As the famous radio show host Dennis Prager once said ¨Goodness is about character - integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, and moral courage, and the like. More than anything else, it is about how we treat other people. ” His wise words are shown throughout the book To Kill a Mockingbird By Harper Lee. Which is about life during the 1930’s, the great depression. The characters named Scout and Jem live in a neighbourhood of mystery, where everyone has to follow societal expectations. The kids unravel the prejudice and discrimination while exposing the cruel treatment of the town. In the novel courage is portrayed by a character being brave in a hazardous situation to help others. This is demonstrated several times throughout the novel …show more content…
such as Atticus during the old serum gang scene, Boo during the rescue of the Finch kids, and when Jem, Dill, and Scout are in the Radley’s backyard. Harper Lee uses Jem’s responsibility to demonstrate courage with his split-second decisions and selfless actions.
The first place courage appears in the book is when the three kid’s curiosity get the best of them and ventured to the Radley's yard. While they were venturing through the yard, Mr Radley shot at them and escaping, “Jem held the bottom wire; Dill and I [Scout] rolled through” (71-72). In the passage, the thematic idea of courage is conveyed through Jem’s actions as the oldest and most responsible. Jem holds the fence up so Dill and Scout could get through even though he is also in danger, so instead of the selfish nature native to human behavior, he employs a selfless nature which is him putting others before him. He employed bravery and leadership throughout the whole scene. Being brave and calm in a fragile situation may be the difference between life and …show more content…
death. Being calm and retaining cool is a behaviour some people demonstrate on a regular basis but retaining that behaviour during the risky situation is a true challenge.
Another example of courage is during the old serum gang scene, Atticus Finch, the father of Scout and Jem, sat in front of his client in his jail cell, reading the newspaper when a group of farmers who have a reputation of being intoxicated approached him. The gang threatened Atticus, but Atticus stayed strong, he maintained his calm collected attitude and tried to reason with the gang. Scout described the encounter as: “We saw Atticus look up from his newspaper. He closed it, folded it deliberately, dropped it in his lap, and pushed his hat to the back of his head. He seemed to be expecting them.” (201). In This scene, Atticus maintained his cool and used slow easy to follow actions to control the situation that he knew was inevitable. He demonstrates courage because he calmly folded his newspaper and stood up slowly which demonstrates bravery because this shows that he is standing up to the gang, instead of fleeing from the danger and saving himself. This is a dangerous situation because he knows the gang have weapons in their possession which is a precursor to violence and danger. Bravery is also demonstrated is that he tries to reason with the gang even though it is like reasoning with the reaper. In danger there are two types of people the bystander and the person who takes the matter into their own
hands. Taking on danger is an activity only for the courageous. The last example of the thematic idea courage portrayed in the book is the failed assassination scene, where Bob Ewell attacks Scout and Jem. Boo grabs Jem who is unconscious and has a broken arm. The sight that scout sees is a mysterious man carrying a slumped Jem. In the passage scouts, vision is “But I found it and looked down to the street light. A man was passing under it. The man was walking with the staccato steps of someone carrying a load too heavy for him. He was going around the corner. He was carrying Jem. Jem’s arm was dangling crazily in front of him” (352). This situation is dangerous in a different way than the previous examples because this situation is dangerous because he is supposed to stay in his house or at least stay hidden but by stepping into the street light it is similar to stepping into a spotlight by becoming a focused target. But he is being brave by not quickly stepping back out of the light, but continuing carrying Jem to the Finch house so Jem can get help. This example is connected to the claim because in order for Boo to save the Finch kids he needs to get them to safety and the only way to do that is to fend off the attacker and carry unconscious Jem to Atticus so help could be arranged. The people who defend the defenceless and protect the innocent are true heroes who never get recognized. Some may say that courage is standing to personal fears but the courage demonstrated in the novel quite is contrary, the courage portrayed in the book mostly takes on the danger to help others. The courageous character dives into danger to help prevent violence and conflict, or simply saving lives. In conclusion, courage is being brave in dangerous situations in order to help others, and that thematic idea Is purveyed through various events throughout the story To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. From the Radley property scene with the three kids, to the jail scene, and to the scene where Boo saves Jem and Scout. There is always a constant, lives on the line.
Mark Twain best described courage when he said that, “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear” (Twain). Both in The One Who Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey and Watership Down by Richard Adams, the authors deal with the topic of courage and each share a similar view on it as this quote. Indeed, both authors suggest that courage is not accumulated simply by acts of heroism, but rather by overcoming fears and speaking one’s mind as well. These books are very similar in the way that bravery is displayed through the characters in an uncommon way. Firstly, an example of bravery
In the 1930’s, turmoil has erupted in Maycomb, Alabama all because the young lady Mayella Ewell has accused African-American Tom Robinson of raping and sexually assaulting her. Yet, Mayella Ewell has no power because of her race, class, and gender. At the time, Maycomb, Alabama was at the peak of segregation against African-Americans. Mayella Ewell may be white, but that does not mean her class, gender, nor her race give her power.
“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.
