Courage is the quality of mind that enables one to face danger with confidence, resolution, and firm control of oneself. This idea of courage is shown in many novels in different ways. The Book Thief, a World War II era based novel by Markus Zusak and The Secret Life of Bees, a civil rights era novel by Sue Monk Kidd both give us interpretations of courage. Zusak, in The Book Thief, shows us that courage gets us through life, even if we are afraid. Kidd shows us that courage can help us obtain what we desire. Both books demonstrate that courage guides a person to stand up for what a person believes in.
Although The Book Thief and The Secret Life of Bees have the theme of courage, they are illustrated differently. The Book Thief says that courage can help a person even if the person might have fears. Many characters in the book have fears related to the outside world. The reason for this is that there is discrimination towards certain people, like Jews. In “‘It’s getting worse’, Walter told Max. ‘Anytime now, they could find us out… We don’t know what might happen. I might get caught. You might need to find that place… I’m too scared to ask anyone for help. They might put me in. There’s only one solution. I’ll go down there…’ ” (Zusak 194-195). This quote indicates that Walter is trying to help Max, who was a Jew. Even though he was afraid, he finds courage to help his friend, risking that the Nazis might catch them both. Walter would get caught for helping a Jew, and Max would get caught for being a Jew and brought to a camp. In this position, many people would be afraid, and not be able to do the task. However, Walter had the courage to make someone else’s life better, despite his fears. Likewise, The Secret Life of Bees shows ...
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...eous was enough to to stand up for what she believed in. With this in mind, she went with August, also an African-American woman, to go and vote for the president. Not only did courage help her stand up for what she thinks is right, she was able to
The Book Thief and The Secret Life of Bees give us a glimpse of courage. Markus Zusak, author of The Book Thief, tells us that courage helps you get through life with your fears. Sue Monk Kidd, the writer of The Secret Life of Bees, shows that courage can help a person get what they wish for. Both The Book Thief and The Secret Life of Bees give us an interpretation of courage that says that it can help a person stand up for what they believe in. Wether you are scared or just facing a problem, courage can help resolve the complication. If you have courage in life, then you will achieve goals you never thought could happen.
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...
One of the characters who show real courage is Tom Robinson. Being an African-American and living a generally prejudiced town like Maycomb, Tom was already licked from the start. Tom was allegedly accused of raping a white person and as Atticus says, “In our courts, when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins” (295). During his trial, Tom could have lied about his reasoning for helping Mayella, to keep himself from getting into more trouble but instead he showed real courage by revealing the real reason behind his actions: “I felt sorry for her, she seemed to try more’n the rest of ‘em” (264). Since Jim Crow laws were active in Maycomb, Tom’s answer was seen as a terrible mistake: “Below us, nobody liked Tom Robinson’s answer” (264). It showed that he, being a black person, thought he was better off than a white person. Tom also had real courage to go and help Mayella out in the first place; he didn’t have to, and by doing it he was putting himself to risk; any bystander could have gotten the wrong idea. However, he helped her anyways out of sheer goodwill. Another act of courage Tom did was when he tried to escape prison by running over the fence. He was licked from the start because he only had one good arm a...
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.
you to see what real courage is, instead of seeing courage is a man with
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.
Being determined has a big impact on courage because you need that drive like Rosa Parks did to make a difference. In 1955, Rosa Parks did not give up her seat to a white man. This is courageous because at the time African Americans were treated poorly and she decided to take a stand even though the consequences were harsh. The passage indicates in paragraph one that Rosa Parks was a part of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and organized social justice campaigns. I mentioned this because after she
One of the best explanations of courage is the following by Maya Angelou: “One isn’t necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtues with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.” Her explanation summarizes all that courage can lead you to who you are in life. Courage is standing up for what you believe in, despite disapproval, pain, fear, uncertainty, or intimidation. Courage is challenging what is normal. Courage is giving voice to those who cannot speak for themselves. Courage is using whatever power available to educate the world about injustice. Courage is following your heart even when the path is not known. Courage is trying after failing.
The highest level of courage is staying true to yourself. Being honest to yourself and standing up for what you believe in takes great courage. Unfortunately, being courageous comes at a high cost and you may not always be rewarded for it. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, many characters show courage at the topmost level. Their acts may seem foolish and immoral to others, but they do what they believe in. The book shows that true courage is fighting in what you believe no matter what the consequences. We see this type of courage in Jem, Scout, Atticus and even Boo Radley throughout the course of the book.
The dictionary’s definition of courage is, “The ability to do something that frightens one; bravery.” The book To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is set in Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930’s. To Kill A Mockingbird is narrated by Scout, a young girl, daughter of Atticus Finch and the sister of Jem Finch. She has multiple important role models that teach her lessons as she grows; one of the lessons that she learns about is courage. Courage is a major theme throughout the book. Throughout TKAM, courage is shown when people know they will fail, but they still try; or when they risk their social and normal life to help others. The characters Miss Dubose, Atticus Finch, and Arthur (Boo) Radley show courage through the book.
“It’s such a complicated subject, it’s hard to know what to say. It’s easy to break down courage into categories.
The world’s greatest innovator Steve Jobs once said, ”Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” Whenever someone explains what courage is, a person’s definition would be about overcoming fear or having bravery. Despite that, courage can be an individual handling what society is asking from them and going by what their hearts say and dealing with their own problems. This concept comes into play in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, where several of Lee’s characters experience courage by going against societal means. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee connects the characters going through their own conviction to show her theme that courage is going against society’s beliefs and handling one’s situation.
Courage is a strong word, feeling and thought. It is grace under pressure. Courage is doing something that is discomforting to make others better. It is having mental strength and doing something you never thought could be done. Courage is a trait, a trait hard to show for it looks different for everyone. In To Kill a Mockingbird, you can see courage through the actions of Atticus Finch, Mrs. Dubose and Boo Radley because they all did something that was out of their comfort zone. They are faced with a challenge and they accept it for what it is. They do not hide away when they face problems or bumps on the road.
Based on the Merriam Webster dictionary, courage is defined as the,“mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.” In the play, the characters are tested and forced to make life or death decisions, with
As defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary courage is the “mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear or difficulty.” The majority of dictionaries will tell the reader the same thing, that courage is the ability to overcome something although it may be unwanted or difficult. For many, they have a different definition of courage.
“Courage - a perfect sensibility of the measure of danger, and a mental willingness to endure it.” Courageous people understand the danger that they face when they act how they do. That is what courage is all about. Many historical events occur due to people having the courage to do what they think is right, or because of those who use their courage to do what they want. Having the courage to stand alone in one’s beliefs may be one of the hardest thing a person can do.