Bravery in To Kill a Mocking Bird

Bravery. What is it? When we think about acts of bravery, most of us think about doing things that are scary, that no one else does because they are too afraid. But is that really what bravery is? Or is there more to it? Bravery comes in 6 forms; Physical, Social, Moral, Emotional, Intellectual and Spiritual bravery (according to lionswhiskers.com). {BRIDGE}. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee shows that true bravery can come in many forms, from many different people, despite age, gender, etc. And different kinds of bravery are what change the world in different kinds of ways.

The first person in, To Kill a Mocking Bird that exhibits bravery in different kinds of ways is Atticus’s loyal son and Scouts respectable older brother; Jem. In the novel Jem shows many kinds of bravery, but his most notable one is Physical Bravery. ‘“Go home, I (Atticus) said.’ Jem shook his head. As Atticus’s fists went to his hips, so did Jem’s. … ‘Son, I said go home.’ Jem shook his head.’“ (203). Jem was clearly able to see the danger of the situation, but he refused to leave. He knew that the men that were there were going to do anything to get what they wanted, which included hurting even a kid like Jem. This was shown when one of them grabbed Jem by the collar, but despite that Jem still wouldn’t leave. He wanted to stay there, by his father’s side, no matter what happened to him. This is bravery shown by a young child, and it isn’t childish bravery it is the type of bravery that has the potential to change things. It is the type of bravery one needs if they wish to protect people important to them, or if they wish to stand up for their ideals. Throughout the book Jem also shows moral bravery in many different occasions. “’My sister ain’t dirty ...

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...ctive of Jem. To protect him she needs to have the courage. Which she does, Scout is brave enough to kick a full grown man, hard enough to make him fall back and then not regret it, if it means protecting Jem. The man could have hurt Scout, he could have even killed her, but Scout had the courage to stand up to him to such an extent, that she actually physically harmed him. Not only is this physical courage because the consequences could have been physically painful but it is also moral courage, the courage to do the right thing. Protecting her brother, standing up for her brother, because she cares about him and that it is the only right thing to do, even though it could have caused more severe consequences, it still shows Scouts moral courage, because Scout did not think about those consequences that could have ended up getting Atticus and Jem hurt even more.