Preview

What Is The Importance Of Standing Up In To Kill A Mockingbird

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
513 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
What Is The Importance Of Standing Up In To Kill A Mockingbird
In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the importance of standing up for what one believes in is developed through the characters of Scout, Calpurnia, and Atticus.
Although she played a small role in the larger facet of standing up for oneself and what they believe in, in the novel, Scout Finch, one of the main characters stands firmly by her beliefs. When her second cousin, Francis Hancock, bullied her about her father defending Tom Robinson she attacked him. It was not because she was trying to support Tom Robinson but more because she was trying to defend her father. Throughout the novel, Scout showed only sheer devotion of her father who was an idol of only goodness in her mind. Because of her unwavering beliefs that her father was innocent and kind and she was willing to use her fists to anyone who disagreed or criticized him. This showed that Scout shares her father’s willingness to stand up when she feels
…show more content…
When the judge assigned him the job of defending Tom Robinson, he knew that he had to accept the case because if he rejected it an innocent man would die without a fair trial as everyone on the jury was white and they would not side with a man who was black. Atticus, himself knew that even though the odds were against Tom Robinson he would not be able to face himself everyday knowing that he did not try to stop this injustice. When he made up his mind to stand up and help Tom Robinson, Atticus went through the extremes of defending Tom with only a small gun when a mob came over to the county jail with the intention of killing his client and making his family face the prejudice and danger that went along with his defending someone black at that time. He even gained dangerous enemies such as Bob Ewell. Although he lost the case, Atticus was still able to think of himself in an honorable way because he knew that he stood up for what he believed

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    To Kill A Mockingbird

    • 540 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee illustrates determination through Atticus Finch’s ability to do what is right at all costs because he wants to set good examples. First of all, Atticus defends those who aren’t able to speak for themselves or for those who aren’t understood. Evidence of this assertion from the book is, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view-until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”- (pg. 39) Atticus defended Miss Caroline when Scout told him about Burris Ewell; Atticus told Scout to look at things from Miss Caroline’s perspective. Atticus knew that people shouldn’t tease Arthur Radley, so Atticus made sure his children didn’t make fun of Arthur. Atticus defended Mrs. Dubose and explained to Jem how she was the bravest person he ever knew. Second of all, Atticus accepts the trial of Tom Robinson even though the town is against him. Evidence of this second assertion is, “This case, Tom Robinson’s case, is something that goes to the essence of a man’s conscience-Scout, I couldn’t go to church and worship God if I didn’t try to help that man.”- (pg. 139) Although Atticus knew that Tom Robinson was going to be guilty, Atticus still wanted to defend him. If Atticus couldn’t hold up his head in town, Atticus couldn’t represent this county in the legislature. He couldn’t even tell Scout or Jem not to do something again because Atticus could never ask them to mind him again. The town was against Atticus for defending a black man, but Atticus didn’t cave into the negative comments they were saying about him. When taking the case of Tom Robinson, Atticus took the responsibilities of protecting Tom. One of the times when Atticus protected Tom was when Atticus sat outside the jail late at night with a gun to protect Tom. Last of all, Atticus makes wise choices in regards to his children. Here are two evidences of this last assertion. “You might hear some ugly talk about it at school, but do one…

    • 540 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Most of the characters in the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird", written by Harper Lee, show the theme of courage in different ways. Courage is a difficult virtue for people to emulate in real life. Some believe that courage is when people have strong bodies and hearts. Others would say it is when people tell the truth directly instead of avoiding it. In this novel, Atticus Finch, Mrs. Dubose , and Boo Radley are similar in their courageous attitudes by taking multiple risks to stand up for innocent people while they are different in how they demonstrate their courage ; Atticus Finch announces his courage when he stands for what he believes…

    • 938 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Throughout the story of To Kill a Mockingbird the theme of real courage was portrayed multiple times. Two characters in particular embody this theme, and provide many examples of what real courage truly is. The first character that possess real courage is Scout’s father, Atticus. Atticus is fearless and courageous for taking on the case of Tom Robinson. He knew that the odds were stacked against him. Regardless he tried anyway because he was going to fight for what was right, even if he was the only one. When asked by Scout why he took the case Atticus replied, “For a number of reasons. The main one is, if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town. I could not represent this county in the legislature, I could not even tell you or Jem not…

    • 540 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus Finch, a lawyer, is a very compassionate person, and a person who is not afraid to challenge the unwritten laws of the South. In the trial of Tom Robinson, Atticus decides to defend Tom to the best of his ability. Atticus is given the trial by the judge and has the choice to defend Tom or let an inexperienced lawyer have the case, but Atticus accepts the case with a lot of thought. He accepts the case because he could not be a good parent to his children, in which setting a bad example of not doing the right thing. Atticus an excellent lawyer and parent is also compassionate for Tom when defending him. First off, he accepts the case which is good for tom because Atticus is probably one of the most experienced lawyers in Maycomb County. Atticus's choice is accept the case and to defend Tom Robinson to his fullest.…

    • 967 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Atticus is very courageous to follow his conscience. He thinks that Tom Robinson should have a fighting chance. He tries his hardest in to defending Tom Robinson even though it is unacceptable in today's society because he sticks to his beliefs and he doesn't let society interfere with…

