Courage in to Kill a Mockingbird - 1591 Words

I wanted to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun. What kinds of heroism and courage are shown in To Kill a Mockingbird? Discuss. 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 youre 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†¦show more content†¦When Atticus took the case, he went up against Maycomb, a generally prejudiced town, in order to defend Tom. He understood that taking the case would make him an object of ridicule and that no one would forgive him for believing a black mans word over a white mans. Even his own sister expresses disapproval at his decision, practically telling him he was bringing disgrace to the family. Nevertheless, n o matter how much his reputation suffered, he did not change his mind. Standing up for his morals and ethics was more important than what people thought about him. From the very start Atticus knows he will not win the case however he does his job and finishes what he set out to do. Atticuss strong sense of morality and justice motivates him to defend Tom Robinson with determination, giving it all he has. He shows this when he says, Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try and win. (pg.82). He says this to Scout after she comes home from school angry at Cecil Jacobs for making fun of Atticus in the schoolyard. Atticus tells her to fight with her head instead of her fists. He wants the people of Maycomb to hear the truth about Tom, That boy may go to the chair, but hes not going till the truths told. (pg.159). Atticus is putting everything a man holds dear, dignity, respect, honor and status, on the line to protect Tom. He later shows more bravery when he goes to the jailhouse toShow MoreRelatedCourage in To Kill a Mockingbird898 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Theme†. Themes often explore timeless and universal ideas and may be implied rather than stated explicitly. Theme is an important part of fictional stories. Several themes are presented in the novel to kill a mocking bird. One of the reoccurring themes in to kill a mockingbird is courage. Courage is when you know you’re beaten. The character Atticus, for instance, who was a seasoned lawyer acted courageous defending Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson was a black man who was accused of raping a whiteRead MoreTo Kill A Mockingbird Courage Analysis735 Words   |  3 PagesCourage is portrayed to be a special kind of knowledge or gift that you are born with. It can be demonstrated as rescuing a princess or even standing up to the local school bully. The webstermerriam dictionary entry for courage is, â€Å"mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty†.1 In the book, â€Å"To Kill a Mockingbird†, by Harper Lee, she uses courage as a theme for her characters and demonstrates how each person is able to use courage as their forte. OneRead MoreEssay On Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird1291 Words   |  6 PagesCourage is the commitment to begin without any guarantee of success. One will dare to take risks, have the strength to be compassionate, and the wisdom to be humble; courage is simply the foundation of integrity. What someone does in these moments of being very brave will reveal how strong someone really is, regardless of how much weight someone can deadlift. The courage of each character in To Kill A Mockingbird manifests itself in their battles against the corrupt forces of their world. HarperRead MoreTo Kill A Mockingbird Courage Analysis1009 Words   |  5 Pagesactual definition of courage? What about true acts of courage really are? In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, the novel is based on a little town where nothing really happens until a man gets accused with rape and only one character would be able to help him out of his own sheer courage and empathy. The author Harper Lee teaches readers that courage is a quality that anyone can show during any difficult problem while suppressing their fear. Lee also shows what the lack of courage is, cowardice. HarperRead MoreTo Kill A Mockingbird Courage Analysis1512 Words   |  7 Pagestheir lives on the line everyday and symbolize true courage and bravery in society. They fight even when everything has gone wrong and know they are not going to succeed. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee shows what true courage is when characters such as Atticus and Mrs.Dubose fight even though they know they are going to lose. The courage these characters demonstrate, along with Jem’s own courage, throughout the book teaches Jem what true courage/bravery is, and develops his character in a positiveRead MoreAnalysis Of Kill A Mockingbird And The Out Courage 1489 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Scout†ing Out Courage December 14, 2012 was a tragic day. The students and staff of the school in Sandy Hook, Connecticut were all victims of a school shooting. One six year old boy, Jesse Lewis, did a completely unselfish and heroic act. While being held in his classroom by a gunman, he sacrificed himself and yelled at the other students to run. Jesse knew when the right time to say this was as he realized the gunman had to stop to reload (Associated). The characters in To Kill a Mockingbird are courageousRead More To Kill A Mockingbird Essays: Great Courage1041 Words   |  5 PagesCourage in To Kill A Mockingbird nbsp; Courage is shown within the characters of To Kill A Mockingbird in several situations.nbsp; The characters are challenged to face danger or pain without fear.nbsp; The courage they display gives them strength and deepens their self-understanding as the novel progresses. nbsp; nbsp; Early in the novel, Scout illustrates the courage she embodies.nbsp; On her first day of school, Scout acts as an ambassador for the entire class.nbsp; She takes theRead MoreThe Courage Of Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1361 Words   |  6 PagesCourage Isn’t Having The Strength To Go On - It Is Going On When You Don’t Have Strength You can have anything you put your mind to through the strength and power of courage, In To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, incidents of courage occur abundantly throughout the novel. These courageous moments create a feeling of hope for the reader and have given the novel its prestigious place in American literature. Many of the characters exhibit the bravery and courage that Americans aspire to, which isRead MoreActs of Courage in To Kill a Mockingbird Essay1142 Words   |  5 PagesIn the short story To Kill A Mockingbird, author Harper Lee suggests that in certain situations people have the potential to show acts of courage In our society it is generally believed that in order for someone to show courage, they must show it through physical acts of peril. The only type of courage that is ever heard of or praised is when someone nearly puts their life at risk to show their bravery. In the short story To Kill A Mockingbird, author Harper Lee suggests that in certainRead MoreCourage Is an Important Theme in to Kill a Mockingbird2765 Words   |  12 PagesCourage is an important theme in to kill a mockingbird In To Kill Mockingbird courage is presented to us as a desirable quality. Harper Lee suggests that there is some misunderstanding as to what real courage in the community of Maycomb actually is. Many aspects of courage are shown in To Kill a Mockingbird. There are examples of physical courage, such as Atticus facing the rabid dog. There is also moral courage, an example of this would be when Atticus takes on Tom Robinson’s case and he sticks