Real Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird
Throughout the story of To Kill a Mockingbird the theme of real courage was portrayed multiple times. Two characters in particular embody this theme, and provide many examples of what real courage truly is. The first character that possess real courage is Scout’s father, Atticus. Atticus is fearless and courageous for taking on the case of Tom Robinson. He knew that the odds were stacked against him. Regardless he tried anyway because he was going to fight for what was right, even if he was the only one. When asked by Scout why he took the case Atticus replied, “For a number of reasons. The main one is, if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town. I could not represent this county in the legislature, I could not even tell you or Jem not
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to do something again” (100). Atticus took this trial personally because he knew Tom Robinson was innocent. He would rather fight the courts then have a guilty conscience knowing that he didn’t even try to stop injustice from happening. For this reason Atticus is courageous for keeping true to himself and his morals. Atticus also shows this theme after he lost the court trial when Bob Ewell approached him. Miss Stephanie says, “This morning Bob Ewell stopped Atticus on the post office corner, spat in his face, and told him he’d get him if it took the rest of his life” (290). During this incident Atticus remained calm and simply said, “I wish Bob Ewell wouldn’t chew tobacco” (291). Atticus does something valent in a sense. He easily could have chosen to escalate the situation and cause physical harm to Mr. Ewell, but he did the right thing and left the situation. Atticus proves that by taking the “high road” and doing the hard thing, leaving, was the right thing to do.
The second character that shows true courage is Ms.
Dubose. Ms. Dubose was dying a slow, painful death. During her fight, she got addicted to morphine. However, instead of dying on morphine, she wanted to die free of her addiction. Atticus says, “She said she as going to leave this world beholden to nothing and nobody... She said she meant to break herself of it before she died, and that’s what she did” (148). Instead of dying less painfully, Ms. Dubose chose to die naturally and off of her medication. Atticus says, “I wanted you to see what real courage is... It’s when you know you’re before you begin but begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do” (149). Ms. Dubose overcame the odds and chose to die the right way even though it was harder, than dying addicted to morphine. That is why she pursues the theme of real courage in the story. In total, a continuous topic illustrated throughout To Kill a Mockingbird is the theme of what real courage is. This theme was best shown through the characters of Ms. Dubose and Atticus. These two characters stood up for what was right even though it was the more difficult option, and they proceeded on their path knowing that the odds of them overcoming their obstacles was slim to
none.
to do something again” (100). Atticus took this trial personally because he knew Tom Robinson was innocent. He would rather fight the courts then have a guilty conscience knowing that he didn’t even try to stop injustice from happening. For this reason Atticus is courageous for keeping true to himself and his morals. Atticus also shows this theme after he lost the court trial when Bob Ewell approached him. Miss Stephanie says, “This morning Bob Ewell stopped Atticus on the post office corner, spat in his face, and told him he’d get him if it took the rest of his life” (290). During this incident Atticus remained calm and simply said, “I wish Bob Ewell wouldn’t chew tobacco” (291). Atticus does something valent in a sense. He easily could have chosen to escalate the situation and cause physical harm to Mr. Ewell, but he did the right thing and left the situation. Atticus proves that by taking the “high road” and doing the hard thing, leaving, was the right thing to do.
The second character that shows true courage is Ms.
Dubose. Ms. Dubose was dying a slow, painful death. During her fight, she got addicted to morphine. However, instead of dying on morphine, she wanted to die free of her addiction. Atticus says, “She said she as going to leave this world beholden to nothing and nobody... She said she meant to break herself of it before she died, and that’s what she did” (148). Instead of dying less painfully, Ms. Dubose chose to die naturally and off of her medication. Atticus says, “I wanted you to see what real courage is... It’s when you know you’re before you begin but begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do” (149). Ms. Dubose overcame the odds and chose to die the right way even though it was harder, than dying addicted to morphine. That is why she pursues the theme of real courage in the story. In total, a continuous topic illustrated throughout To Kill a Mockingbird is the theme of what real courage is. This theme was best shown through the characters of Ms. Dubose and Atticus. These two characters stood up for what was right even though it was the more difficult option, and they proceeded on their path knowing that the odds of them overcoming their obstacles was slim to
none.