Many Children receive Bravery Awards every year around the world, and none of them hold any weapons or punch someone in the face to prove that they are brave, unlike what the majority of people picture it. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus believed that true bravery and courage is facing the negativities of life and society persistently, and by sticking to your belief no matter what the cost is. Jem and Mrs. Dubose are two characters that strongly apply to Atticus’s meaning of bravery and courage.
Courage is valued in many ways. It is measured by bravery, heroism, physical strength, and morally correct behavior. The world mostly defines courage as having physical strength and being brave. Atticus, Scout, and Jem show many acts of courage through the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. They all have different views and opinions on courage. The novel is told from the point of view of Scout. She, and her brother Jem, live with their widowed father in Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930’s. Their father, Atticus, is also a lawyer who defends his black client, Tom Robinson, who is innocent of rape. The title To Kill A Mockingbird explains that “it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” because they “make music for us to enjoy” (Lee 119). In other words, the mockingbirds are harmless and have never done anything wrong. It would be considered a sin to kill a harmless and peaceful mockingbird. Similarly, accusing an innocent and
The example of courage in Mockingjay is nothing short of what we all would ideally like to look up to. The display of courage is seen throughout the movie. Through acting or not acting during a situation. It obviously takes an extraordinary amount of courage to willingly put your life on the line for someone. Though there is courage displayed throughout the whole movie – it is really the highs and lows of compassion showed in certain situations to the inhumane acts. The characters can go from risking their life to save someone to killing someone that is trying to hinder them from reaching their ultimate goal – winning the Hunger
“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
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.
Harper Lee gives us a glimpse of Jem’s courage right off the bat when “Jem threw open the gate and sped to the side of the house, slapped it with his palm and ran back past us…” When Jem runs on to the Radley property and slaps the house it takes a lot of courage. Jem had to put aside all of the rumors and horror stories he has heard about Boo Radley and slap that house. Sometime later, Jem learns to be brave from Mrs. Dubose. When Jem tore up Mrs. Dubose’s flowers he was punished by having to read to her."Mrs. Dubose was a morphine addict...She took it as a pain-killer for years.” Mrs. Dubose was brave enough to kick her addiction to the side despite her agony. From this Jem learned that true courage is “when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.” Jem uses this lesson to show huge amounts of courage when he goes to defend Atticus from the angry mob at the jail. Jem and scout “were accustomed to prompt, if not always cheerful acquiescence to Atticus's instructions, but from the way he stood Jem was not thinking of budging.” Jem was well seasoned on the idea of courage. Jem, a young boy, stood up to an angry mob of men just to protect his father. He knew what courage was and he showed it. Jem had courage to begin with, but went on to learn true courage and went on to show
To begin with, Jem displayed multiple acts of bravery throughout the story. For instance, Jem touching the Radley house. Jem is brave for touching the side of the Radley house because firstly it was a dare from Dill and because at the time they thought Boo was some creepy man that was extremely
In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the character of Jem Finch has proved himself to be very courageous. Jem’s courageousness has been obvious since the beginning of the novel. This is especially evident on page 16, when Jem completes his Dill’s dare to touch the Radley house. “Jem threw open the gate and sped to the side of the house, slapped it with his palm and ran back past us, not waiting to see if his foray was successful.” This tells the reader right from the get-go that Jem is brave, and pushes himself out of his comfort zone. Scout also says on page 14, “In all his life, Jem had never declined a dare.” This tells the reader that Jem has had this courage in him for as long as Scout can remember. Jem has made his courage evident to the reader from very early on, but the reader will still come to
Atticus Finch shows courage several times throughout the story. He raises Jem and Scout on his own and no matter what he always tries to do what is best for them. One major act of courage shown by Atticus is the Tom Robinson case. Atticus got judged by most of Maycomb for helping a black man but Atticus still stood up for what he thought was right, that took a lot of courage. Another strong act of courage is when Atticus shot the dog he knew that Jem and Scout would look up to him for this action. Atticus wanted Jem and Scout “To know what real courage is instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand ( Harper lee chapter 11)”. What Atticus
Atticus defines courage to Jem. "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" (112). A man with a gun, in his eyes, is not a man, but a coward. It takes little character to point a gun and pull a trigger, but it takes mountains of courage to accept a challenge in which you are already defeated. Nothing to do but reverse fate, overturn the thoughts and predictions which stands looking down with a grin upon its face. This feat maybe impossible, but not totally forsaken, for courage prevails over cowardice.
The former commander-in-chief, Norman Schwarzkopf, once said that “True courage is being afraid, and going ahead and doing your job anyhow, that's what courage is”. By saying this, Schwarzkopf meant that even if one knows they will lose or does not want to participate at the task, doing the task regardless of the risk is the definition of real bravery. Even if one does not want to accomplish the task, doing it in a difficult time is viewed as true valor. In To Kill a Mockingbird, a classic piece of American literature, this type of courage can also be found. Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose, the Finch’s neighbor who is ostensibly nasty and weak, shows true fearlessness in overcoming her addiction to morphine. Although she did not need to beat her