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Character analysis to kill a mockingbird
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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.
Firstly, in the book, To
Atticus showed courage when in the book he decided that he would stand up for Tom Robinson, a Negro recently victimized by false rape, in court and try his best not to let an innocent man die. This is shown when Scout heard from a kid at school who is making fun of her because her dad defends Negroes. Later Atticus is talking to Scout about defending Negroes and when Scout asked him if he really does do that, Atticus replied, of course I do, but he also replied saying that he knows he should not. Although Atticus decided to defend Tom he knew at the beginning of the trial he was going to lose and he said that there was no point in him trying. “Atticus, are we going to win it?” “No, honey,” “Then why-” “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win,” (Lee 101). This shows how Atticus knew that he was not going to win, but he still tried. That also shows how, even though helping a Negro was considered unacceptable, disturbing, and ridiculous at that time, Atticus was willing to risk his social life with friends too, as well as what people thought of him, help out
Boo Radley showed courage by risking his life to save Scout and Jem when they were under attack by Bob Ewell, whilst wielding a knife at night. The reasoning as to why Bob attacked them is that Atticus made Bob look like he was the one who beat his daughter up, even though he really is. Bob was very outraged when this happened causing him to desire revenge on Atticus, but luckily for Atticus, Boo was there to stop Bob. Although Boo showed courage by stopping Bob, he showed courage a second time as well in this scene because Boo risks publicity to save Jem and Scout. He would hate to hear his name spread around town, even for saving two children, because he is shy and does not like attention. After the death of Bob, Sheriff Heck knows that it was Boo who stepped in, saved the children, and killed Bob, but he does not want to announce it publicly for Boo’s sake. “Stunned, I stood there dumbly. The scuffling noises were dying; someone wheezed and the night was still again” (Lee 351). This shows how Boo stepped in and fought off Bob, eventually killing
Bob Ewell decided to get back at Atticus for the Tom Robinson case by attacking his kids. Boo Radley saved Scout and Jem by stabbing Bob but Heck Tate is insistent on saying that Bob fell on his knife. Atticus agrees and then explains the situation to Scout. Scout explained to him, “‘ Yes sir, I understand,’ I reassured him. ‘Mr.Tate was right.’ Atticus disengaged himself and looked at me. ‘What do you mean?’ ‘Well, it’d be sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird, wouldn’t it?’” (Lee 370) This excerpt depicts that Scout understands how turning in Boo for doing a good deed would be comparable to that of killing a mockingbird. Killing a mockingbird in these times was considered a sin due to the fact that they were completely harmless. This relates to the topic sentence because Scout compares Boo to a mockingbird, more specifically she compares the innocence of the two. She sees that a mockingbird does nothing except make music, similarly to Boo who does nothing except mind his own business and in the end save the Finch kids and the town from the burden of Mr.Ewell. Neither of the creatures cause any harm to anyone so they should not be punished for their simple ways. Another time Boo shows how he connects to Scout is when Scout walks Boo home after he saves her and Jem from Bob. She is standing on the Radley porch and reflects on the past years events through Boo’s eyes. Scout thinks, “ Autumn again, and Boo’s children needed him. Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them.” (Lee 374) This quote shows how Scout begins to see things from other people’s point of view. She looks back at the past few years but this time from Boo’s perspective.This connects to my topic sentence because Scout finally sees the innocence of Boo. She sees that he is exactly like a mockingbird, this whole time they
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.
“To Kill a Mockingbird” is a novel by Harper Lee, that teaches many themes, one of which being very important is courage. Many people think that courage is a man with a gun in his hand, but Lee’s definition is much different. She thinks that courage is when you know that you’re beaten before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what. The first quote I have to further explain this is early in the story when Atticus tells Jem and Scout about the court case he is handling. “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win” (Lee 101). Atticus knows he won’t win the court case, but he still tries his best and doesn’t falter whatsoever. Many people scrutinize him for defending a negro, but he ignores them like he should, and shows maturity and courage.
