Examples Of Courage In Sophocles In The Time Of The Butterflies

Many characters of literature show courage in many forms and for many reasons. Some characters bravely fight the systemic racism of Alabama in the 1930's. Others make dangerous choices in order to pay respects to their family. And some defend themselves when facing unwanted advances from a corrupt leader. Courage is when a person stand ups for something even if the odds are stacked against them; the characters Tom Robinson, Antigone, and Minerva Mirabal are all courageous for diverse reasons and encounter numerous obstacles.

Antigone is the protagonist and namesake of the play Antigone by Sophocles; she is a courageous and ambitious woman for committing dangerous crimes in the name of morality. Both of Antigone's brothers Eteocles and Polyneices kill each other in a civil

war, but only Eteocles is given a proper burial by the King. Antigone is reasonably upset by this, for she believes a burial is necessary to find peace after death. She decides that if no one else will do it, she will bury Polyneices herself. At the very beginning of the play, Antigone asks her sister Ismene to help carry out the plan. Ismene rejects, and Antigone responds with, "You have made your choice, you can be what you want to be. But I will bury him; and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy: I shall lie down with him in death" (0.53-57). Even though her own sister refuses to help, Antigone is adamant in her efforts to pay respects to her brother. Ismene "made [her] choice" to not help Antigone, but Antigone does not change her mind even if it means she will be acting alone. She also believes she is honoring the gods with her operation, saying her "crime is holy." Antigone also accepts the danger of her choice, saying she will "lie down" with her brother "in death" if necessary. Antigone is courageous for carrying out a dangerous and illegal mission because she knows it is the moral decision to make, while other characters can show courage under less perilous circumstances.

Tom Robinson, of the renowned novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, is an African American man falsely accused of raping a white woman; during the trial Tom remains brave and courageous when testifying against white people to a white jury. Tom's entire trial is the word of one black man against that of two white people. It would be easy for Tom to go along with a false story if he thinks no one will believe him, but instead he tells the truth and endures the unfair way he is treated in the courtroom. At the end of the trial, Tom's lawyer Atticus Finch gives his closing remarks, saying of Tom, "And so a quiet, respectable, humble Negro who had the unmitigated temerity to feel sorry for a white woman has had to put his word against two white people's. I need not remind you of their appearance and conduct on the stand - you saw them for yourselves" (Lee 273). Atticus speaks highly of Tom Robinson for remaining composed during the biased trial. Tom is "respectable [and] humble" in the courtroom while the "conduct and appearance" of his opponents is uncouth. However, this ill-mannered behavior does not discourage Tom from telling the true story. He testifies "against two white people," a brave thing to do as a black man when the white jury would most likely see him as inferior. Tom Robinson is courageous for testifying honestly in a prejudiced trial, whereas more physical instances of unfairness can also give rise to moments of courage.

Minerva Mirabal, one of the four sisters encapsulated in the book In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez, is a confident young woman; not only is she a leader in the underground revolution of the Dominican Republic, but also she slaps the dictator of her country in the face.

The dictator, Rafael Trujillo, invites Minerva to the Discovery Day Dance in an attempt to seduce her. While dancing together he gets too close to Minerva and nears a sexual assault. The situation unfolds, "He yanks me by the wrist, thrusting his pelvis at me in a vulgar way, and I can see my hand rise in an endless slow motion rise - a mind all its own - and come down upon the astonished, made-up face" (Alvarez 100). Minerva knows she could be imprisoned for hitting a powerful leader, but she also knows that it is wrong for him to try to touch her and make advances on her. Trujillo "yanks" her, already a violent act, then "[thrusts] his pelvis," clearly acting in a predatory way to Minerva. Nonetheless Minerva brings her hand "down upon" Trujillo, defending herself against his crude behavior. A lot of bravery is needed to slap the leader of your country in the face, and Minerva shows that she has that

bravery.

Courage is when a person confronts something important and speaks up even if they have disadvantages preventing them from proceeding. Antigone buries her brother Polyneices because she believes it is necessary for him to rest peacefully in death; doing this is illegal and very dangerous but Antigone does not back down. Tom Robinson testifies truthfully at his hearing despite the fact that the jury is inclined not to believe him. Minerva Mirabal defends herself by hitting the dictator of her country even though she could be imprisoned for it. All of these characters are doing what they believe to be right, and the difficulties and consequences they face do not hinder their efforts. Courage comes in many forms, and when people find the courage inside themselves to fight back against corruption are oppression, that is when true progress and change is made in the world.