To Kill A Mockingbird is a book about courage to what extent do you agree with this? Harper Lee's first novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, displays the life of a small southern family struggling through the depression in Maycomb, Alabama. Seen through the innocent eyes of a young child are the events and people of Maycomb. Courage is a major theme in the novel but there are other themes like the Hypocrisy, Protecting the innocent and Prejudice, which are brought out to the same extent. The author explores the idea of courage in the novel. Atticus shows true courage by defending Tom Robinson, a black man charged with the rape of a white woman. Atticus continues to fight for justice despite knowing he can’t win the case because he is doing what he knows is right. The town is against this….. This is shown when Atticus watches over Tom Robinson outside his goal cell the night he has been moved to the local goal. There are concerns about the possibility of a lynch mob. Mrs. Dubose is another example of true courage in this novel. Mrs. Dubose always yells at the children, enraging Jem. One Day when she insults Atticus, Jem wrecks her garden. As Punishment he is forced to read to her for a month. During this time Mrs. Dubose seems in a fog and has fits towards the end of the sessions. About a month after Jem finished his punishment Mrs. Dubose Dies. Atticus explains that Mrs. Dubose was a morphine addict because of her illness but she had decided that she wanted to leave this world beholden to nothing and nobody. By overcoming a morphine addiction, we see that Ms. Dubose was a woman of tremendous strength and character. She was not going to spend her last days as a drug addict, and despite the pain that it caused her, she succ... ... middle of paper ... ...p the saintly J. Grimes Everett and the Mruna tribe in Africa they neglect to help the poor in Maycomb. They are happy to help people in another country but blatantly ignore the people in need on their own doorstep. This issue is important because it shows that how willing people are to help out people in another country but ignore the goings on of their own town. The idea of “true courage” is used throughout this text, however so are other equally important themes such as protection of the innocent, prejudice and hypocrisy. Despite that this book was written in the 1930’s it’s idea’s are still very relevant today. I feel that prejudice and hypocrisy are especially common in small towns such as Gunnedah. Although peoples attitudes towards things like racism have not completely changed we must not give up hope, we must have faith in the good of all people.
“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.
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.
"The only thing we've got is a black man's word against the Ewells'. The evidence boils down to you-did-I-didn't. The jury couldn't possibly be expected to take Tom Robinson's word against the Ewells,'" Atticus solemnly explains this to his brother. First of all, Atticus demonstrates courage when he undertakes the task of defending Tom Robinson, a black man wrongly accused of rape. Atticus knows he won't win the case and like Mrs. Dubose in her battle against morphine, he is "licked" before he begins. Nevertheless, Atticus knows that Tom is innocent and that he must fight for him, since no one else will. Atticus's strong sense of morality and justice motivates him to defend Tom with vigor and determination, giving it all he's got with one mission in mind. He wants the people of Maycomb town, whether they believe it or not, to hear the truth about Tom, "That boy might go to the chair, but he's not going till the truth's told"
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.
“‘Old Mr. Bob Ewell accused him of rapin’ his girl an’ had him arrested an’ put in jail---’” (Lee 164). To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, takes place in a settled town called Maycomb in Alabama. It is based during the early 1930’s when the Great Depression hit. Poverty reaches everyone from families like the Finches to the “white trash” Ewells. Soon the settled town Maycomb gets into conflict characterized by poverty, racism, and domestic violence.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, the most important theme was the defiance of social prejudices. The Finch family defy racism and receive hate and trouble from both the adults and children of their community. Their struggles come together in a case that accurately describes historical realities that existed in the
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee brings readers on an adventure to discover realistic views on society and the communication between people. Characters are portrayed in different ways as they go through changes and are faced with challenging situations. Several acts of mental courage are explored in To Kill a Mockingbird, such as Atticus’s attitude and actions, Mrs. Dubose’s beliefs, and Jem’s understanding of courage. Each character’s courage gives them strength and a developing understanding of themselves as the novel progresses. Atticus Finch is a good example of a character with strong mental courage.
