Courage in to Kill a Mockingbird Essay

One kindreds to think of a hero, as strong, brave, and meeting all challenges principal on. All the characters in this book acquire a different insure as to what resolution is, and they all show it in different ship canal through their bothday lives. Younger characters, like Jem and Sc stunned, see the physical persuasion of it, whereas genus genus genus Atticus believes this to be an extremely weak form of endurance. He believes in the mental quality of courage. The ability to be in minority and non back d ingest and to be qualified to change he admires Mrs. Dubose for her acts of courage that are against all odds.For a younger character, like ticker, courage is a great deal associated with a physical act that is usually dangerous. It is hard for young children to take in that courage can be sh take in in other aspects of life. Scout sees an manikin of courage in her make when he shoots the mad dog Tim Johnson (pg. 101). Although Atticus does non think of it as ra ttling(prenominal) undaunted, Jem and Scout are towering of their father and the courage he showed in this dangerous situation. Atticus views courage on a more than intellectual level, as a lesson thing non something that can be proved with a weapon. by and by on in the story, Jem and Scout encounter the vindictive, spiteful Mrs. Dubose who often shouts out racism directed at the passing children because of Atticus ancestry. At nonpareil point she proclaimed, Your fathers no better than the niggers and trash he works for (pg. 111). When she blatantly made Atticus an object of ridicule like that, Jem decided that the best way to settle things was to ruin Mrs. Duboses camellias. Since he could not attack Mrs. Dubose directly, Jem decided to go for something close to her. He is committing a physical act of retaliation, which led to her suffering mental pain moreover again.It was a cowardly act, for he dared not step up and stage her. After Atticus heard about this stunt, Jem was made to read to her every afternoon for a month. He secure away needed mental valour, and he did find it more difficult to source this than the physical fearlessness he was used to displaying. This is made apparent by him refusing to walk past her sept alone, and because Jem was at first terrified of going to see her. Mrs. Dubose was a very sick woman, and had used morphine to ease her pain but was now addicted. It was her goal to leave the world beholden to nothing and nobody (pg. 120).She displayed what Atticus refers to as touchable courage. (pg. 121). She showed real courage because she does not wealthy person the high life of suffering there with a gun pointed at her addiction. One iodin attempt could not unloosen her from the addiction. Rather, it had to be a many stage process over an extended period of snip. It was shear determination and real courage that allowed her to accomplish her goal. It was not until after she died that Atticus explained to Jem and S cout how courageous the woman was because she knew she was dying but was s till determined to die free of the morphine.She fought against great odds, even though she knew that she would surely die. Atticus tells his children that he precious them to see what real courage is, kind of of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. He also says that she was the bravest person he ever knew. (pg. 121) Real courage is when you fight for what is justly regardless of whether you win or lose. Atticus Finch demonstrates real courage several(prenominal) times throughout the novel, in addition to the lessons that he teaches his children.The largest and most key precedent would be the trial of Tom Robinson. When Atticus took the case, he went up against Maycomb, a generally prejudiced town, in coiffe to defend Tom. He understood that taking the case would make him an object of ridicule and that no one would forgive him for believing a black mans word over a white mans. Even his own sister expresses disapproval at his ending, practically telling him he was transport disgrace to the family. Nevertheless, no matter how much his reputation suffered, he did not change his mind.Standing up for his morals and ethics was more consequential than what people thought about him. From the very start Atticus knows he will not win the case however he does his job and finishes what he set out to do. Atticuss strong common sense of morality and justice motivates him to defend Tom Robinson with determination, giving it all he has. He shows this when he says, Simply because we were licked a hundred geezerhood before we started is no reason for us not to try and win. (pg. 82). He says this to Scout after she comes home from school angry at Cecil Jacobs for making fun of Atticus in the schoolyard.Atticus tells her to fight with her head instead of her fists. He wants the people of Maycomb to hear the truth about Tom, That boy may go to the chair, but hes not g oing till the truths told. (pg. 159). Atticus is putting everything a man holds dear, dignity, respect, sinlessness and status, on the line to protect Tom. He later shows more bravery when he goes to the jailhouse to protect Tom from a anchor ring. Without thinking twice, he rushed to Toms aid. He went willingly, knowing that if a mob did form he would be greatly outnumbered and would easily be beaten.Still, he put Toms well being ahead of his own welfare. While serving justice, Atticus also showed great courage. For example, he did not go along with Heck Tate when he told a lie about what in truth happened the night Bob Ewell was found stabbed to death. Atticus put his life and rush on the line because he knew that, as an officer of the court, withholding learning from an investigation could have gotten Mr. Tate thrown into jail. Nonetheless, like many times before, doing what was right and fair prevailed in Atticuss way of thinking.In addition, Atticus went against his moral code and principles he had always upheld before, when Atticus is faced with the decision of abiding by the law or breaking it in order to do the right thing. He knew that incarcerating a man like Arthur Radley would have been unforgivable, especially after Arthur had just performed a great deed by saving his childrens lives. He knew that exposing him would be an awful way of repaying him it would have been like shooting a mockingbird. Therefore, Atticus chose to protect Boo from the everyday eye rather than abide by the law and his honest discriminative ways he was so accustomed to follow.Sometimes it takes even more courage to set a new level of morals than to hinderance in ones comfort zone. (pg. 297-302). The courage to change habits and thoughts is very important, because not everyone is able to do it. A very good example of this courage is when Atticus asked Scout not to fight anymore. When I attached myself to this act of cowardice. Word got around that Scout Finch wouldn t fight anymore, her soda water wouldnt let her. (pg. 97). That was a great act of courage because Scout used to fight a lot but as she had promised her father she would not fight anymore.Scout, like Jem does not want to disappoint Atticus, so she makes a change. In conclusion, Atticus shows praiseworthy courage and behaviour in many instances throughout the story, not by fighting or killing, but by standing up for what he believed in a civilise and determined way. His strongest motivation, however, were his children. He wants to be a good example for his kids and throw out in them a strong sense of moral value. One time Scout asks him why he had taken a case he knew he was not going to win and he responded by saying, For a number of reasons.The main one is, if I didnt I couldnt hold up my head in town, I couldnt compensate this county in the legislature, I couldnt even tell you or Jem not to do something again. (pg. 82). In other words, he would not have been able to talk to h is kids about justice and standing up for what one believes when he himself had not stood for what he believed in. The lessons taught by Atticus and Mrs. Dubose show Jem and Scout what it is to be courageous, to be able to change, to tell the truth and most importantly to stand up for their own beliefs. All qoutes from Lee, Harper, 1960, To kill a Mokingbird, London, Pan Books