In the novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, written by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch is the most courageous character and this is easily shown through his actions. Atticus shows courage just by taking on the Tom Robinson court case, as he lives in the racist town of Maycomb. Another event which shows Atticus’s courageousness is when he does not fight back against the lynch mob that is trying to kill Tom Robinson. One more event in the novel that proves that Atticus is the most courageous character is when he shoots the rabid dog that could harm the town. All of these events prove that Atticus is a brave man and that he is the most courageous character in the novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’.
Atticus shows courage in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ just by taking on the Tom Robinson court case. At first, even his own loved ones were against his decision. By choosing to defend Tom Robinson, Atticus risks being tormented and harassed by his fellow townspeople of Maycomb County, which is well known for its racist and prejudice attitude towards black people. Atticus pours his heart into defending Tom, even though nearly everyone in Maycomb is against Tom because his skin colour differs from their own. Atticus has to go through personal attacks, verbal abuse and extreme actions by the townspeople. This is evident when Scout asks Atticus what a “nigger-lover” is because she had heard Mrs Dubose call him that. Despite the disapproval from the Maycomb citizens, Atticus persists with the court case because he is aware that Tom Robinson is innocent and Atticus wants others to realize that as well. Atticus wants to end the racist and prejudice actions in Maycomb County. His willingness to go against almost everyone in the town shows his genuine courage. Atticus always stands up for what he truly believes in and shows courage with everything life throws at him. It is quite clear that Atticus is the most courageous character in the novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’.
Another event in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ which shows that Atticus Finch is the most courageous character in the novel, is when he does not fight back against the lynch mob that is trying to kill Tom Robinson. Atticus faces the lynch mob alone when they come to take Tom Robinson from the jail. Atticus had previously heard that Sheriff Tate may not be in town on this particular night and he suspected something was going to happen. For this reason, Atticus sits waiting in front of the jail, guarding Tom Robinson all by himself when the group of men comes. It is not only courageous because he is all alone with no one to protect him, but because he is fearless and did not fight back. He simply and calmly speaks to Mr Cunningham and tells him to “turn around and go home again”. Scout also has a part in diffusing the heated situation, by only being polite and having the courage just to go up and speak to Mr Cunningham, which ends with him and his lynch mob leaving the jail. This also shows that Atticus has passed down his traits and values to his children which could have saved his life. Atticus always does the right thing and by showing true courage in this situation, by not fighting back proves that he is the most courageous character in the novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’.
An additional