A girl was being bullied, and had sat on the curb and sobbed into her knees. Suddenly, a boy sees this young girl in agony, and finds the courage to comfort her despite of what his peers might say about the situation. Through his words were few, to her it meant many. Moral courage is the ability to stand up for what one believes in. To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee takes place in a small town in Maycomb County of Alabama. In such an area during the 1930s, the people living there were prejudice, sexist, and had set male and female roles. In addition to this, not only was society at a low but this area suffered from an economic low known as the Great Depression. However, despite all this, Harper Lee effectively uses “To Kill a Mockingbird”
In upholding his courteous standards and professional stature in the most difficult of circumstances, Atticus constantly demonstrates his courage of mind and heart, even in the face of the most relentless adversaries. However, Atticus’ most difficult, controversial and brave endeavor lies in the legal battle of the Ewells and a local man of color, Tom Robinson. As the county-appointed lawyer of a black defendant in a 1930’s Southern community, Atticus is put under great pressure from his peers to botch the case, giving into racial prejudice, while facing the prospect of persecution if his actions follow otherwise. Even so, Atticus defies stereotypes in not only striving to clear Mr. Robinson’s name, but nearly succeeding in accomplishing such an unprecedented task. However, as a result of his legal dealings, Atticus and his household are targeted with the berrating of neighbors, friends, and even family leading up to the case. Scout and Jem cannot venture outside their street without the repeated negative assertions of the town, one neighbor yelling “Your father’s no better than the n***** trash he works for(135).” In such environments lies Atticus’ brave dealing of the situation. He, despite the judgement of others, presses forth to the end, his persistence only matched by his continuous empathetic treatment of others. Setting an example for his children, Atticus proves that bravery can be achieved not only through bold and courageous acts but quiet and steadfast doings. Atticus also demonstrates bravery amidst the heat of the Tom Robinson case. As he defined during Mrs. Dubose’s era, Atticus considers bravery to be “when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what(149).” With a southern-grown, all-white judge and jury, Tom Robinson has literally no
In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the theme of courage is seen through the actions of many characters; I have also seen many examples of courage in my own life through current events, such as news stories about Aly Raisman, and courage is also seen in my personal experiences, such as the time my cousin had moved to New York. The definition of courage is the ability to do something that frightens one or strength in the face of pain or grief. Also, Atticus says, “It’s when you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.”
Throughout history, it has been demonstrated that there are many ways to define hope and what hopelessness entails. The insightful novel To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee examines the disparity that is thrust upon several minor characters in the small southern town of Maycomb. The hopelessness within Maycomb is used by Atticus, who stands as the voice of reason, ultimately allowing readers to grasp the lesson of empathy implemented throughout the novel.
The novel to kill a mocking bird written by Harper Lee Is a novel of injustice, of black people in the 1930’s The novel brings up many cases of courage which we will be discussed, The narrators farther Atticus is a well-respected man throughout the town and teaches his children many things such as colour does not matter and that you have to respect the people older than you like Mrs Dubose, who is a grouchy old woman to the children even though she is one of the bravest characters throughout the novel because she is a morphine addict who had promised to get clean before dying, Atticus is one of the most well respected characters, He strives to teach his children Scout and Jem about how courage is always there and how you just have to look for it. Atticus wants his children to comprehend that on top of there always being courage, that there are numerous different ways a person can show ways of courage.
Even though Atticus presented a winning case, proving that Tom Robison was innocent the jury decided that Tom was ‘guilty as charged.’ Tom was sentenced to life in prison. “I will appeal as soon as we can, we knew we wouldn’t win this one. I will go see Helen first thing in the morning.” These were the last words Atticus spoke to Tom before Tom attempted to escape and was shot dead. In the small town of Maycomb County, society is controlled by racism. Atticus is one of the few white town folk who didn’t let skin colour control his way of thinking. He teaches this to his children Scout and Jem. “You got to walk a mile in someone’s else’s skin.” The Juries decision in the end was political and not correct. They convicted Tom Robinson not because he was guilty but because he was a Negro. The Negro’s in this town were viewed as lesser people and most white people don’t understand them and were afraid of the Negro community. Even though Atticus’ cases failed he was still congratulated by the Negro community who were watching the court case from the balcony. What Atticus did in the courtroom was stand up and allow a Negro person to have a voice, putting a stop to the never-ending racial hating
According to the dictionary, courage is the ability to do something that frightens one or strength in the face of pain or grief. Courage is shown throughout the whole book of To KIll A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. To Kill A Mockingbird is told from the main character Scout’s perspective about her town and adventures with her brother Jem. Almost all of the characters, including Scout show some type of courage in this novel. According to Atticus, Scout and Jem’s father, courage is ¨ It´s when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.¨ (Lee 149) Characters that live up to Atticus’ definition of courage are Mrs. Dubose, Boo Radley, and Atticus himself.