Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird, depicts similar concepts differently than how they are represented in the poem, “Courage”, by Edgar Albert Guest. The concepts within both pieces of writing can be compared and contrast in terms of the theme and tone in which they are written. A first claim is the similar themes amongst the pieces of writing. The theme of, courage when obstacles occur is displayed in different circumstances in both the novel and the poem. In the poem, it remarks that courage can be something people strive for, but it cannot be achieved without the first having courage within them. “For who would strive for a distant goal must always have courage within his soul” (Guest 15-16). In To Kill a Mockingbird, according to Atticus, Mrs. Dubose exemplifies the greatest form of courage. Mrs. Dubose was a morphine addict for most of her life, and she strived to break the addiction. Ultimately, she did break the addiction and she died clean. “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand” (Lee 127). The poem …show more content…
Despite the similarities between the pieces of writing, they do exhibit different tones. In To Kill a Mockingbird, a comical tone is shown. However, in the poem “Courage”, a serious tone is created.
In the poem, Guest creates this serious tone to display the importance of courage. Additionally, he states that there is more to being courageous than what is commonly recognized. “Courage is more than a daring deed: It’s the breath of life and a strong man’s creed” (Guest 31-32).
Lee creates a comical tone in To Kill a Mockingbird when Scout uses curse words at unnecessary times. “But at supper that evening when I asked him to pass the damn ham please, Uncle Jack pointed at me,” (Lee 90). This comical tone shows Scout’s imaturity. The tone aids in the development in her character, while continuing to lighten the mood for
Harper Lee uses “To Kill a Mockingbird” to express views on things such as courage. The message Lee gives about courage is, Being courageous or brave is a key part of growing up.
Courage is a deed that can be portrayed in many ways. In the Historical Fiction novel To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee, there are many acts of racism and problematic cases where acts of courage are demonstrated in different and unique ways that can only be deciphered if one reads in between the lines of the words. There are three characters in particular who show courage in diverse ways. First, there is Arthur Radley who anonymously shows courage by performing tasks that cause him to face the outside world where he’s been isolated from for so long. Secondly, there is Scout Finch who demonstrates courage through her adolescent age. Lastly, there is Atticus Finch who displays courage through his selfless and kind actions. Therefore, in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses diverse characters to represent different acts of courage.
Courage is the ladder on which other themes in to kill a mockingbird mount on. With courage people tend to take risks, have strength to be compassionate, and the wisdom to be humble. How many times have you considered yourself as courageous? At the end of the novel, you see reasons why being courageous could help you as a reader live a better and braver life. In Conclusion, courage is the foundation of integrity.
Courage plays a big part in each book. Without the immense amount of courage shown by the main characters, they wouldn’t be such good role models. For example, when Scout asks Atticus why he defends Tom Robinson, a negro, he says, “If I didn’t I couldn’t hold my head up in town, I couldn’t represent this country in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again. “(75) Atticus doesn’t have to defend Tom Robinson, but in his heart he knows everyone should have a fair chance at this trial, so he does. Even though the entire community is against the support of Negroes, Atticus finds the courage to defend Tom Robinson anyway. Another good instance of Atticus’ courage is when Mrs. Dubose dies clean from the morphine addiction. Atticus says, “I wanted you to see what real courage was, instead of getting the idea courage comes from a man with a gun in his hand, It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you do it anyway and you’ll see through it no matter what” (112) Atticus teaches his kids that you have to overcome your fears. He knows many citizens of Macomb use violence and...
"Courage isn't an absence of fear. It's doing what you are afraid to do. It's having the power to let go of the familiar and forge ahead into new territory." ~John Maxwell. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout (Jean Louise Finch), Jem (Jeremy Atticus Finch), and Atticus Finch display acts of valor that contribute, and in some cases encourage their rectitude. Harper Lee demonstrates that acting courageously can lead to an improved, sustained, or newly developed personal integrity.
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.
