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McKellar 1

Regina McKellar
Toy/Mayes
BCL 6th hour
3 February 2005
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In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, there are many acts of courage. First, Atticus is courageous when he defends Tom Robinson, even though the town is against him. Later, Tom Robinson shows courage when he tells the truth when he doesn’t have, too. Furthermore, Mrs. Dubose shows courage when she gives up morphine before her death. The character Atticus, Tom Robinson, and Mrs. Dubose were courageous even though the task was not easy.
Atticus is courageous man when he defends Tom Robinson, a black man who supposedly raped a white woman. For instance, Atticus takes the case when the town disagrees with him when he knows Tom’s chances of winning are very low. For example, “The main reason is, if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town” (Atticus 80). Even though the town didn’t want him to, he did it for his benefit, and Tom Robinson. Another time, Atticus protects Tom Robinson is at jail when the lynching mob wanted to take Tom. Atticus pleasantly said, “You can turn around and go home again, Walter.” “Heck Tate’s around here somewhere” (Atticus 153). Instead of using violence to protect Tom from the lynching mob, Atticus just stayed calm. During the Tom Robinson Trial, the state has not produced one iota of medical evidence to the effect that the crime Tom Robinson is charged with ever took place. More specifically, “ I am confident that you gentlemen will review without passion the evidence you have heard, come to the decision, and restore this defendant to his family. In the name of God do your duty” (Atticus 205). Courage to stand up to the jury to defend a black man. Atticus showed courage when he defended Tom Robinson.


By telling the truth, Tom Robinson shows courage by not being hostile when Bob Ewell’s testimony. In other words, “So serene was Judge Taylor’s court, that he had a few...