To Kill A Mockingbird-Courage
...ding a black person in trial. He did what he thought was right and didn’t let people’s unjust comments get to him. He is wise enough to know that the prejudices of people will never allow justice to be done, but at the same time, he is determined that the truth be told so that those who convict Tom Robinson will be aware that they are convicting an innocent man. Just like Mrs. Dubose, Atticus knew that he could never win the case, but he tried anyway. "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. 104 c) Scout, being the youngest character, courage was most often associated with a physical act that is usually dangerous. She doesn’t understand that courage can be shown in many ways. Scout sees an example of courage in her father when he shoots the mad dog. Although Atticus did not think of it as very courageous, Jem and Scout were proud of their father and the courage he showed in the situation. He was not trying to prove anything, yet they were still impressed. Later on in the story, Jem and Scout encounter the vindictive Mrs. Dubose. "Your father's no better than the niggers and trash he works for!" (pg.102 a) When she insulted Atticus like that, Jem was furious and decided that the best way to settle things was to ruin Mrs. Dubose's camellias. After Atticus heard about this, Jem was made to read to her every afternoon for a month. Mrs. Dubose was a very sick lady, and had morphine to ease her pain. It was not until after she died that Atticus explained to Jem and Scout how courageous the lady was because she knew she was dying but was still determined to die free of the morphine. She fought against great odds, even though she knew that she would surely die. Between these two examples Atticus set, and the many more he showed in the way he lived his life, Scout was told to stop fighting with her fists and to try and overcome opposing opinions with her head, rather than with physical violence. Tom Robinson was on trial for being accused of rape by Mayella Ewell. He was innocent. It was obvious. But being black, white people in that town could not accept the fact that he was innocent. If a white woman accused a black man of rape, she would basically be automatically correct. That’s just the way it went. No way would he be said to be innocent in that time and in that town. He was an extremely courageous man. Not only was he fighting against all odds, but he knew he was innocent and he knew he had no chance. Atticus fought to have him be proven guilty, but it just didn’t happen. He knew he didn’t do it and he still had to keep strong and have hope that Atticus could find some way on earth to make the jury see that he is innocent. It was ridiculous that just because he was a colored man, he was guilty. Mayella and Bob Ewells knew they could get away with saying Tom Robinson raped Mayella. She got caught doing something wrong, and decided to turn it around so it seemed like she was the innocent one. In return, Bob and Mayella looked foolish. Tom Robinson was sent to prison and later tried to escape. He was shot 17 times and died instantly. He fought against all odds, lost but he and many others knew he was right. He, metaphorically, is a mockingbird. And according to Atticus it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. “I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something, and I asked Miss Maudie about it. “Your father’s right,” she said. “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy . . . but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” (pg. 90 b) Tom Robinson did nothing wrong. He did as his own business. Knowing you did nothing wrong, and having someone accusing you of something you know you didn’t do mus...