The Day The Sun Came Out Mrs Dubose Character Analysis

Courage is an admirable trait in when seen in others, or even in yourself. Yet, many fail to notice and acknowledge the courage that is within a person instead of being shown outwardly. Outward courage can be remarkable, as shown with various super heroes throughout the decades including Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, the Flash, and many more literary favorites. However, there is something more to simply sacrificing yourself in the sake of what is right. Applauding will never vanquish the feeling inside when you use moral courage. Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose, a derogatory character from the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, is quite familiar with that feeling. As is Mary from the short story “The Day the Sun Came Out” by Dorothy Johnson.

Dubose decided to put herself through the pain of morphine withdrawals and cancer so she will have the ability to die free and beholden to nothing. As each day passes, the pain she has to go through becomes more and more hidden. It isn’t until later on that Jem Finch, a crucial character in To Kill A Mockingbird learns that what he was watching her go through, was actually her putting up with the severe amounts of pain. He was allowed to see past the walls and facade that she had put up to block people from viewing what she was going through behind closed doors, and he finally realized, with some help from Atticus, that she was quite the brave woman. Mary from the short story, “The Day the Sun Came Out” also experienced what it felt like to put certain needs in front of your own. The children mentioned in the short story were starving when Mary found the giant mushroom. In an attempt made to make sure the mushroom wasn’t poisonous before the children were able to eat it, Mary took a bite. She put her own life and health out on the table for the sake of the children. After that one bite, Mary refused to eat more, to make sure that the children were fed and their stomachs were no longer aching out of the need for food and nutrients. It took willpower, for she had not eaten