Examples Of Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird

536 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Courage thematic essay

There are lots examples of Scout and Jem learning what courage is in To Kill A Mockingbird. Scout and Jem are brother and sister, so they spend a lot of time together. And during this time, they learn very important life lessons about what courage is. All of these lessons are important to know and they aren’t things that Scout and Jem just forget about. Scout and Jem learn about what courage is in To Kill A Mockingbird in several ways including, admitting they are wrong, standing up in a tough situation, and standing up for what they believe in.

Lastly, Scout learned that courage is when she stands up for Atticus. In chapter 15, Atticus is being harassed by a big mob of men because they are trying to get him to give up Tom. Scout sees that this is happening and walks right into the crowd and says to one of the men, “He’s a good boy, a real nice boy, we brought him home for dinner one time, maybe he told you about me” (Lee 205). By talking to the man, Scout lightened the situation. She reminded them of all the good things that Atticus did for them, even though many of them couldn’t pay him back. …show more content…

Jem is Scout’s older brother and he hasn’t really been a good brother to Scout. But, in chapter 28, Jem showed great courage and leadership. When he and Scout were walking home from the pageant, they heard rustling in the woods. They just assumed that it was someone playing a trick on them, but eventually, someone jumped out and tried to kill them. “Run, Scout! Run! Run! Jem screamed” (Lee 351). Now that Jem has shown courage, he now knows that he should be protecting Scout and what one part of courage

Show More
Related

  • Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird

    700 Words  | 2 Pages

    From all of these, she learns to look at the individuality of the others. For Scouts, courage is most often something with physical activity and involves personal danger. It is very difficult for Scouts to see that greater courage is often required in other places of life. Scout learns that the greatest courage can be found in a situation where a person knows that he is going to lose and still continues to fight. To prove this, Miss Lee first had Scout observe her father perform a physical act of courage when he shoots the charging mad dog.

    Read More

  • Corrupted Innocence in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

    843 Words  | 2 Pages

    The first thing Jem and Scout learn from the qualities of benevolence and courage is fairness. Fairness changes how they see their world because they realize that life isn’t fair. In the novel Atticus shows benevolence when he goes to the jailhouse to protect Tom Robinson even though he wasn’t legally bound to. When Jem and Scout arrive at the jailhouse they come face to face with an lynch mob. There Jem and Scout are first exposed to the harsh realities of the treatment towards African Americans. However it wasn’t until the next morning when Scout understood “full meaning of last night’s events” (208). As the book progresses Atticus shows courage by trying to give Tom Robinson a fair trial in the middle of a racist community. However Atticus lost his case and Jem and Scout realize that their justice system isn’t fair. They realize that in the town of Maycomb justice is a privilege not a right. Jem states that “It’s like being’ a caterpillar in a cocoon... I always thought Maycomb folks were the best folks ...

    Read More

  • Courage and Empathy in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

    566 Words  | 2 Pages

    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...

    Read More

  • Courage in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

    717 Words  | 2 Pages

    "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.

    Read More

  • Courage in To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

    972 Words  | 2 Pages

    Courage exists in several forms in Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. As defined by Atticus Finch, real courage is “.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. One of the characters who showed real courage is Tom Robinson.

    Read More

  • Courage in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mocking Bird

    1143 Words  | 3 Pages

    For a younger character, like Scout, courage is most often associated with a physical act that is usually dangerous. It is hard for young children like that to realize that greater courage is shown in other aspects of life. Scout sees an example of courage in her father when he shoots the mad dog. Although Atticus did not think of it as very courageous, Jem and Scout were proud of their father and the courage he showed in the situation. He was not trying to prove anything, yet they were still impressed. Later on in the story, Jem and Scout encounter the vindictive Mrs. Dubose. "Your father's no better than the niggers and trash he works for!" (Chapter 11, Page 113) When she bad- mouthed Atticus like that, Jem decided that the best way to settle things was to ruin Mrs. Dubose's camellias. After Atticus heard about this stunt, Jem was made to read to her every afternoon for a month. Mrs. Dubose was a very sick lady, and had morphine to ease her pain. It was not until after she died that Atticus explained to Jem and Scout how courageous the lady was because she knew she was dying but was still determined to die free of the morphine. She fought against great odds, even though she knew that she would surely die. Between these two examples Atticus set, and the many more he showed in the way he lived his life, Scout was taught to stop fighting with her fists and to try and overcome opposing opinions with her head, rather than with physical violence.

