To Kill A Mockingbird Courage Analysis

Rahul Keswani Mrs.Wehr Period 5/English 9 Honors 2-18-2014 It Takes Courage Not To Kill a Mockingbird Throughout the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, many traits are displayed in many forms. Different characters change dynamically and over the course of the novel the reader will soon realize that the trait most augmented is courage. The definition of courage is to perform an act that frightens one self. In other words, a person who steps out of his comfort zone is considered courageous. The four main characters who truly show bravery and courage are Atticus Finch, Boo Radley, Heck Tate and most of all Scout. Atticus stepped out of his comfort zone as soon as he had left the family property, an area of land that was to be inherited by the oldest male member of each generation. He also went to pursue a field that he was not particularly interested in, criminal law. Not only does he fail at his first two cases, but he then proceeds to take a case which he knows that he will lose. During the testimony of Tom Robinson, an African American man who is accused of raping a white woman, the evidence presented by Atticus clearly proves Tom’s innocence but considering the prejudice of the 1930’s towards African Americans, the jury thinks that Tom Robinson should be killed. Even though Atticus Finch lost yet another case this evidence stands to prove that Atticus Finch was willing to defy society and give a doomed man a fair shot at life or death. Another person who steps out of his comfort zone is Boo Radley, a poor man deprived of social knowledge. Stuck inside a house for the past fifteen years of his life, he has major underdevelopment in his social skills which makes him extremely difficult to talk to. Also he h... ... middle of paper ... ...d away, 'Scout’s a cow—ward!' ringing in my ears. It was the first time I ever walked away from a fight. Somehow, if I fought Cecil I would let Atticus down. Atticus so rarely asked Jem and me to do something for him, I could take being called a coward for him. I felt extremely noble for having remembered, and remained noble for three weeks." Each of the characters have different ways of showing courage, Atticus by defending a doomed man, Boo for finally coming out of his shell, Heck for doing the right thing instead of the lawful thing and Scout for backing down from a fight. The many examples of this trait demonstrate to the reader that courage is the underlying message of this book. What the reader must take out of this is that courageous actions are not always the easiest to make and in some situations the best decision is to lay down fists and walk away.