To Kill a Mockingbird Compared to The Charge of the Light Brigade Essay

Comparison Essay To Kill a Mockingbird

What happens when something is fought for the right cause? It is fought like how Atticus Finch fought for Tom Robinson in the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Henry Lee, or like the warriors from the poem, The Charge of the Light Brigade by Alfred Lord Tennyson? In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch defends an African American in court. Along the way, people turn on him, and attack his children. Atticus still lost in the end. In the poem The Charge of the Light Brigade, an army of British Soldiers go to battle with a Russian Army. The Light Brigade fought even though they knew that they were outnumbered and would lose the battle. In the end they lost, but fought bravely. In both stories, the characters fought for what they what they believed in, both showed courage, and lost their battles. Atticus Finch is just like the soldiers in the The Charge of the Light Brigade.

The first way in which Atticus finch is like the soldiers in The Charge of the Light Brigade is, they were both willing to fight for what is right. First of all, in To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch says You just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anyone says to you, don't let em' get to your goal. (76). Atticus tells Scout this because, Atticus is encouraging her to believe in what is right. Even if they are talking badly about Atticus, she is going to have to hold her head up high and not let people get to her, because Atticus is really doing the right thing. Secondly, in the Charge of the Light Brigade, Tennyson writes, Boldly they rode and well into the jaws of death, into the mouth of hell, rode the six hundred. The Light Brigade is just like Atticus. They are both doing something dangerous and out of the ordinary to fight for what is right. The soldiers knew they would not come out alive, but they fought anyways. Atticus Finch and the Light Brigade both fought for what was right.

The second way Atticus is like the soldiers in the Charge of the Light Brigade is, they both showed bravery. First of all, in To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus explains to Jem, I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're liked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see through it no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do. (220). Atticus shows bravery because he is defending an African American man in the 1930s. A lot of people in his community did not respect that, and people wanted to hurt him and his children. But he was courageous, and took the case anyways. Secondly, in The Charge of the Light Brigade, Tennyson writes, Into the mouth of Hell rode the six hundred (3, 8-9). The Light Brigade shows bravery by, the six hundred men basically rode into hell. The Light Brigade knew that they were outnumbered, but they still courageously rode in. They knew they were going to die, but they were brave enough to put up a fight. Atticus Finch and the Light Brigade both showed bravery.

The third way Atticus Finch is like the soldier in The Charge of the Light Brigade is, they both fought hard, but lost their battles in the end, but ended up being honored in the end. First of all in To Kill a Mockingbird, the jury walked into the courtroom about to deliver their verdict, and Judge Taylor says, Guilty...guilty...guilty...guilty (211). This officially shows that Tom Robinson was determined guilty by the jury, and that Atticus Finch had lost the case. Atticus fought hard, and even though it was obvious that Tom Robinson was innocent, the jury was still ignorant and determined Tom Guilty. Also because Atticus fought so hard for Tom, the African American community gave Atticus mounds of food. Atticus was honored in the end. Secondly, in The Charge of the Light Brigade, Tennyson wrote, Then they rode back, but not the six hundred (4, 11-12). This shows that the soldiers did not make it back from the battle. The soldiers fought hard, but they could not win. But the soldiers glory did not fade, and they were honored in the end. Atticus Finch and the Light Brigade both lost their battles, but gained honor.

Atticus Finch is like the soldiers in the Light Brigade. They both fought for what was right, showed bravery, and both lost their battles. They both represent everyday troubles that people face, like going to school and work. It is also important to always fight for what you believe in.