Tolerance and Courage

The character Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird is an example of a character who portrays tolerance and courage throughout the story. As a lawyer, Atticus accepts the appointment to Tom Robinson's case. This act is a very risky thing to do, as Tom, a black man was accused of raping a white woman which is an extremely serious crime. Although the entire town would love to see Tom burn, Atticus does everything he can to make sure that Tom gets a fair trial. By doing this, Atticus is showing great courage as he is risking his good reputation, as a great, honest man, to protect the rights of a black man who is being charged with a terrible crime. Atticus is also showing tolerance as he is showing empathy and standing by an individual who is hated by the rest of society. It is already difficult for a white person to show any tolerance for a black person since they are so frowned upon by white society, but to stand by a black man who is being charged with rape takes Atticus's tolerance and wish for justice to a new level.