Atticus's Courage

In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus is full of courage for shooting Tim Johnson, which allows Jem to gain respect for him. Before the shooting of Tim Johnson, Jem thinks that his “father didn’t do anything. He worked in an office, not in a drugstore. Atticus did not drive a dumptruck for the county, he was not the sheriff, he did not farm, work in a garage, or do anything that could possibly arouse the admiration of anyone” (118). Jem views Atticus as a below average parent, due to the fact that he is not admirable or athletic in his eyes. Since Jem does not see his father at work how other children do and does not fully understand his father’s job, he is unable to realize how much courage his father actually possess. Jem's opinion …show more content…
Jem realizes and respects the empathy his father possesses and the humbleness and modesty he has about his shooting talent. Therefore, Jem realizes that Atticus is not defined by his age and is full of courage. Jem’s opinion of Atticus changes when Atticus shoots Tim Johnson. Jem is very proud of his father’s gun shot using his hidden talent. He finally realizes that Atticus has an abundant amount of courage for shooting Tim Johnson, protecting his family and the neighbors around him. Atticus is the only brave human being, due to the fact that he shot Tim Johnson when Heck Tate passes the gun off to him. When Scout suggests telling her friends at school about her father’s heroic actions, Jem disagrees and replies, “Naw, Scout, it’s something you wouldn’t understand. Atticus is real old, but I wouldn’t care if he couldn’t do anything- I wouldn’t care if he couldn’t do a blessed thing” (131). After Jem witnesses his father’s courageousness, he feels respect towards his father, when he previously thought that he was old and incapable of being courageous. A gentlemen, like Atticus, does not brag about his