To Kill a Mockingbird Essay: True Heroes

True Heroes

To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic tale of good versus evil in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama. It clearly sets up most characters as either a hero, or a villain through unconventional ways without looking at the obvious choice of the “man with the gun” (112). Although Atticus seems to be the clear hero in the story, some other improbable heroes are evident such as Mrs. Dubose and the Finch children. The one thing that raises them to hero status is also the one thing that hurts them so much. In to Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee portrays true heroes as people who persevere through hardships even though they know that they will lose.

The Finch children begin to learn the meaning of a true hero and begin to show it themselves. Scout, who still at a young age, doesn’t fully understand the meaning of a true meaning but at the request of his father, becomes an example of one. At school, Scout is well known for her quick temper and ability to get in fights. Since Atticus took the case, Scout is getting in a lot more fights to not opnly defend her honour, but to defend her family’s as well. However, Atticus confronts her and tell her to hold her “head up high an keep those fists down”, which upsets Scout (76). The next day, Scout decides to listen to Atticus and when she is challenged by Cecil Jacobs, Scout decides the walk away. All the children begin to call her a coward and laugh at her but Scout keeps her head up high. Even though she knows that all the kids will insult her, Scout goes through with it anyways. Jem also becomes an example of a hero when he is at the jailhouse with the Sarum mob. Despite being severely outnumbered, Jem decides to stand by his father and defend the door to the jailhouse. Armed with guns and other weapons, the Sarum mob can seriously hurt Jem, but he doesn’t care. All that matters to him is that he stands by his father and supports what he believes in. This just shows that true heroes do not have to be old and wise, and do not have to make huge sacrifices. They just need to stand up for their beliefs in times where there is so support whatsoever.

An unlikely hero in the book is Mrs. Dubose, who strongly overcame her morphine addiction. At first, Mrs. Dubose is seen as an evil and prejudiced character that hates Jem and Scout. Atticus reminds them to see it from her point of view before judging her which leads to them learning about her drug addiction. Mrs. Dubose needs the children to help her through it, yet she suffered in silence. Moreover, she is very ill and close to dying. The real courage comes from the fact that although she knows that she will die, she still tries to overcome her addiction, no matter how painful and difficult it is. Atticus’ description of true heroes is “when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what (112).” In the end, Mrs. Dubose is able to die honourably and free from her demons. Even though it didn’t matter much, it was still important to her, and that’s what makes her a true hero.

Atticus Finch is the real hero of the book because he takes the biggest risk, despite knowing that he will definitely lose. Atticus shows in many cases, the definition of a true hero but no situation was more important than the Tom Robinson trial. In Maycomb, the thought of taking a negro’s word over a white man’s is ludicrous to the citizens. Especially over a matter as serious as a black man raping a white woman. Regardless of this information, Atticus still takes 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 calmly replies “No, honey (76).” Atticus goes on to explain that “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win (76).” Basically, Atticus believes that just because it is unlikely that he will win, doesn’t mean he has to give up before trying. In the weeks before the trial, the Finch family had to endure huge amounts of discrimination because of the case. Atticus in specific, received discrimination from people such as Mrs. Dubose and his own sister. It even went as far as his own nephew, saying that he is “ruinin’ the family” and that they cannot even walk the streets anymore (83). Through all these hardships, Atticus remains strong and focuses on his goal, no matter how tough it is. In his closing statements, Atticus pleas to the jury in a manner that the children have never seen before: “His voice had lost its aridity, its detachment (203).” He now longer was speaking as a professional, he was pleading from his heart for them to abandon their set biases. He knows in his heart that they won’t, but that does not stop him from trying. Even Scout knows deep down that the verdict will be guilty, when she compares watching Atticus’ efforts to “watching Atticus walk down the street, raise a rifle to his shoulder and pull the trigger, but watching all the time knowing that the gun was empty (211).” This metaphor explains that Scout knows all along that Tom Robinson will be judged guilty and sees that Atticus is trying so hard for no reason. When the verdict actually comes and unanimously finds Tom Robinson guilty, Atticus has nothing to do but feel proud that he might have made a difference. Which after all, is all he could possibly have done.

Heroes come in many forms, whether it’s a soldier in the war or an old lady overcoming an addiction. Harper Lee believes that true heroes are not the ones with the guns but the ones who persevere, even though they know that they will lose. Brave does not even begin to describe the people who go through so much pain for a lost cause. The universal image of a hero is a young physically able man who uses his strength to solve problems. In to Kill a Mockingbird, the heroes come in many shapes and sizes, from and frail old lady, to a twelve year old boy. This just goes to show, that in our world, anyone can be a hero and everyone should be respected for his or her efforts.