Harper Lee’s only book, To Kill a Mockingbird, is the stereotypical tale of childhood and innocence, yet it successfully incorporates mature themes, like the racism in the South at the time, to create a masterpiece of a work that has enraptured people’s minds and hearts for generations. According to esteemed novelist Wally Lamb, “It was the first time in my life that a book had sort of captured me. That was exciting; I didn’t realize that literature could do that” (111). Scout’s witty narration and brash actions make her the kind of heroine you can’t help but root for, and the events that take place in Maycomb County are small-scale versions of the dilemmas that face our world today. Mockingbird is a fantastically written novel that belongs on the shelves for classic literature that everyone should take the time to read and appreciate for their execution of style and the importance of their content.
“To Kill a Mocking Bird” is a novel which was written by Harper Lee. In my essay I will discuss how Harper Lee explores the theme of prejudice by looking at the writing techniques and how they affect people.
Fear and courage are very important in this story. They change almost every important event that occurs. Fear and courage both go together, because without fear, there is no fear to overcome and be courageous. They are the most important qualities and feelings in the novel, along with empathy. Without courage, key events that happened would have been altered. For example, if Jem and Scout never went in the yard of the Radley family, Boo would not have saved them from the deadly attack of Bob Ewell. The major point is that fear and couirage played a large role in the novel of To Kill A Mockingbird.
Harper Lee argues in her novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, that the moral obligations of a court are thrown aside in favor of the law that lies in the minds of men. She describes her characters in such a manner that alludes to their inner thoughts. Through practiced repetition, the citizens of Maycomb force the existence of the social inequality that is white supremacy. Whether by following lead or by ignoring the problem altogether, it is the people alone who allow injustices to occur. In a public appeal for an era of tolerance, Harper Lee attacks Southern racism through Scout Finch's narration of her father's failure to correct a corrupt legal system dominated by prejudiced citizens seeking to rule the law by their own hands.
Atticus stated, “She died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew’”. Mrs. Dubose’s fearless heart kept her going until it ceased beating. Harper Lee achieved the most important dream of a writer; her book is timeless. The theme of To Kill a Mockingbird, courage, is one that no one can deny, is a central idea not only in the novel but also in life.
Courage is not something that we are born with, it is a skill that takes time to learn and only a few are lucky enough to have it. To Kill a Mockingbird is not only about life in a world full of hate, it is about standing up for anyone’s beliefs being brave enough to do it. In this story, Harper Lee says “Courage is not a man with a gun in his hand. It's knowing you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do” (Lee 112). In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee illustrates courage through Atticus Finch, Mrs. Dubose, and Arthur Radley.
Atticus Finch demonstrates both moral and physical courage through his decisions of taking on and fighting Tom Robinson’s case, despite all the critics and setbacks, by putting his own life at risk to protect his client and doing all in his power to bring justice. In conclusion, true courage is the ability to confront something even if one is “licked” from the start. Tom Robinson, Mrs. Dubose, and Atticus Finch all display real courage throughout Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Tom Robinson, being an African-American, living in a prejudiced town and having a crippled arm, still helped Mayella, gave a truthful testimony and tried to escape prison. Mrs. Dubose courageously overcame her morphine addiction despite her age and pain.
"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.
Scout believes at the beginning of the book that courage is all to do with physical feats like fist fighting. Scout and Jem though Atticus was courageous when he shot the mad dog, but Atticus just shrugged it off telling his children that that is not ?real courage?. The children soon see that moral courage is more valuable after Miss Dubose said "Your father's no better than the niggers and trash he works for!" Chapter 11, Page 113 after they walked past her house. On the way back Atticus just walked by and told Mrs. Dubose, ?you look as pretty as a picture? Mrs. Dubose was so stunned that she could not say a word back to him. Later Jem and scout leaned how courageous Mrs. Dubose really was after Jem cut up her camellia bushes, the kids found out that she was a morphine attic brave enough to get off the drug that killed her.