    • 350 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Steve Jobs once said, “Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life...have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” By this, he means: don't let the voices and beliefs of others overrule yours, but instead follow your own intuition. This is exactly what Atticus teaches his children in the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. In the novel, Atticus shows his children that even though everyone may be against your belief or stand on something, continue to think for yourself even though others may disagree.…

    • 398 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    It is amazing how many people in the world let opportunities to show their courage pass by everyday. For example, if someone were to see someone else being bullied, most people would just walk by. In actuality, they could stand up against that bully and show courage and bravery. Courage is also greatly defined in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. She shows this life skill through many of the characters in the story and through a lot of the events that go on. Through the choices that her characters, Atticus, Jem, and Scout Finch, make throughout the book, courage becomes defined as standing up for what is right.…

    • 636 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    To begin, Atticus wouldn’t judge someone by the color of their skin because it’s just the wrong thing to do. Atticus said this during the trial,” . . . Which, gentlemen, we know is in itself a lie as black as Tom Robinson's skin, a lie I do not have to point out to you. You know the truth, the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral. But some men cannot be trusted around women, black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men.”( Lee, 273). Atticus was practical as well as idealistic. He directly mentions something that people on that jury wouldn't want to admit to, that they are racial prejudice and challenges them to be honest in their deliberations. This was a very good reason for why he would want to defend Tom.…

    • 404 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The way one handles a problem can have a large effect on one's life. When Atticus chose to proceed defending Tom Robinson, even though lots of bad things were going to happen and be said about him; he chose to not do things the cowardly way. Atticus knew that his decision to continue with the trial would affect him and his children's lives, he shows this knowledge when he says, "when summer comes you'll have to keep your head about far worse things…"(104) Atticus could have chosen the easy way out, to discontinue defending Tom Robinson because he is black, but he wouldn't have been able to live with himself as he states, "…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) This shows that if Atticus were to discontinue defending Tom, that would annul the very thing that makes him himself, a lawyer, a father. If he would have chosen not to defend Tom, he would have lost his dignity and self respect. Sometimes people do not always take the correct approach to a problem however.…

    • 649 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus agreeing to defend Tom Robinson in court showed that he believed in fairness and justice for all. During that time black people were considered to be lower class, which caused white people to always suspect blacks before they suspected white people. People in the town begin to call him a "nigger lover" and threaten him and his family. During the trial Atticus makes this statement, "Confident that you gentlemen, would go along with them on one assumption, the evil assumption, that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are immoral beings, that all Negroes are not to be trusted around our women, an assumption that of one mind of their caliber. Which gentlemen, we know is in itself a lie as black as Tom Robinson's skin, a lie that I don't have to point out to you. You know the truth. The truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men can't be trusted around women, black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no…

    • 442 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus’s sense of justice is impeccable. He thinks all human beings, irrespective of race, age, or gender should be equal. He is a lawyer who uses his mind instead of his fists, who stands in the gap and always does the things other people are unwilling and afraid to do. Although Atticus’s decision of defending Tom Robinson, a black being…

    • 759 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    First of all, Atticus demonstrates mental courage when he undertakes the task of defending Tom Robinson, a black man wrongly accused of rape. Atticus knows he won't win the case and like Mrs. Dubose in her battle against morphine, he is "licked" before he begins. Nevertheless, Atticus knows that Tom is innocent and that he must fight for him, since no one else will. Atticus's strong sense of morality and justice motivates him to defend Tom with vigor and determination, giving it all he's got with one mission in mind. He wants the people of Maycomb town, whether they believe it or not, to hear the truth about Tom, "That boy might go to the chair, but he's not going till the truth's told." (Chapter 15, Page 146) Furthermore, Atticus showed true mental courage 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…

    • 1404 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Atticus and Boo Radley display moral and physical courage in different situations even while facing Maycomb’s scorn and fear. The importance of unwavering strength in the face of contempt manifests throughout Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird.…

    • 52 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus, a lawyer in Alabama in the 1930s, demonstrated an extensive amount of courage. One way he showed courage was by defending Tom Robinson in court. He knew that the jury would find Tom guilty because of racism but, chose to defend him anyway. Atticus also demonstrated bravery when he protected Tom Robinson from Mr. Cunningham and his gang. By his actions he saved Tom from being killed. Lastly, Atticus tried to take the blame for Bob Ewell’s…

    • 399 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    He knew what was right all along, and he fought for it even though he knew that he didn’t stand a chance at winning as Tom Robinson’s lawyer . “Instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand, it is when you know you’re licked before you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what” (Lee 149). Atticus had guts to stand up for a black man in Maycomb. A lot of people in Maycomb hated black people. Atticus was risking his life and his family’s life, but he knew that he couldn’t live with himself if he didn’t fight for what was right. On the night that Atticus was guarding Tom Robinson at the jail, there were people there that were mad at Atticus and probably would have killed him if it hadn’t been for Scout, Dill, and Jem wouldn’t have showed up. This is just one of many problems that Atticus faces throughout the novel. He had an uphill battle to fight, but nothing would stop him from reaching his end goal. It is impossible to look at Atticus and not see justice that he courageously fought for. Just like it’t impossible to look at Boo Radley and not see…

    • 900 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays