Awesome / To Kill a Mockingbird

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• "In the name of God, do your duty."
• "Stand up, Miss Jean Louise. Your father's passing."
  • Really, any time Atticus talks some sense into his kids, his sister, or the town is a Moment of Awesome.
  • More Atticus awesome; in the movie, when he and Jem go to visit Helen Robinson, Bob Ewell shows up and makes an ass of himself, leering at Jem and ordering the locals around. Then, Atticus comes outside, only for Bob to spit in his face. Atticus takes a step toward Bob and simply glares at him as he wipes his face. Bob wisely doesn't push his luck any further.
• 12-year-old Jem trying his hardest to protect his sister from Bob Ewell when they're attacked. In fact, Atticus at first is convinced that Jem actually killed Bob Ewell to save Scout. He believes his son is that brave and is more worried about what the press will do to his son than about the fact that Jem ostensibly killed a man.
• Miss Maudie calling out the Missionary Ladies for gossiping about Atticus's role in the Tom Robinson case while eating at his house: "His food doesn't stick going down, does it?"
• Boo Radley giving Bob a taste of his own knife.
• Atticus shooting the rabid dog. At least, it's a Moment of Awesome for his kids, who had no idea how good of a shot he is.
  Sheriff Tate: Didn't you know your daddy's the best shot in this county?
  Atticus: Hush, Heck.
• There's a murderous mob outside the jail ready to kill Tom Robinson, and Atticus tells them to keep their voices down because he's sleeping. They do; the entire confrontation is held in whispers.
  • Similarly, Scout Shaming the Mob and saving Tom's life without even realizing what she's doing.
  • And the fact that the entire time, there was a sniper ready to defend Atticus and Tom at a moments' notice. In addition, that was the newspaper man, who everyone's sure is a racist, and if he was, then he respected Atticus enough to defend Tom, and allows Atticus to go home for the night while he stands guard.
  • Also Jem refusing to leave his father. Afterwards, Scout is sure that Atticus will give him hell for disobeying, but instead she sees her father rubbing her brother's head on the way home.
• Mrs. Dubose; see I Die Free for the full quote and explanation.
• Sheriff Heck Tate proves that he's a Reasonable Authority Figure, and a smart man, when he deduces who really murdered Bob Ewell. And states that he will cover it up, as undue press would hurt a man, and that the killing was justified (In self defense), and Karmic, as Tom died because of Mr. Ewell.
  • Scout gets another one at the end. Sheriff Tate tells Atticus they need to cover up Boo Radley killing Bob Ewell in defense of Scout and Jem because Boo would be lauded as a hero — and the undue attention he would get would destroy his life. Scout quietly but forcefully agrees with the Sheriff, telling Atticus she thinks it would be like "killing a mockingbird." The little girl's growing up.
  • "I may not know much, Atticus, but I'm still sheriff of Maycomb County and Bob Ewell fell on his knife. Now good night."
• Atticus getting honored as the American Film Institute's #1 hero in film history. In comparison, the runner-ups were Indiana Jones and James Bond.
• Atticus' entire defense was, in many ways, successful, in spite of the verdict. In spite of the fact that he was unable to get a not guilty from the jury, anyone in the courtroom could clearly see the truth: that Bob Ewell was responsible for what happened, not Tom, and if his daughter ever had those kind of injuries again, everyone would know exactly who was responsible, and it would be not be possible to deflect the blame a second time.
• In 2018 PBS held the Great American Read, with a public poll selecting 100 books to determine the most popular in the country. Mockingbird ended up hands down the winner, holding on to the number one spot throughout the entire four month voting period.
• Play only: The confrontation between Atticus and Bob is over in half a second, and he’s able to put the racist in his place with the kind of Badass Boast that only Aaron Sorkin can write.
  You think I’m above you because I am. You think you’re beneath me because you are. And so help me God, I will break your arm so you can never rape your daughter again!

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