Courage is defined as people doing acts of selflessness for the greater good. Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird and Edward Snowden fit the definition of courage by sacrificing their own reputation for righteousness, knowing consequences will be harsh, changing the future, but not lingering in the moment, and also standing up for what they believe in. These two courageous “heroes” show us what we can be if we let go of ourselves and open our eyes to what is really happening around us.
Sacrificing one 's reputation in order to carry out an action that has harsh consequences exemplifies a person’s courageousness in many ways. Atticus Finch shows this when he takes on the Tom Robinson trial. The court needed a lawyer to defend Tom Robinson, and Mr. Finch, knowing that no one would stand up for Tom or prepare an honest defense, took the case, even knowing that his reputation as a white man would be gone. After Scout comes home from school, complaining to Atticus about the children at school being very mean towards her and calling Atticus a Nigger lover, Atticus tells her daughter:
“Scout simply by the nature of the work, every lawyer gets at least once case that in his lifetime that affects them personally. This one’s mine, I guess. You might hear some ugly talk about it at school (Lee, 101)
This is Mr. Finch telling his daughter why he took the case, and how it has affected him. When Atticus took …show more content…
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch defends Tom Robinson during the trial and also indirectly speaks out for the black society. Tom was a black man convicted of rape, and everyone wanted justice to be dealt. And, everyone wanted Tom dead so attempts were made, but were unsuccessful. During the trial, Atticus stands up and gives a speech in the defense of Tom, this speech attempted to change the people of the court to understand that the black race was just as equal as the white race. Atticus
Sacrificing one 's reputation in order to carry out an action that has harsh consequences exemplifies a person’s courageousness in many ways. Atticus Finch shows this when he takes on the Tom Robinson trial. The court needed a lawyer to defend Tom Robinson, and Mr. Finch, knowing that no one would stand up for Tom or prepare an honest defense, took the case, even knowing that his reputation as a white man would be gone. After Scout comes home from school, complaining to Atticus about the children at school being very mean towards her and calling Atticus a Nigger lover, Atticus tells her daughter:
“Scout simply by the nature of the work, every lawyer gets at least once case that in his lifetime that affects them personally. This one’s mine, I guess. You might hear some ugly talk about it at school (Lee, 101)
This is Mr. Finch telling his daughter why he took the case, and how it has affected him. When Atticus took …show more content…
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch defends Tom Robinson during the trial and also indirectly speaks out for the black society. Tom was a black man convicted of rape, and everyone wanted justice to be dealt. And, everyone wanted Tom dead so attempts were made, but were unsuccessful. During the trial, Atticus stands up and gives a speech in the defense of Tom, this speech attempted to change the people of the court to understand that the black race was just as equal as the white race. Atticus