To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird contains many conflicts and the protagonists face many challenges. Tom Robinson is accused of raping Mayella Ewell. Atticus takes on the case, he knows he will not win. Despite this Atticus gives the case his all. When Atticus Finch takes on Tom Robinson’s case he ignites what seems like the entire world against him. Even members of his own family turn against Atticus for his decision to take on the Tom Robinson case. His stand against racism in Maycomb County has severe consequences, but Atticus will not sacrifice his morals. When his children question his decision and reasoning, he uses the struggles he is facing as deliberate lessons for his children. Atticus tells Scout, “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 anyway and see it through no matter what.” Atticus has the ability to understand the gravity of small struggles in daily life and applies them to display the fundamentals of true moral behavior. He stands up for what he believes even when the entire world is against him. Atticus does not without even the smallest hope of victory. From the second he took on the Tom Robinson case, Atticus knew that he would never successfully acquit Tom. But he took on this case anyway, because he knows what is right and what must be done. Atticus is a role model for his children and the reader. He represents courage in the face of assured defeat and he fulfills the role without a moment’s pause. Atticus has courage to fight for what is right in the bleakest of circumstances, and stands up unflinchingly against the world that is against him.  

To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird is novel telling the story of the Finch family during one of the most difficult summers of their lives. Atticus Finch takes on the case of Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman. It is an extremely controversial case and Atticus knows from the start that he will not win. Atticus also knows that taking this case will also bring on a storm of hatred and ill feelings onto him and his family. Despite this fact, Atticus made a choice that he knew would change his life forever. Atticus explains to Scout on why he decided to take the case:" The main one is, 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. Because I could never ask you to mind me again. Scout, simply by the nature of the work, every lawyer gets at least one case in his lifetime that affects him personally. This one’s mine, I guess," Atticus makes the decision to defend Tom Robinson because there is no other choice for him. If he rejects the case then he loses everything he stands for and believes in. Although Atticus could lose his standing and his safety, it is more important to stand up for the truth. This case is a test of how tightly Atticus will hold onto his morals in any circumstances. When he takes on this case he knows that there will be trouble that will affect him and his entire family. Throughout the entire novel   Atticus constantly makes the choice to stand up for truth and integrity despite the world telling him to give up on what he believes in.