. He was being honest about it and did not try to cover it up before the trial to everyone just in case if the whites would get mad. The white people of Maycomb did get really mad at Atticus but he didn't care he still wanted to defend Tom. Another example of him being...
Words: 665 - Pages: 3
...“Courage: the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery” (Dictionary.com). Courage appears all around us in all different types, such as in tv shows, movies, books, and in real life. For example, there are many controversial types of courage shown in the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. To Kill A Mockingbird is about the people who live in an imaginary town in Alabama, called Maycomb, during the Great Depression. When racism and justice collide head on in Atticus’s courtroom, it is important to be courageous and brave no matter what the circumstances. Three examples of courage from the book are, when Jem stands up to save Atticus at the jailhouse, Boo Radley secretly laying the blanket over Scout, and Mrs. Dubose quitting her morphine addiction. The first...
Words: 840 - Pages: 4
...It is true that Harper Lee’s novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ is more than just a simple story. Novels that challenge the reader’s way of thinking become distinct from others. Lee explores key ideas such as prejudice and courage and challenges readers to think about major moral issues experienced in society .The story at first seems like any other childish novel but Lee highlights key ideas making the novel evolve into something much greater. Lee shows the co-existence of Good and Evil and the moral nature of human beings in society. Readers re-evaluate their understanding of the world making the book much more significant. Ideas such as prejudice and courage are emphasized in To Kill a Mockingbird. Prejudice is the preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee isolates characters and depicts ways prejudice is used. She demonstrates the evils of prejudice and the result can be quite confronting to readers. Lee reinforces the idea that all men and women are created equal and have the same rights. To Kill a Mockingbird exposes the dangers of stereotyping and prejudice. In the novel the idea of equality is lost even in the house of god. Prejudice appears in many forms in the novel. An early form of prejudice in the novel is the children’s obsession with Boo Radley which appears all throughout the novel. Local Gossip portrays Boo as a malevolent phantom. The children run by the Radley house out of fear acting as if the...
Words: 847 - Pages: 4
...Birds of Innocence Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is an exceptional story of cowardice and courage, of prejudice and acceptance. Most obviously, it is a story of maturity and innocence. In the novel, Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley are all metaphorically portrayed as mockingbirds because of their observable innocence with others in their community and their evident kindness. While each character has noticeably different storylines and symbolic references to the mockingbird, all three have their inculpability in common. Atticus Finch is depicted as a mockingbird, not only because of his incorruption, but also because of his fatherly instincts and his unmistakable courage. In chapter twenty-nine and thirty we see Atticus’s righteousness in full light. As they sauntered home from the school pageant, Jem and Scout were attacked. Atticus, knowing that Bob Ewell has threatened him and what he loves, does not outright blame Bob for his children’s wounds and injuries. Mockingbirds are extremely territorial and protective of their young. In chapter ten we see Atticus’s shooting skills as he protects his children from a rabid dog. Another trait shown by mockingbirds is their courage when defending their...
Words: 653 - Pages: 3
...Courage is a virtue that is needed more in this world. There are many men and women who fight using guns and many weapons, but is that what courage really is? Courage is described in To Kill a Mockingbird as “when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.” (149). Meaning to finish what you started even when you know you won’t succeed. Many characters show this courage in To Kill a Mockingbird, including, Mrs. Dubose, Atticus, and Boo Radley. Mrs. Dubose doesn't seem very courageous at first, but her case proves that courage isn’t always easy to see. It wasn’t until after she died that the children found out what she had been going through. The children found out that all her fits and strange...
Words: 671 - Pages: 3
...To Kill a Mockingbird ¨He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life,” said Muhammad Ali, heavyweight boxing champion. What he meant when he said this quote was, if you don't have enough courage to step out of your bubble/comfort zone then you won't go very far in life.In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch (the main character's dad) has to have courage to accept the court case of Tom Robinson (a black man). Atticus has to defend him without judging him for what he did or didn’t do. In To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Scout Finch learns about courage from her brother Jem, her father Atticus, and a cranky old lady Mrs. Dubose. The first person Scout learns about courage...
Words: 869 - Pages: 4
...In the novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, a character that shows true courage during the trial is Atticus Finch, lawyer and loving father to Jem and Scout. True courage is being able to defend and fight for something despite the circumstances.Numerous times Atticus shows courage in the story which all relates to the theme, having to be faced with the harsh reality of the world which ruins your innocence. Atticus Finch stays strong and practical during the trial, defending Tom Robinson with his life. Atticus’s effort during the trial shows his courage because, despite it being tricky to get the judge and people of the racist South to side with Tom Robinson, compared to Mayella, who claims to be the victim. Atticus does not give up and continues to fight for Tom Robinson’s justice. Atticus shows courage through logical...
