To Kill A Mockingbird Courage Analysis

Courage is shown within the characters of To Kill A Mockingbird in several situations.  The characters are challenged to face danger or pain without fear.  The courage they display gives them strength and deepens their self-understanding as the novel progresses.

Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a timeless novel that has been both accepted and refused by many readers. To Kill a Mockingbird took place is a town called Maycomb. It is narrated by a young girl named Jean Louise Finch, otherwise known as Scout, who learns how to deal with many things in her life. While learning to deal with racism, injustice, and criticism, she also finds courage being showed by many of her role models. The theme courage is best depicted through Boo Radley, Scout and Atticus.

Moreover, every other character in the story can be said to have courage, especially Atticus. The book revolves around Atticus and how he has no fear to defend a black man. Atticus is a lawyer that always had justice and never accepts injustice. He defends a black man named “Tom Robinson” who is accused of rapping a white girl whose own father had infact raped. “I’m simply defending a negro his name’s Tom Robinson” “The main one is, if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this country in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again” (Lee,100). These quotes show that Atticus is not afraid and is brave enough to hold his head up in town even if he defended Tom, an inferior in their society. It also shows how well educated and mature he is that he even connects his job to his kids and he always tries to be good to be the best in his kids’ eyes. He wanted his kids to get along with other people and for them to learn courage from them like Mrs. Dubose, for example.

"Courage isn't an absence of fear. It's doing what you are afraid to do. It's having the power to let go of the familiar and forge ahead into new territory." ~John Maxwell. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout (Jean Louise Finch), Jem (Jeremy Atticus Finch), and Atticus Finch display acts of valor that contribute, and in some cases encourage their rectitude. Harper Lee demonstrates that acting courageously can lead to an improved, sustained, or newly developed personal integrity.

Our world suffers with many issues such as racism, sexism, hate and prejudice, and society needs people that are strong enough to take a stand. In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, courage is displayed in several different forms, especially through three courageous characters. Lee introduces the concept of honorable courage through Mrs. Dubose, a woman who demonstrates that real courage comes from within. Another brave character in the novel is Tom Robinson. He shows everyone how difficult it is for a black man to be both honest and kind no matter the situation. The most courageous person would be Atticus Finch. Atticus is an important character that fits into his own definition of what "real courage" is and demonstrates it in numerous ways throughout the novel, as he goes against most people’s beliefs in order to do what he believes is morally right. Through these three brave characters, Lee tries to reshape people's stereotypical view of courage.

What is courage? Courage is the ability to do something difficult even when there’s a risk. It’s not about bravery it’s about perseverance. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird Lee teaches readers about what real courage is from her perspective. A few examples are when Jem confuses courage with strength or when Mrs Dubose was fighting her morphine addiction, when Atticus shoots the rabies infected dog,when Boo saves Jem and Scout and sneaks out the Radley house to give gifts to the kids and most importantly atticus’ determination to defend the town.

Courage can show itself in many situations and it is your choice to choose what is right. It is doing what is against what is accepted and staying with your choice, no matter who fights you, no matter the situation showing and sticking with courage is challenging. Throughout the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee many of the characters show courage even if it could harm them severely, it shows that if you go with courage and stick with it in the end of it all you will succeed in one way or another. Many of the characters that show courage show it discreetly. These characters include Atticus, Mrs. Dubose, Boo Radley, & Tom Robinson.

Webster's dictionary defines courage as "mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty." 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." (Chapter 11, Page 124) No matter how you define it, Harper Lee definitely portrays the theme of mental courage in this book. The book demonstrates that mental courage is fighting what you believe in no matter the consequence. It is one of the most predominant themes and is shown in many of the characters, including Atticus, Jem and Scout, who all show mental

Atticus Finch is remarkably courageous throughout the novel. Atticus does not retaliate when Bob Ewell spits in his face, goes to Tom’s cell knowing there would be a mob, and does his best in court to exonerate Tom. Firstly, Atticus does not retaliate when Bob Ewell spits in his face. Atticus says “ ‘...if spitting in my face saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take’ ” (Lee 218). Atticus is being disrespected in one of the worst ways by a man he could destroy, but knows that he was helping a victim of abuse, Mayella, so he does not make things worse by retaliating. Secondly, Atticus knows there is a mob coming, but nevertheless goes to Tom Robinson’s cell to defend him. Atticus knows the possibly dangerous mob is coming, with Scout observing “He seemed to be expecting them” (150). However, Atticus recognizes that he is Tom’s only hope, and utilizes his immense courage to face the mob. Thirdly, Atticus does his best to defend Tom in court. As Scout tells us, “Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed” (241). Atticus knows from the beginning he has next to no chance to win the trial, but still tries for Tom’s sake, for the other black people in the community, and for the chance he could appeal it and change laws for the good of African Americans. Atticus is an amazing example of courage in the face of adversity for his actions in To Kill A Mockingbird.

One of the reasons Atticus fits his own definition of courageous so well is due to the fact that he defended Tom Robinson, who was an African American, even though it was frowned upon at the time without even a quibble. As a lawyer, Atticus knew the town would be anti-semitic and not comprehend why he would defend an African American to the best of his abilities, yet he made it his resolution anyway. He also knew that there was a meager chance that they would win the case whether he defended Tom or not. He also didn’t expect people to commiserate him for doing what he was doing. Knowing this would cause some people give up or not try, but Atticus was brave and stuck with it just in case he did win against all odds. Another reason for him to give up would be that he knew his children wouldn’t understand that he was correct to help

“What is the moral courage characteristic for you, what is the definition for you?” The book called To Kill A Mockingbird written by Harper Lee, which talk about Finch honest calm, often without help for poor people to justice. The rape occurred in the town of Finch commissioned by the District Court, to defend Robinson. Finch regardless of personal safety insisted his defense. Prosecutor and a jury found Robinson guilty. Some hold racist whites turn on Finch a provocation and intimidation.In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee use plot and conflict to show moral courage. The moral courage is although you know things are hard, but you still try to help. The moral courage also is even your weakness, but you didn’t care how strong the enemy might be, try to help other weakness people.

The Difference Between Courage and Cowardice “Trust Fall” is a game for people to test their faith. Basically, they stand on a height between 1m and 2m and fall on their back while people catch them on the ground. This game illustrates cowardice as a negative factor in our lives, and courage as a positive. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird Scout stands in front of men and helps Atticus and Boo Radley choose to help Jem and Scout. Through these examples, Harper Lee suggests that mustering up the courage to take action is the first step of problem solving while cowardice fails to solve the problem.

“ I wanted you to see what real courage is instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what. “ Courage is the ability to do something that frightens one. Let's see how Atticus, Calpurnia, and Boo Radley shows their courage. Atticus Finch type of courage is bravery.

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

Courage is strength. Courage is honesty. Courage is standing one’s ground no matter what. Courage is standing up for others. In Harper Lee’s classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout and Jem Finch, along with their father Atticus, live in Maycomb County, a small, mainly racist town in Alabama during the Great Depression. The Finch family’s neighbor, Mrs. Dubose, and Atticus display acts of personal courage in the story. Specifically, Mrs. Dubose displays courage in her honesty and strength, and Atticus displays courage in his responses to racism based threats and keeping others safe.