Examples Of Real Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird

Atticus says to Jem that he wants his son “To see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand”. Courage is simply defined as having strength and power when faced with any problem that's frightening. Courageous people show characteristics such as being fearless, daring and bold. Courageousness is expressed greatly throughout “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Atticus and his kids. Although they did show a lot of courage by standing up to those who sought to bring down the Finch name, others in the novel showed courage as well such as Arthur “Boo” Radley, Tom Robinson, and Mrs. Dubose. Atticus was greatly put down by the people of Maycomb because he was defending a black man, Tom Robinson, which

Jem’s relationship with Scout changes as he matures in the story. He goes from a fellow conspirator and playmate for his sister to her protector, resembling Atticus more and more with every chapter. In chapter 4, they are playing a game enacting what they perceive Boo Radley to be like. Atticus interrupts the game and inquires whether the game was about the Radley’s or not. Jem lies, saying no in response. In page 40, Scout yells in confusion and Jem remarks, “Shut up! He’s gone in the living room; he can hear us in there.” This shows his mischievous behaviour and the fact that he is still

Over the course of the novel, the reader watches Jem mature from age 10 to age 13, growing up from a brave and playful boy, to a calm, collected young man similar to the likes of his father Atticus. One of the most important life lessons that Atticus teaches Jem is to always do the right thing even if it’s the hardest thing to do. Atticus Finch is known as a man who is “the same in his house as he is on the public streets.” (Lee, pg. 61) He lived by morals, and always abade by them. After Atticus took up the court case of Tom Robinson, a coloured man, he had many people insult him and make fun of him. Atticus knew that he couldn’t refuse the case, as he stated “before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.”(Lee, pg.140) Atticus took the job that no person wanted, especially knowing that he was going to lose the case before it even began. In doing so, Atticus shows Jem that you should always be a man of your morals, that you should always do the right thing even if it is the hardest thing to do. Although he has a hard time understanding Atticus’ actions at first, Jem begins to comprehend his father’s values in the world around him, with more mature eyes.

He implies if one does not follow their conscience will, they will live overwhelmed by guilt. Here, the moral of human beings is threatened by the recurring subject of racism, as well as discrimination issues. Jem is an epitome of a corrupted person as he justifies that Atticus is wrong because everyone else thinks so. Nevertheless, he finds himself after the testimony is given. When it comes time for the trial, Jem follows it closely. Having grown up in the home of a lawyer, Jem understands the workings of the courtroom, besides its racial bias. Once the judge goes over the evidence, Jem becomes increasingly confident that Atticus won but his belief that Tom is innocent contrasts with what actually occurs: Tom is found guilty. While looking at Jem, Scout sees how his “shoulders jerked as if each ‘guilty’ was a separate stab between them.” By comparing Jem’s reaction to a “stab,” Lee not only shows Jem receiving blows of devastation over the case and feeling physically attacked but also points to the broader attack on things that Jem thought were once true. This is something that causes him great emotional pain as he has a hard time coming to terms with general unfairness. Jem has counted on the strength of bigotry but in

Courage is defined as "the quality of mind or spirit enabling one to meet danger or opposition with fearlessness." According to Atticus Finch, one of the main characters in To Kill a Mockingbird, "Courage is when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what." (pg.121). Harper Lee clearly portrays the theme of courage in her novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. One likes to think of a hero, as strong, brave, and meeting all challenges head on. All the characters in this book have a different view as to what courage

The emotions of the trial are running high for everyone. Jem, Scout and Dill are sitting in the balcony with the black people of the town. When it was the prosecutors turn Mr.Gilmer started to drill Tom hard. Dill’s emotions took over and he broke into emotional tears knowing that something was wrong. For the first time Scout realizes a change in Dill and tries to comfort him outside. The children are sitting with the blacks who hear Dill’s crys showing that he is full of compassion for the guiltless man.

During the process of the trial, Jem experiences his coming of age and lost innocence moment by opening his eyes to the racism he is constantly surrounded by. When Tom Robinson lost the trial, Jem instantly matured and realized how racism in Maycomb was the only reason Tom lost. After Tom was declared guilty, the kids walked with Atticus, “It was Jem’s turn to cry. His face was streaked with angry tears as we made our way through the cheerful crowd. ‘It ain’t right’” (Lee, 1960, p. 284). Throughout the entirety of the trial, Jem was blinded by his innocence and thought there was no possible way that Tom could lose the trial. It was the moment when the jury declared Tom Robinson guilty that Jem lost his innocence and started opening his eyes to the world. This quote illustrates how frustrated Jem was by the unfairness of the trial. Jem now understands the only reason Tom Robinson lost the trial was because of his skin color. Due to his young age, he had not yet succumb to the disease of Maycomb and realized racism is not right. Furthermore, when Tom Robinson lost the trial, Jem’s perspective of Maycomb changed Jem is left to understand the reality of people’s biased opinions. When talking to Miss Maudie, Jem described to her, “‘It’s like bein’ a caterpillar in a