Words: 1076 - Pages: 5
...Eleanor Roosevelt once said “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop and look fear in the face. You are able to say ‘I lived through this horror, I am able to take on whatever comes next.’” Doing what is scary, what is not popular, requires lots of courage. Harper Lee illustrates this using Atticus a lawyer and single father striving to teach his children the true meaning of courage and bravery. She also uses Mrs Dubose, a morphine addict, and Miss Maudie, when she lost her home to illustrate different ways individuals should be courageous and brave. Like Eleanor Roosevelt, Lee explains that courage is strength of character not strength of force; it is gaining strength and confidence and be able to do.Throughout the book To Kill a Mockingbird, there is constant evidence of characters, both major and minor displaying acts of courage and bravery....
Words: 558 - Pages: 3
...Final Analysis on “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee Jackie Berry Colorado Technical University LITR 240 Prof. Peggy Huey May 9, 2011 Abstract When an author writes novels, short stories, or poems, most of their ideas come from life experiences. The author is trying to send a message that may mirror what the reader can understand. Many writings address conflicts, themes and symbolism. Harper Lee (2006) introduced many of these elements into her novel “To Kill a Mockingbird”. Harper Lee gives accounts of the story as if she was a young child and learns many life lessons that change her life forever. “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (2006), takes place a small populated town in Maycomb, Alabama. The author has taken us back when hatred and prejudice is very common in the 1930s. Atticus, Scout, and Jem Finch are frowned upon because Atticus is defending a black man of allegedly raping a white woman. Atticus uses this opportunity to teach Scout and Jem morals that we teach our children today. Atticus teaches Scout and Jem to not to be judgmental towards anyone, not be afraid to stand up for what is right, and violence does not solve anything. Jem and Scout will also learn the true symbolizing of why it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. Harper Lee described the town of Maycomb as being a very poor and run down. The community is very small and everyone knew each other. The blacks and whites are divided and some that...
Words: 1623 - Pages: 7
...I found the definition of courage has various meanings, and there are three main themes or descriptions that show or prove courage. Mostly it is physical courage, emotional courage, and moral courage. The literature of English 421 taught me that it may take a little or a lot of courage to stand up for yourself in order to reach your goal, and you may find courage you never knew you had. I will describe situations of courage that I think were important in the three novels we read, beginning with the novel displaying the least courageous characters and finishing with the novel displaying the most courageous characters. A Midsummer Night’s Dream It is my opinion this novel did not have the type of characters I would think of as courageous. So, when I was trying to come up with examples of courage from this novel, I thought of Hermia, and the courage she showed when standing up to her parents about Lysander. She loved Lysander, but was supposed to marry Demetrius. There were many conflicts in the novel, mostly about who loved who, and the confusion around why things were happening, not necessarily acts of courage. Hermia stuck to what her heart wanted and that took courage no matter what the Royal parents thought. It takes courage for Hermia to stand up to her father. This is a pretty good example of emotional courage. (Shakespeare, 64) Lord of the Flies Ralph is the main character in Lord of the Flies. He wants to be leader of the boy’s tribe because the boys voted...
Words: 1166 - Pages: 5
...To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a masterpiece of American literature. The minor characters in To Kill a Mockingbird played an important role; these characters are very relevant to the novel. The role of the minor characters in the book is significant because they outline strong themes and they portray elements of human nature. Minor characters such as Dolphus Raymond, Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose and Link Deas demonstrate strong themes such as courage, compassion and kindness such themes are very relevant to the novel. Link Deas is a marvelous minor character. Link displays courage in the novel. During the Tom Robinson trial Link gets up and says, “ I just want the whole lot of you to know one thing right now. That boy’s worked for me eight years an’ I ain’t had a speck o’ trouble outa him. Not a speck.” (Lee 195) It takes a lot of courage to speak out during the trial just to support Tom Robinson. Link is also very kind. He shows kindness because “He walked her the short way, by the Ewells’.”(Lee 249) It is very kind of Link to walk Helen home and commanding Bob Ewell to stop teasing Helen. As well as showing kindness Deas is compassionate. This is correct because “ Mr. Link Deas made a job for Helen. He didn’t really need her, but he felt bad about the way things turned out.”(Lee 249) Link shows compassion by hiring Helen he knows that she will struggle without Tom’s presence. Link Deas displays courage, kindness and compassion within the novel. Mrs. Henry Lafayette...
Words: 645 - Pages: 3
...Is Atticus Finch a hero in the novel “To kill a Mockingbird? Atticus Finch is a heroic character in the novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. Atticus is known for many qualities that make him heroic, qualities that he displays throughout the novel. His qualities and his actions is what makes him a hero. Atticus Finch is a hero because he proves his intelligence and abilities, he defends a Negro in court and cared for everyone equally. The time the book is set in the 1930’s, a time when black African-Americans were considered a lower status then white Americans. In the book Atticus defends a Negro in court, saying to his children “I’m simply defending a Negro, his name’s Tom Robinson,” (Pg75). Atticus shows bravery to defend Tom Robinson, and they...
Words: 899 - Pages: 4
...To Kill a Mockingbird: Essay Explore the growth to maturity of Scout in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Maturation is one of the most important themes in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, and one of the characters to whom this theme applies the most is Scout Finch, the narrator. Starting out as a young, tomboy character who is naïve and immature, over the years in which the novel is set a change in her behaviour becomes prominent, as she acquires more grown up behaviours and beliefs. Arguably the most important change in Scout’s character is her learning to understand other people and their desires and needs, rather than just her own. A notable example of this is her treatment of Boo Radley. At the beginning of the novel, the children’s games concerning his lifestyle and family history demonstrated childish and immature fantasies and, ultimately, a selfish obsession with him, revealing no thought of Boo’s feelings or point of view. Atticus advises them against this habit, telling the children to “stop tormenting that man”. The Radley games is also the one of the first times in the novel when Atticus uses one of his commonest pieces of advice: to “climb into his skin and walk around in it”. However, as the novel progresses, it is obvious that Scout and Jem do become more thoughtful of Boo Radley, stopping their constant annoyance of him, and starting to realise Boo’s sentiments as well. This is shown when Jem has an epiphany that the reason “Boo Radley’s stayed shut...
Words: 1231 - Pages: 5
...To Kill a Mockingbird, by Nelle Haper Lee was published in 1960, after the 1954 Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education and during a time of increasing civil rights unrest (Johnson). It was also a time of great social change in the United States, and a novel about the racial injustices of 1930s Alabama carried a powerful message to its readers. After the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, literature and literacy were used to expose and educate on racial injustice (Prendergrast 2). The dominant theme of the novel is prejudice and ultimately the courage needed to overcome prejudice. There are three main types of prejudice that are explored in the novel; racial prejudice, social prejudice and fear of the unknown. Racial prejudice is present throughout the novel in the people of Maycomb’s everyday life, as it is a novel set in the ‘deep south’ of America in the 1930’s. This period is not so long after the American civil war, so slavery’s abolishment had occurred not all that long ago, and the horror of slavery was still on the mind of many black people at the time (Brundage 86). Because of this, most people’s attitudes towards black people had not changed very much. The situation that shows the best examples of racial prejudice is the trial of Tom Robinson. In his trial, Tom Robinson is misjudged and mistreated because he is black. One of the clearest examples of this is the way in which Mr. Gilmer, Tom’s prosecutor, calls Tom “boy.” He uses a tone of voice towards...
Words: 1526 - Pages: 7
...no reason for us not to try to win.”(87) Courage is facing up to your fears and does not require you to be powerful or intelligent, but it involves making a change for the better and sticking to it as well as standing up for your right even if it is expected you fight against your own people. Atticus Finch, an honest lawyer in Harper Lee's novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" teaches the children that courage can be portrayed as both physical bravery and strength, but fighting for what is right regardless of whether you win or lose takes more strength in character, and is ultimately more courageous. This is revealed to us by the children's original belief courage being physical, the idea of Ms Dubose's bravery and similarly, Atticus' strong moral courage. Atticus fits into this definition of what courage is and demonstrates it several times throughout the novel. Finally, Scout and Jem show courage of their own by challenging their former attitudes. Scout and Jem learn from Atticus a very traditional sense of courage and masculinity. One of the first examples of physical courage Atticus sets is when he steps into the street to shoot the rabid dog. “I haven’t shot a gun in thirty years.”(109, ch10) Although he was completely uninterested in proving anything to his children, he showed them that you can’t back down from a dangerous situation, if there's the chance for other people getting hurt. Another example of physical courage that Atticus demonstrates is when he camps out in front...
Words: 1061 - Pages: 5
