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Courage Is A Common Trait Among Great Literary Protagonists

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Courage is a common trait among great literary protagonists. From Hermione Granger in J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter series to the eponymous character in Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, courage is a trait that many authors use to incite the audience’s support and encouragement of the courageous character. However, courage is not always represented definitively in the same way; Hermione Granger and Jane Eyre both display courage physically and morally, still, some would argue that one character is more courageous than the other or that one type of courage is a better representation of the word. At its core, the debate comes down to a matter of linguistics and the development of the English language, but more interesting literature stems from the debate of the socially correct usage, Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird tackles the challenge of defining courage. Lee asserts that courage is the act of striving to meet a difficult goal in order to increase one’s positive contribution to a society. This definition of courage is displayed through the actions, words, and beliefs of the characters; Arthur “Boo” Radley, Mrs. Dubose, and Atticus Finch. Arthur “Boo” Radley is a reclusive character who falls victim to Maycomb’s small town ideology of hiding rather than solving its problems, as well as its close knit community of gossip and rumours. Boo Radley makes an ongoing effort to defy these rumours and break free of his hiding despite being hindered by nearly every citizen of Maycomb.

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