Examples Of Heroism In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Atticus Finch explains to his son what a real hero is by saying, “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyways and you see it through no matter what” (149). Even if the chances of coming out on top are slim or something is being risked, Atticus explains that a person should never give up or back down. They should always give it everything they have just because they know it is the right thing to do. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses characterization to illustrate heroism as taking risks and going above and beyond the call of duty. Throughout the novel, Lee reveals the self-sacrifice of a hero through the risks they take for other people. For example, when Jem and Scout are standing…show more content…
One example of this is when Scout gets separated from Dill and Jem in the courthouse, she ends up overhearing old men talk about how Atticus got assigned the Tom Robinson case. One man says that he does not like this because Atticus aims to defend Tom (217-218). Even though Atticus was court appointed he does more than what is required of him by willingly defending Tom. The peace and privacy of the Finch family is being put at stake, but Atticus knows that defending an innocent man is more important than keeping his family’s name out of the drama and talk of Maycomb. In addition, Jem, Scout, and Dill find Atticus outside the jail and Jem refuses to leave even after Atticus tells him several times to go home (204). Jem is showing bravery by sticking up for his father and standing up to what he believes is right, even though the mob of men surrounding him put him in a dangerous position. Jem understands that the men are the ones in the wrong and he sticks up for his father as a way of expressing that, although his safety is being

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