Andrew Moneysmith
Mr. Mizrahi
English 1-2 Per 6
May 11, 2023
Abundance of Courage Brené Brown once said, “Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen”. Having courage is like a superpower that gives the ability to put aside fear, failure, and for example, in To Kill a Mockingbird, being able to stand out from the crowd. To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel by Harper Lee about racial injustice in a southern town during the 1930’s. A lawyer named Atticus defends a black man who was falsely accused of rape even though Atticus knows that he will lose. Along the way, Atticus’s kids Jem and Scout learn lots of lessons about empathy, family life, prejudice, and showing courage. Lee uses Atticus and Boo in order to illustrate that
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After Jem breaks Mrs. Dubose’s flowers for insulting Atticus, Atticus explains to Jem “This case, Tom Robinson’s case, is something that goes to the essence of a man’s conscience- I couldn't go to church and worship God if I didn't help this man” (139). Atticus understands that if he does not defend Tom, it would breach from his morals of justice that everyone deserves a fair trial. This shows that Atticus has a strong moral compass and truly believes that all men are created equal. Atticus straying from the crowd even though he knows the consequences is certainly a great lesson about doing what is right not what others say. Another character that shows courage is Boo Radley because he tries to help people whenever he can even though everyone thinks he is a freak. After Boo Radley saves Jem and Scout from Bob Ewell, Sheriff Heck Tate tells Atticus “I never heard tell that it’s against the law for a citizen to do his utmost to prevent a crime from being committed, which is exactly what he did” (369). Sheriff Tate is suggesting to Atticus that Boo was the one responsible for killing Bob and that they should cover him because he prevented an even worse crime from happening. This shows that underneath Boo’s disguise of mystery, he is actually a caring and empathetic human that just wants to help. Boo going against what others will think of him is another example of how it takes bravery and courage to go against others
Atticus’s and his courage “Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway” - John Wayne. In to kill a mocking bird, courage is seen all through the book. Many characters throughout the book have shown great courage. However, we discover that Atticus is an outlier through his personality, actions, and words.
“ To Kill a Mockingbird” is a story about a county in Alabama in the 1930’s, drawing attention to the the different social classes in the South and the racism that occurred during that time. Characters in difficult situations unexpectedly showing courage is one of the major themes in this book, and is shown through many of the actions that people take in this story. In the book, the word courage can be defined as the ability to withstand hatred and judgement with a high head and a grateful heart. This book has many courageous characters, including but not limited to Atticus Finch, Reverend Sykes, Boo Radley, and Dolphus Raymond.
Dubose aren’t the only characters who show courage in the book. I also believe that Boo Radley shows acts of courage, especially at the end of the novel where he saved both Jem and Scout from Mr. Ewell. Boo had the strength and courage to go outside of his safe haven after years of being inside. He risked the chance of being seen outside in public to save two kids. Mr. Tate says, “To my way of thinking, Mr. Finch, taking the one man who's done you and this town a great service and dragging' him with his shy ways into the limelight-to me.
Atticus is appointed a case by Judge Taylor to defend a black man named Tom Robinson who has been accused of raping a white girl named Mayella Ewell. Because of the racism and prejudice against black people, he believes that he will not win this case and could risk the life of Tom Robinson. Because of this case, Scout gets bullied by Francis about how his dad is defending a black man, Atticus later talks to Scout about how “[Tom Robinson] lives in [a] settlement behind the town dump….there’s been some high talk around the town to the effect that I shouldn’t do much about defending this man” (Lee 86). Atticus knows that something bad can happen to him if he were to defend Tom Robinson but still does so because he has the courage to do it. After the trial had ended, Atticus was waiting for news but he did not expect something so terrible and heartbreaking, Tom Robinson, unfortunately, died after being shot several times.
Everyone experiences hardships in their life, that much is obvious. In her novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee suggests that adversity plays a large role in shaping an individual’s identity. Jem encounters adversity in various forms, each of them shaping his identity in a more courageous, compassionate way. This is possible through learning not to make assumptions, what true courage is, and the bitterness of injustice.
To Kill a Mockingbird demonstrates that courage means standing up for what is right, no matter the cost. One of the most significant characters who demonstrates this is when Atticus tries so hard to help Tom Robinson even though he knows that they won’t win. A quote that best shows this is, “Atticus, are we going to win it”
“It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare,” said Mark Twain. The novel To Kill a Mockingbird is a coming of age story about two young children, Jem and Scout Finch, growing up in Alabama in the 1930s and learning what real courage is through their father, Atticus, and the people of Maycomb. They learn to see the world from other points of view, which is also how they express empathy towards others, persevering and standing up for what you believe in, and putting yourself in danger to help others. One message that Harper Lee provides us with is that courage is when you persevere to do something even when it gets more difficult.
First, courage is shown by the way Atticus goes about dealing with Tom Robinson’s case. Even though he believes that he will fail due to the injustice towards black people at this time. When confronted at the jailhouse, by the mob, about releasing Tom to be lynched, Atticus stands up for Tom. When told to move over Atticus responds with “You can turn around and go home…”(Harper Lee 172)
As stated, Boo Radley helped the children during the house fire which requires a large amount of courage for somebody in the position that he is placed in. This shows courage because he is risking being seen and publicized by people for leaving his house, which means risking his well-being for the well-being of others. As scout explains to Heck Tate about the attempted murder she states, "Who was it?” “Why there he is, Mr. Tate, he can tell you his name.” As I said it, I half pointed to the man in the corner, but brought my arm down quickly lest Atticus reprimand me for pointing.
One way Atticus shows courage is when he shoots the dog Tim Johnson and reveals his skill to his family and his neighborhood, Atticus pulls up in a car with Heck Tate and they are both shown where the dog is, Heck gets the gun set up and tells Atticus that he is the only one who can make a shot
Courage of a Character In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch demonstrates courage through the course of his actions. In the novel, a significant point of courage is depicted when Atticus decides to defend a black man; Tom Robinson, in court. In the town, where the trial is being held, the people have the same distinct perspective as to how their society should be maintained. Atticus also displays courage when he was ready and waiting to protect Tom when he knew an angered mob would appear. In the final chapter of To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus is brave enough to suggest that his injured son had killed Bob Ewell.
Atticus Finch demonstrates courage through his actions and words on the Tom Robinson case. He believes that courage is “when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and see it all the way through”(128). By telling the kids this, he relays the importance of not giving up on what you
Atticus stands his ground and stands up for what he believes is right. Next, courage is displayed when Scout stands up to the mob outside the jailhouse, showing courage can come from unexpected sources. Courage is also displayed through Atticus’s parenting techniques and his trying to teach his
To Kill a Mockingbird - Courage "Courage is when you know you 're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what" According to Atticus Finch, an honest lawyer in Harper Lee 's novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" courage is not a man with a gun in his hand. "Real courage" is when you fight for what is right regardless of whether you win or lose. Atticus fits into this definition of what "real courage" is and demonstrates it several times throughout the novel. "The only thing we 've got is a black man 's word against the Ewells '.
Atticus displayed courage by putting his life on the line and killing the rabies infected dog as well as standing up for Tim Robinson when no one else would. Like Atticus, Jem displayed a great amount of courage when he touched the Radley house and by defending Scout against Mr. Ewell. Scout showed courage by putting herself before a lynch mob ,in the process she saved both Atticus and Tom Robinson, as well as walking Boo Radley home .This instantaneous bravery that arises within a person in dangerous or threatening situations helps people step out of their comfort zones for the better. Courage is the ability to perform even if all your instincts are screaming for you not