Jem refuses to admit it, but he is terrified of Boo and the horror stories that lurk around him. When Dill challenges him to knock on the doors of the Radley Place, he unsurprisingly follows through because “he loved his honor more than his head” (13). The importance of preserving his reputation and pride overpowers his fear. After the incident, Jem becomes more assertive and constantly boasts about his accomplished feat; he believes that it was an act of bravery, conquering something that no one else dared to do. Dill incessantly tests Jem’s willingness to take on new risks and the Boo Radley Game is invented. The children mock Boo in front of the entire town on a daily basis, and Jem believes he is proving a point by doing a harmless, comical thing. Atticus catches them in the action, yet “[he] hasn’t said [they] couldn’t, therefore [they] could...Jem had thought of a way around it” (41). Like most kids, Jem is brutally honest and goes off of what he hears and what is in plain sight. His doings are prompted by the innocence he still has as well as his lack of exposure to the darker sides of the world. He is unable to make higher-level connections or construct advanced ideas about his environment yet, showing that he is no more mature than the next child.

  Early in the novel, Scout illustrates the courage she embodies.  On her first day of school, Scout acts as an ambassador for the entire class.  She takes the duty of informing Miss Caroline of Walter Cunningham's situation.  Miss Caroline had just scolded Scout for her ability to read, however, Scout still feels the classes' need for leadership.  Most children at her age would fear speaking

Jem starts to become more responsible and mature. Jem begins to learn about the case and it interests him. He discovers that Tom Robinson is being discriminated causing him to lose the case, and Jem responds by saying, “It ain’t right,” he muttered, all the way to the corner of the square where we found Atticus waiting” (Lee, 212). Jem is heartbroken and realizes that Tom is innocent when he lost the case. Jem reveals that he is maturing and learning about how society treats black people.

Courage’s Distinct Traits as Presented in To Kill a Mockingbird Courage is a common theme expressed throughout countless novels spanning years, but in To Kill a Mockingbird, courage drives the plot of the novel and helps the main characters gain a better grasp of the world around them. Throughout the span of the novel, each of the characters are forced to take new perspectives on the events unfolding in front of them to overcome the deeply rooted prejudice of an old Southern town. Scout, Jem, Atticus, and other characters central to the plot of the novel discover that it takes different forms of bravery to overcome obstacles, and that each form is strong in their own right. Courage, as elucidated by Harper Lee in To Kill A Mockingbird, is

In chapter 21 and 22 scout, jem and dill lose their innocence when they are in the courtroom and the jury determines if Tom robinson is guilty. In this chapter of the book the kids see white people with a different perspective due to the injustice of tom robinson.The injustice of tom robinson changed the kids it changed them by losing their innocence.It made jem and scout realize that not everyone is good as they thought they were.The kids eyes were opened to many things that they weren't suppose to find out at a very young age.

During this time, Atticus, who is a lawyer, takes on a very difficult case. He is defending Tom Robinson, who is an African American man being charged with raping a white woman named Mayella Ewell. At the trial, Jem and Scout try to find seats, but they are all taken. Reverend Sykes, the reverend of the African American church, runs into Scout and Jem and tells them “There’s not a seat downstairs. Do you all reckon it’ll be alright if you all came to the balcony with me” (186)? The children happily take his offer and travel to the balcony where “Four negroes rose and gave them their front-row seats” (186). As time passes, Jem becomes very engaged in the trial. Scout says that “Jem seemed to be having a quiet fit. He was pounding the balcony rail softly, and once he whispered, “We’ve got him” (202). Jem is very confident that they have won the case, and thinks that Tom Robinson will not be convicted to be guilty. Later in the book, when they take a break from the trial, Jem excitingly goes up to Atticus and says “We’ve won, haven’t we?... You think they’ll acquit him that fast” (236)? Atticus starts to answer but abruptly stops and leaves. At this part, Atticus reacts towards Jem’s excitement and optimism. He knows that the odds of Tom Robinson not being guilty is very slim, but does not want Jem to be crushed. In conclusion, Jem does not fully comprehend the fact that the town is segregated and that Atticus will most likely not win the case.

Through the course of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Jem encounters a series of events that cause him to grow up. During Tom Robinson’s trial, Jem’s eyes were opened to the racism and prejudice of the South: loss of innocence, a major theme in the novel, is a realization of the cruelty and injustice in the world, and that one must develop a tolerance for it.

Having been the last in the race, Jem wanted to revenge. He knew I won’t like to play Boo Radley. So this could be the right chance to beat me. We play acted this game and perfected it to our level best in the whole of