Boo Radley never had a chance to show people what he was like, he was portrayed as the bad guy by his dad, Boo is victimized by people because he can't stand up for himself so therefore he is considered the “bad guy”. Throughout the remainder of the book Boo shows his honest self when he leaves gifts for Scout and Jem, when he puts a blanket over Scout, and specially when he saves Scout and Jem from Mr.Ewell. It is obvious that he is a nice person and just wants to help, but of course his social standing and past is the only thing people can see.... ... middle of paper ... ...
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 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 is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. To Kill a Mockingbird depicts a mixture of sorrow and suspense that takes place in Alabama during the 1930s when the south is permeated with racial prejudice. Both Atticus Finch and Mrs. Dubose display tremendous courage throughout the course of the novel.
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.
Courage is having the strength to do something that is frightening to most people. It can be something large scale like the responders on 9/11 risking their lives for hundreds of people. Courage can also be something of smaller scale but just as significant like standing up for a black man in a town of racial prejudice. In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, many of the characters she has initiated show courageous qualities. One of those characters is Atticus Finch, father of Jem and Scout who demonstrates courage many times throughout the novel. Standing up for his beliefs, restraining from the negligent tauntings of his neighbors and defending a man whose innocence will not be proved, all show Atticus is the most courageous character
In the book Boo Radley is their neighbor and from what Scout has heard about him he is not nice at all. One day Scout rolled down the hill right into the Radley house. “Through all the head-shaking, quelling of nausea and Jem yelling, I had heard another sound, so low I could not have heard it from the sidewalk someone inside the house was laughing. And it was almost certainly Boo.” said Scout. (Lee, 41) This is an example of courage without purpose. At the end of the book Scout walks Boo home and realizes that he isn’t as scary as she thinks he is. Atticus put so much courage into defending Tom Robinson even when he knew that people would judge Tom Robinson he still helped him. One day Atticus saw someone’s house on fire and it was Ms. Maudie’s. Atticus knew that Ms. Maudie had a favorite chair so he risked his life by going into the fire and saving her chair. That showed courage because he didn’t have to go out of his way and do that but he knew that she loved that chair so he wanted to save it for her. Scout and Atticus showed courage because they did things they needed to do but didn’t want to
As the story progresses, Boo becomes more of a symbol of kindness and bravery than that of the "town freak" which he is made out to be. Boo leaves presents for the children in the hollow trunk of an old tree, as well as covers Scout with a blanket during Miss Maudie's fire. However, it is not until he saves Jem and Scout's life from the hands of the deranged Mr. Ewell, that Boo shows his true heroic character. Even though Boo is a physically weaker man, he shows no fear when it comes to protecting Jem and Scout's life.
"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.
...l along Boo just wanted to have someone to call a friend because of suffering from lonesome. Even though he may have been involved in the fires and other acts he did in Maycomb he was not like what anyone said a bout being a nocturnal monster or a heartless person. Boo was a normal human being living in his own world for the longest time till he broke out of his shell when Scout and him met on Halloween night. The Change that happens in the Radley house is dramatic Boo goes for being the towns "night phantom" to being a Hero in the end. Lastly how did Scout have the courage to walk up to the Radley's porch was because Scout believed Boo to be a big hero for what he had done. Another reason Scout had walked with Boo home was to go see Jem who was there from when Boo carried him from the fight that night back home. Scout saw Boo as a positive at the end of the story.
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
Atticus learns what had really happened from Scout?s explanation of what she had seen, and heard when Bob Ewell attacked them while walking back from the school play. He understood that Bob Radley killed Bob Ewell in order to save Jem?s life. Atticus does not want to send Boo to court for the fact that Boo saved his children?s life. When Scout and Jem got their BB guns they wanted to shoot the mockingbird, when Atticus said, ??Well, It?d be sort of like shootin? a mockingbird, wouldn?t it??? He explains that it is a sin to shoot mockingbirds because they do not harm us. Boo Radley is just like the mockingbird he stays inside and does not harm others, instead he saves Atticus children. Sending Boo to court would be like shooting a mockingbird. ??That is a sad house? he always spoke nicely to me, no matter what folks said he did.?? Miss Maudie Said. When Jem and Scout talks about the reasons Boo is...