Standing Up for What Is Right in to Kill a Mockingbird

Lauren Standing Up for What is Right It is amazing how many people in the world let opportunities to show their courage pass by everyday. For example, if someone were to see someone else being bullied, most people would just walk by. In actuality, they could stand up against that bully and show courage and bravery. Courage is also greatly defined in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. She shows this life skill through many of the characters in the story and through a lot of the events that go on. Through the choices that her characters, Atticus, Jem, and Scout Finch, make throughout the book, courage becomes defined as standing up for what is right. The first instance of when courage is shown is through Scout. Scout’s teacher, Miss Caroline, does not understand why Walter Cunningham does not have lunch and will not accept money to buy lunch. Scout tries to explain to Miss Caroline that the Cunninghams are poor and do not take anything they cannot repay. She is only trying to do the right thing but then her teacher scolds her (22). Even though she got in trouble, Scout stood up for what was right. Scout displays courage a second time when she becomes brave enough to join in with the boys while they are trying to get Boo Radley to come out. Even if she only joined in because Jem had called her a girl, she was still brave and had enough courage to help the boys make Boo come out (Lee 43). Courage is illustrated through the character Scout when she stands up for what she believes in and is audacious. The next case of courage that is shown is by Jem Finch. One example of when Jem displays this courage is when he breaks up the fight between Scout and Walter. Jem says, “You’re bigger’n he is“ (Lee 25). When he said this to Scout, he means that Scout is a better fighter than Walter and she needs to let him go. It was not a fair fight. Just because Walter got Scout in trouble does not mean she needs to beat him up. Jem was right to stand up and stop the fight. This shows that he is courageous. Finally, audacity in To Kill a Mockingbird is displayed throughout the book while Atticus finch is representing Tom Robinson in court. Racism in the Deep South in the 1930s was ruthless. All African Americans were shunned and treated unequally. If a black man were to be accused of raping a white woman, such as Tom Robinson, of course that man would be hated, but as goes the same for his attorney Mr. Atticus Finch. Atticus had to have a great deal of courage and bravery to represent this man in court. He had to have been taking the risks of his career being destroyed, and even being killed by an angry racist mob. Atticus said, “Every lawyer gets at least one case in his lifetime that affects him personally. This one 's mine, I guess” (Lee 77-78). When he said this, he means that even though he knows he cannot win, he will take the challenge despite the ridicule he will receive. This shows honor and courage from Atticus. All in all, courage is defined in this novel as standing up for what is right and being bold. This is demonstrated through all of the choices made by the characters Atticus, Jem, and Scout. When standing up against things that are wrong it shows bravery and courage. I am convinced that everyone has courage and they could learn the true meaning of it through To Kill A Mockingbird.

Works Cited
Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 1999. Print.

Cited: Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 1999. Print.