    Read More

  • To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

    688 Words  | 2 Pages

    know that, Jem'; (pg. 67). Later that same day Scout finds Jem crying because he had

    Read More

  • Atticus' Lessons

    701 Words  | 2 Pages

    To begin with, Jem and Scout determine that courage means doing what is right, even if it involves life threatening risks. In chapter eleven, Jem Finch, has ruined the patches of Mrs. Dubose’s lovely camellias. As soon as Atticus has heard of Jem’s little act of rebellion, he gives Mrs. Dubose the opportunity of deciding Jem’s punishment. Specifically, she establishes that Jem shall read to her every day after school. After Jem has finished his retribution, Atticus informs him of Mrs. Dubose’s death. As a result, Atticus speaks of Mrs. Dubose’s bravery. Jem starts to ask his father why he thinks this of Mrs. Dubose. Atticus replies, “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. It’s when you know 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). Accordingly, Atticus is trying to show that heroism comes from the people who do what their gut says is right, because that is courage. Mrs. Dubose wanted to die a pure woman instead of someone who had an addiction, which she successfully succeeded in. Another example of courage comes from when Atticus ta...

    Read More

  • Courage in To Kill A Mockingbird

    544 Words  | 2 Pages

    Similarly, the largest example of courage is found in younger characters like Scout and Jem.

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mockingbird Essays: Great Courage

    1053 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...re you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.  You rarely win, but sometimes you do." (112).  Within all the examples of courage there is not a situation when the courage did not stem from a need within the character.  Courage is the inner desire to succeed and to do what is righteous, no matter what humiliation or consequences that plague you because of your decision.  Scout, Jem, Atticus, Calpurnia and Mrs. Dubose understood the risks they faced but continued with their actions because it was moral.  They did not all enter their personal situation expecting to win.  Scout still faced further scolding from Miss Caroline.  Jem eventually told his father what he had done to the Radley's.  There were winners and losers but they do not regret the courage they showed for the sake of good intentions.

    Read More

  • Restrictions In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee

    1018 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the end it is only because he finds the courage to leave his own house that Jem and Scout are saved from being

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mockingbird Courage Analysis

    1533 Words  | 4 Pages

    “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to your enemies, but just as much to stand up to your friends,” remarks J.K. Rowling in her book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Jem Finch, a boy from a small town in the South struggles to fully understand this idea. To Kill a Mockingbird suggests that real courage is standing up for others regardless of the what it may cost you. As a young boy, Jem’s understanding of courage and bravery are wrapped up in how others might view you, rather than who you really are inside. A little later he sees courage as having a clean record with others. Then Jem learns that courage is not giving up on someone or something even if you know you’re probably not going to win. Finally, Jem uses

    Read More

  • Theme of Courage in To Kill A Mocking Bird

    792 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Morality And Values In To Kill A Mockingbird

    1163 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many people believe that to have courage, you must conquer something physically challenging. Courage is a quality in which the mind is able to confront any difficulty, whether that be fear, danger or even pain. Scout and her older brother Jem are both influenced by

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mockingbird Moral Courage Analysis

    105 Words  | 1 Pages

    Throughout the story we see Jem develop as a character who helps develop the idea that moral courage is greater than physical courage. Harper Lee does this several times, although it may not be originally intended, it can be evident to the reader.

    Read More

More about Examples Of Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird

Open Document