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To Kill A Mockingbird Theme Of Courage

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In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Lee displays the theme of courage to show that people should stand up for what they believe in no matter what. The novel follows Scout as she narrates her and her brother’s battle with prejudice and racism in their hometown, Maycomb County. Firstly, Atticus is talking to Jem and Scout about Mrs. Dubose; an old lady struggling with a morphine addiction. But, Mrs. Dubose has been trying very hard to beat her addiction, and the kids are helping her to do so. Jem and Scout have read to her every day for the last month. Sadly, she dies shortly after the month is over. Atticus explains to the kids, “... I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun …show more content…

Atticus is telling the kids that what Mrs. Dubose was doing was more courageous than him shooting a mad dog. Still, Mrs. Dubose and Atticus knew she would never beat her addiction, but she was going to try anyways. She stood up for what she thought was the right thing to do. In another example, Scout and Atticus are talking about Atticus's case. He is defending a black man named Tom Robinson. A kid from school calls Atticus a “negro lover,” for defending him, and Scout brings it up to Atticus. He tells Scout that he is ‘simply defending a negro.’ He then goes on to say, “... but there's been some high talk around town to the effect that I shouldn't do much about defending this man” (Lee 100). Even though the town doesn’t think it’s right for Atticus to defend Tom, he does it anyways. He believes that everyone deserves a fair chance in the court of law, regardless of their skin color. Finally, Aunt Alexandra and Miss Maudie area talking at the tea party at Scout’s home. Aunt Alexandra asks what else could the town want from Atticus. She says, “They’re perfectly willing to let him do what they’re too afraid to do themselves- it might lose ‘em a nickel. They’re perfectly willing to let him wreck his health doing what they’re afraid to do” (Lee …show more content…

First, Scout, Jem, and Dill are playing in Miss Maudie’s front yard. However, Jem and Dill want to play without Scout. Scout narrates, “... so careful were we to preserve the delicate balance of our relationship, but Jem and Dill drove me closer to her with their behavior” (Lee 56). Scout is referring to Miss Maudie. Since she was the only person outside at the time, Scout was forced to hang out with Miss Maudie. However, Scout comes to enjoy her company, and Miss Maudie treats all three kids with respect. Nevertheless, Scout is upset that Jem and Dill don’t want to play with her, even though they all used to play together when Dill first came to Jem and Scout. Secondly, Aunt Alexandra and Miss Maudie are talking at the missionary tea party at the Finch's’ house. Aunt Alexandra begins to talk about Atticus. “I can't say I approve of everything he does, Maudie, but he’s my brother, and I just want to know when this will ever end” (Lee 316). From the beginning, Aunt Alexandra is against her brother’s decision to defend Tom Robinson. However, as the jury gets closer to their verdict, she comes to understand Atticus’s decision. She realizes that he was doing what no one else would, and she wants him to win the case. Last, Scout is talking about Jem soon after his twelfth birthday. She says that he is becoming harder to live with since he is getting older, and he seems to not

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