Danielle HernandezMs. SicklerEnglish April 22, 2014America's Greatest HeroIn To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, there is a large amount of heroism displayed throughout the book, which takes place in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama. Harper Lee portrayed true heroes as people who persevere. through trials, even if they know they will lose. Despite the many heroes throughout the book, including Mrs. Dubose and the Finch children, I believe that Atticus Finch is the true hero because he takes the greatest risk of all, but he knows that the outcome may not be not so pretty.Atticus Finch shows, in many ways, the true definition of a hero, but no situation was more important than the trial of Tom Robinson. In Maycomb, the idea of ​​taking the word of a Negro instead of that of a white man was ridiculous in the eyes of the citizens, especially on 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 a difference as possible. When Scout asks him if he thinks he will win the case, Atticus subtly responds, "No, darling" (76). Atticus goes on to explain, “Just because we were licked a hundred years before we started doesn’t mean we’re not trying to win” (76). Basically, Atticus believes that just because he's unlikely to win doesn't mean he should give up without trying. Despite all the discrimination, Atticus remains tough and tries to achieve his goal, no matter how difficult it may be. It was an example of moral courage. Even Scout knows how hard her father tries, comparing Atticus' efforts to "watching Atticus walk down the street, raise a gun to his shoulder and pull the trigger, but...... in the middle of a paper...... o, or not, you should at least respect his life lessons taught throughout To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus Finch was a true hero, in my eyes. He had all the essential elements to be a hero, like; respect, equality and quiet dignity. Of course, Mr. Finch didn't quite achieve his goal of winning the Tom Robinson trial, but he tried to do so, knowing he would lose. A hero is not someone who achieves something, but a person who tries to achieve it. The journey towards your goal may even be more important than the actual achievement, because on your way to the top, difficulties appear and you overcome them by learning new lessons to live by in life. In conclusion, Atticus Finch is truly America's greatest hero. Works Cited Lee, Harper. To kill a mockingbird. New York: Warner Brooks, 1982. “courage.” Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, 2014. The Web. April 6 2014