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Essay on not giving up
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Introduction: In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the author shows us that one shouldn’t quit a task just because they think they won’t win. This is depicted in many ways throughout the novel, like when Atticus knew he wasn’t likely going to win the trial of Tom Robinson, yet he did not quit just because of that. The topic of not quitting when one believes they will not succeed is shown throughout the novel. Body Paragraph 1: In the novel, the topic of not quitting when one believes they will not prosper can be perceived in many components. When Atticus is talking about the trial of Tom Robinson, he says, “It's when you know you're licked before you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do,”
(Lee 76) because he knows he won’t likely win the trial, but he will not give up. When Atticus says, “You know you’re licked,” he means that you know you’re defeated or overcome. Harper Lee likely chose the word licked to show how they spoke in Maycomb, using informal words often. Body Paragraph 2: The character Atticus Finch often will speak of not giving up, and a lot of the time it is a life lesson he is teaching Jem or Scout. After the town hears about Atticus defending Tom Robinson, him and his family have to endure dirty looks and comments made towards them. After a kid in Scout’s class, Cecil Jacobs, makes crude comments about her father, she beats him up. Atticus then tells her, “You just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don’t you let ‘em get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change” (Lee 76) because he wants her to know that violence is never the answer in any conflict and to believe in herself that she can avoid conflict altogether. Conclusion: In conclusion, you can see that Harper Lee often uses the idea of not giving up even if one thinks that winning isn’t possible. She uses the topics of Atticus not giving up even though he knew he would not win the trial, and Atticus also telling Scout to not give up in conflict. If everyone in the world would choose not to give up and to keep their head up, the world could be a much stronger place.
Many themes are demonstrated in To Kill A Mockingbird and Mississippi Trial, 1955. Three of the most predominant themes were courage, integrity, and truth. The author developed these themes gradually throughout both books by illustrating the actions and thoughts of the main characters. Because of these characteristics, Hiram Hilburn and Atticus Finch emerge as the heroes of the stories. The way in which heroes become inspirational to others is by learning from their mistakes. Atticus and Hiram both struggle with the pressure to follow the crowd, but the critical question is will they be able to do what’s best for the town?
To Atticus real courage is when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. This is an important life lesson everyone should
Almost everyday one decides to sacrifices an aspect of their life, but is limited to only so many on their behalf of their morals. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch and Jem Finch sacrifice their identities, perspectives, well being, and time for their beliefs. The book takes place during the great depression where racism is a normal day to day behavior. Atticus is a lawyer who is assigned to take on a case defending Tom Robinson who is an african american man accused of rape. While knowing that the usual act of a lawyer being appointed to defend an african american, during the great depression, is to not try to defend the defendant at all, Atticus believes that he should give the same amount of effort to defend Tom Robinson as he would to a
Atticus was a man of strong morals and conscience and in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, had to overcome the backlash and hate from defending Tom Robinson. With what seemed to be the majority of Maycomb County against him and his own safety at stake, Atticus knew that he couldn’t win the trial. Yet accompanied by his rationality, good ethics and determination he overcomes the trial. It is not the desired ending, but for his efforts in the trial, Atticus gains the respect of the black community and the respect of others in Maycomb by following through and overcoming the challenges that followed the
middle of paper ... ... Similarly, in another instance, Atticus displays this real courage when confronted by the lynch mob; though he very well knew that he was putting his life at risk, he was “licked”—outnumbered by people and weapons, yet Atticus still protected Tom. If it weren’t for Scout’s innocence, Atticus might of even died—he put that much at risk to do what was right.
Shaw-Thornburg, Angela. “On Reading To Kill a Mockingbird: Fifty Years Later.” Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird: New Essays. Meyer, Michael J. Lanham, Md: Scarecrow Press, 2010. 113-127. Print.
Atticus Finch is an optimist in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus is from the upper class; he becomes the defence attorney for a lower class African American. He hopes to win, even though he knows he cannot succeed, as an African American will never win against a white man. He does not give up this hope. Atticus is respectful of everyone, and believes that everyone is equal. He knows that you can never lose hope and tries to teach his children to do the same. This is clear when he says, “It’s not time to worry yet,” (Lee, pg, 232). This illustrates Atticus as a hopeful person. He knows there are better things to come. Atticus believes in the best of everything. When something bad happens he tries to see the good in the problem. It is hopeful as he is hoping for the future. Atticus is optimistic; he never gave up hope in the novel. Although his case did not win, he still kept his head high, and strives for justice in the world. Atticus represents the hope that o...
