Courage
?Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak,
Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen?
Courage is the thing which can be found in a child to an old man. It needs a lot of courage to take out courage from the heart. It is like a brain. It depends on the person, how and when he uses it. This tiny word has the power to convey the whole gesture of a person. According to Harper Lee?s genius ?To Kill a Mockingbird?, Courage is when you know you are licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through it through no matter what.
This novel tends us to picture Atticus as a very courageous man. His definition for this term doesn?t mean bravery or a man with a gun in his hand. He defines courage as ?When you know you are licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what?. Atticus?s courage is represented very significantly and differently in this book. He undertook the case of a Negro who was wrongly accused of raping a white girl. He went against the whole racist community of the town. The opposition of the racist people failed to make him step back from the case. He just fought the case courageously. But the white jury couldn?t possibly be expected to take a black person?s work against the whites.
Similarly, a great example of courage is displayed within the life of Mrs. Dubose. She was a sick old woman, waiting for death. However, she had one more goal to achieve before her life come to an end. She wished to free herself of a morphine addiction. Mrs. Dubose displayed courage in a situation where most people would surrender to the drug. She did not fear for death. Moreover, she challenged death through her perseverance to leave this world free of addiction. People around her came to know of her courage after she passed away.
Similarly, the largest example of courage is found in younger characters like Scout and Jem.
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Show MoreOne's identity is a very valuable part of their life, it affects the Day to day treatment others give them which can lead to how the individual feels emotionally. Atticus, defending Tom Robinson, who is an african american man from the plaintiff of the case, Mayella Ewell, who is a caucasian woman, accusing that Tom raped her is supposivly a lob sided case. During the great depression, any court session that contained a person of color against a caucasian would always contain the “white” individual winning the case. The cause of the bias outcome comes from the lawyer of the african american does not try to defend or the jury goes against the person of color simply because their black, this shows the effect of racism to anyone’s identity in the courtroom for a case simply because of race. Atticus, deciding to take Tom Robinson’s case seriously sacrifices his identity as the noble man he is, to being called many names for this action, such as “nigger lover”. He is questioned by
Jem and Scout encounter courage many times on their journey to adulthood. Courage is often defined as a quality that people have that allows them to face danger with bravery. Jem understands courage a little earlier than Scout. In chapter 11, Mrs. Dubose says some hateful words about Atticus, which leads Jem to smashing her flowers. As a punishment Jem had to read to her every day after school for two hours. A conversation between Atticus and Jem shows how he felt about...
Courage exists in several forms in Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. As defined by Atticus Finch, real courage "…when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what” (149). The novel explores the how this real courage can be shown in different ways through the lives of many characters in Maycomb, particularly, Tom Robinson, Mrs. Dubose, and Atticus. Their courage is evident through their lifestyle, actions, and beliefs.
Courage is the ability to do something that frightens one. Nelson Mandela once said, “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” To accomplish anything, one must overcome his fears. Atticus Finch thinks courage is to know that you are going to lose, but continue follow through the entire way. His mindset is to never give up, even when you know and everyone else knows you are not going to succeed at what you are doing. I agree with Atticus Finch’s definition of courage of that even though all odds are against you, you have to follow through and persevere.
Scout and Jem developed rich personal integrity through acting courageously and witnessing such acts. Atticus’s integrity was nurtured through his continued acts of courage. Harper Lee uses these characters to display the idea that courage can help create, foster, and shape personal integrity. “I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit this year's fashions.” ~Lillian Hellman.
An idea that recurs in or pervades a work of art of literature can be referred to as a “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.
Atticus’ words on courage mirror those of the Greensboro lunch counter sit-ins because they were nonviolent protests against segregation at southern lunch counters which showed that Americans that there are other ways other than with just fists. As History.com/Staff states in the article The Greensboro Sit-Ins “...many of the protesters were arrested for trespassing,” Atticus explains that courage is more than senseless fighting for what is perceived as right. When Lee notes, “It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway...” (149). She is showing how hard it is to keep a cool head when it seems that the world is against what is right. Atticus’ teaching show that one must strive to do what they believe in, but also, be able to face the truth of the matter without coming out with fists flying. And the truth sometimes you just don’t win, but you still must keep your composure when faced with an advisory. The participants of the Greensboro Sit-ins showed how truly courageous they
Throughout the story we see Jem develop as a character who helps develop the idea that moral courage is greater than physical courage. Harper Lee does this several times, although it may not be originally intended, it can be evident to the reader.
The book To Kill a Mockingbird was published in 1960 by an author named Harper Lee. Harper Lee born was April 28, 1926 in Monroeville Alabama Lee had made 2 novels in the time she was alive she had wrote To Kill A Mockingbird and Go Set A Watchman. Harper lee had also illustrated a few children's books. So what is courage? To Kill A Mockingbird gives the readers a look into how terrible things were in the south during the 1930’s from prejudice to racism to morality and even youth. When an African American man named Tom Robinson is wrongly accused of raping a young, white girl a lawyer named Atticus Finch takes the case. Atticus Finch is the main character's father. Atticus is very different from most people in Maycomb county, Atticus believes in justice for all and that
...re you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do." (112). Within all the examples of courage there is not a situation when the courage did not stem from a need within the character. Courage is the inner desire to succeed and to do what is righteous, no matter what humiliation or consequences that plague you because of your decision. Scout, Jem, Atticus, Calpurnia and Mrs. Dubose understood the risks they faced but continued with their actions because it was moral. They did not all enter their personal situation expecting to win. Scout still faced further scolding from Miss Caroline. Jem eventually told his father what he had done to the Radley's. There were winners and losers but they do not regret the courage they showed for the sake of good intentions.
Atticus is possibly the most courageous character in To Kill A Mockingbird. He often shows his courage by simply doing the right thing. For example, In the mad dog scene Atticus is called by Calpurnia to deal with a rabid dog. Atticus alerts the sheriff, and when they reach the Finch’s, the sheriff hands off the rifle to Atticus because he doubts his own shooting abilities. Atticus doesn’t want to show his children he can shoot because he likes to solve problems with non-violence, but he goes ahead and shoots the dog anyway. Atticus did the right thing because the mad dog needed to be taken care of efficiently and missed shots could mean the dog reaching them. Another example of Atticus b...
In conclusion, true courage is shown in the story in many different ways by many different characters. There was not just one protagonist in this story who turns out to be a hero. In this story we had two plots. Each of the plots contained many heroic characters who not only did what they deemed morally just, but put their life behind what they believed in. Whether physically or mentally exerting themselves, almost every character, showed qualities like Martin Luther King Jr. They made bold statements in the community. They sent out messages that people would not forget. It is unfortunate that only now can we admire these type of people for what they did. Thankfully, they are remembered for their courage and that is what makes these characters world famous.
Throughout To Kill A Mockingbird we learn about moral courage through a few characters, but Atticus and Ms. Dubose are characters who really make Jem and Scout discover that courage looks different than they expect it to. Atticus shows moral courage by defending and guarding Tom Robinson, and Ms. Dubose shows moral courage by getting off morphine. Courage comes in many forms, but moral courage is the most important form.
Within the novel "to kill a mocking bird" the character Atticus finch defines courage as, "Courage is when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what." Atticus takes the first step by being courageous to take the Tom Robinson case, defying the towns liking of prejudice, even his own sister thinks that he is disgracing the family by taking the case he explains with concern
"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.