There are many definitions of what courage is. Some people say courage is facing your fears. Others say it’s to follow your heart. In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, courage is “... when you know you're licked before you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what” (112). During the novel, many of the characters show their own deed of courage, both morally and personally. Their acts of courage show a deeper look into their lives, beliefs, and standpoints in what's right and wrong. The characters, Scout, Atticus, Mrs. Dubose, and Boo Radley display courage best in the story.
Scout, also known as Jean Louise Finch, is the narrator of the story. She gives the readers an insight into her thinking and things happening around her. Scout ofte
...n does things that will get her in trouble but in the end, she means well and is just trying to stand up for herself and her belief. For example, when Scout talks to the mob and saves Atticus and Tom from being hurt. “Atticus had said it was the polite thing to talk to people about what they were interested in... I slowly awoke to the fact that I was addressing the entire aggregation.
The men were all looking at me”(154). This is a small Act but it shows courage because in that point of the story at Scout runs to father, whose face reveals 'a flash of plain fear.' Atticus tells them to go back home, but Jem shakes his head. A man growls to Atticus to get them out of there. But before this happens, Scout sees Mr. Cunningham, and she greets him, tellin
him to say hello to Walter, and asking about his entailments. Then, something comes over Mr. Cunningham and he remembers how considerate Atticus has been to him. Finally, Mr. Cunningham calls off the other men, 'Let's get going, boys.' With just Scouts small intervention, she saved two men from being lynched.
Next is Atticus, he was a man of integrity. he displays a brave heart and a courageous soul. His definition of courage shines as he accepted to be the defense attorney for Tom Robinson. For instance, as he talks to his brother Jack about the case and the dangers of accepting the case he says “ do you think I could face my children otherwise? You know what's going to happen as well as I do, Jack, and I hope and pray I can get Jem and Scout through it without bitterness, and most of all, without catching Maycomb's usual disease' (88).
Atticus knows that being Tom’s attorney will have a huge impact on him and his family’s lives, but he still does what's right and upholds his belief that everyone is equal. Atticus briefly talks about Mrs. Dubose and her condition. he tells his Jem and Scout, “According to her views, she died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew' (112). How she demonstrates courage is that she was alone and sick for a very long time, deciding before her death to conquer a drug addiction, and how she achieved her goal to die free from addiction.
The final example of Courage in the novel is from Boo Radley. We know that Boo Radley doesn't like to go outside and
is shut off to the world from inside his own house. but it all changed on the night of the attack by Bob Ewell. add a quote here. he single-handedly saved Jem and Scout from their desk and took them home to safety. this shows courage because even though he isn't comfortable by being around others and being outside of the house he came out to help anyway.
I would say, that many of the characters are hidden mockingbirds, whether they show small or profound acts of courage. Their acts may seem ordinary but “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb in his skin and walk around in it”
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