Why does Atticus Finch risk his reputation, friendships, and career to take Tom Robinson's case? Do you think he risks too much by putting his...

Atticus risks his reputation, career, and friendships by defending Tom Robinson in front of the prejudiced community of Maycomb. At the beginning of Chapter 15, Link Deas tells Atticus that he has everything to lose by defending Tom. Link Deas feels that Atticus' career and reputation will be ruined if he defends Tom Robinson. Atticus has a strong reputation throughout the community and is admired as both a lawyer and politician. Maycomb continually re-elects Atticus to the state legislature which demonstrates the level of respect he has throughout Maycomb. By defending Tom Robinson in a predominately prejudiced town, Atticus runs the risk of upsetting most of the individuals who elect him as a representative and also risks losing business as a practicing lawyer.

Atticus' friends are torn between their traditional prejudiced views and their willingness to support Atticus. Atticus' close relationship with Walter Cunningham is affected by Atticus' decision to defend Tom Robinson, and many of the women in Alexandra's missionary circle who respect him, feel that he made a terrible choice by defending Tom. Typically friendly citizens who disagree with Atticus' decision talk behind his back and criticize him. The racist community members begin to distance themselves from Atticus because they do not want to be associated with a man who defends "Negroes."

The reason Atticus risks his reputation, career, and friendships is because he is a morally upright individual and he could not live with himself if he chose to decline Tom's case. Atticus abides by his own conscience, and his decision is not swayed by the opinions of others. He knows that the right thing to do is to defend Tom Robinson, despite the contempt that he will receive throughout the community.

I do think Atticus risks too much by putting his children in harms way. There are several scenes where Scout and Jem could have been seriously injured as a result of individual's antagonistic feelings towards their father. In Chapter 15, Scout and Jem are surrounded by an angry, drunken mob who is capable of harming them, and later on in the novel, Bob Ewell physically assaults them while they are walking home from a Halloween festival. Atticus' children are subjected to numerous insults and threats, which puts them at risk. Atticus' tolerance and ability to the see the best in individuals is rather naive. I feel that he underestimates the hatred and contempt that individuals feel towards his family, leaving his children exposed to potential violence.