Atticus Finch shows, in many ways, the true definition of a hero, but no situation was more important than the Tom Robinson trial. In Maycomb, the thought of taking a negro’s word instead of a white man’s was ridiculous to the citizens, especially over a matter as serious as a black man raping a white woman. Regardless of this information, Atticus still takes on Tom Robinson’s case and tries to make as big of a difference as possible. When Scout asks him if he thinks that he will win the case, Atticus subtly replies “No, honey” (76). Atticus goes on to explain, “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try and win” (76). Basically, Atticus believes that just because it is unlikely that he will win, it does not mean that he should just give up without trying. Throughout all the discrimination, Atticus remains tough and tries to achieve his goal, no matter how hard it is. This was an example of moral courage. Even Scout knows how hard her father is trying by comparing Atticus’ efforts to “watching Atticus walk down the street, raise a rifle to his shoulder and pull the trigger, but...
The first half of To Kill A Mockingbird contains many classic dilemmas that serve as models for more important problems later to come. For example, Atticus is forced into a choice between disobeying Scout's teacher and doing what he feels is right for Scout. Atticus wants Scout to retain her respect for the teacher and to continue following her instructions. Yet, he knows that the time he shares with his daughter is very important and is something that will h...
To Kill a Mocking Bird is a novel that explores prejudice in a small American town in the Deep South. It is set during the depression. One of the main features that the novel explores is the theme of racial prejudice. In the novel Tom Robinson is being persecuted for the rape of a white woman, which he never committed. He is purely being prosecuted for being black but when Atticus who is a white lawyer is defending him in court he becomes somewhat outlawed in the white community. Atticus ignores the comments made by the white majority population and does not give in to the pressure of the community. This is apparent when Atticus says “I’m simply defending a negro… There’s been high talk around the town to the effect that I shouldn’t do much about defending this man.” This is an important quote as it shows us Atticus’s will defend anyone no-matter what their race is. We learn f...
...ll spits in Atticus’ face and threatens to get even with him, he tells everyone that you need to walk around in some else’s shoes to understand their motives.
...occur in the story, including Bob Ewell’s attack on Jem and Scout, and when the grateful fans of Mr. Finch bring him thanks, would not have occurred had Atticus chosen to dismiss the case. Parenting is a challenge in itself. Finding the proper balance to raising children to be happy and healthy adults can be difficult. Atticus is faced with these normal problems, as well as the choice of whether or not to put his children’s lives in danger in order to defend what is just. Though accepting Tom Robinson’s case was not the easy solution, or the answer that most parents would find, by making this choice, Atticus improved his own life as well as the lives as numerous people around him. Whether to coast with the easy solution, or face the challenge is the question that parents must ponder when making important decisions.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, the author depicts courage in terms of doing that which serves as right, even when there exists little chance of success. As Atticus explains to Jem, real courage does not occur in the ability to fight or use a gun; rather, “It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it thro...
Chinese novelist Mo Yan once said the following: “One of the biggest problems in literature is the lack of subtlety.” But trends tend to prove otherwise. In Harper Lee’s novel “To Kill A Mockingbird”, which is often regard the best american novel ever written, subtlety is found rarely throughout. Whether it be in her characterization or allegory she fails to leave the reader with a shred of doubt about what or who she is talking about, through her incessant circumlocution, if it can be called that, she delivers a vivid and redundant recount of events through the eyes of a young Jean Louise “Scout” Finch. If a section of the story (which encompass numerous almost unrelated shorter stories) were to be taken and examined, The Trial (chapters 17-22) would prove the most fruitful, and so it will serve as the subject of this essay.
In Harper Lee's novel To Kill A Mockingbird the protagonist Scout face offenses by others because of her father's justice for defending an African American in court. Scout Finch lives with her brother Jem, and their father Atticus, in the sleepy town of Maycomb during the Great Depression. As Atticus, the father of the protagonist faces the moral dilemma in chapter 29-30 of the incident with Bob Ewell. Atticus moral dilemma will reveal his character and his beliefs. Bob Ewell attempted to hurt Atticus children in order to get revenge on Atticus for defending the African American who was accused of raping his daughter in court. Atticus has a hard time of choosing whether to tell the town that Bob Ewell died of an accident, or his son or Boo Radley killed Bob Ewell. Atticus is a famous lawyer in Maycomb and he believes in legal justice.