Mrs. Johnson
English 9 Period 3
28 March 2013
Bravery and Courage
Through mysterious adventures and horrific events there is bravery and courage shown in To Kill a Mockingbird. The novel, published in 1960, is very well written. The author, Harper Lee, used some of her experiences as a child. This book displays many actions of bravery and courage. Characters in this novel that display bravery and courage are Atticus, Mrs. Dubose, and Boo Radley. True bravery and courage is hard to find in people.
Atticus displays true bravery and courage in the book, To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus did not fight Bob Ewell even though he spat on him, threatened his life, and said harsh things. Scout stated, “Miss Stephanie said Atticus didn’t bat an eye, just took out his handkerchief and wiped his face and stood there and let Mr. Ewell call him names wild horses could not bring her to repeat” (Lee 291). Atticus took on all the bad words Mr. Ewell was saying and did not say a disrespectful thing back. He would rather have Bob Ewell be mean and disrespectful to him than to take his anger out on his own children. Atticus treated Mrs. Dubose with respect even though she said mean statements to him. As Atticus was talking to Jem he said, “She’s an old lady and she’s ill. You just hold your head high and be a gentleman. Whatever she says to you, it’s your job not to let her make you mad” (Lee133). Atticus taught his children good morals which lead him to being strong by keeping his head held high and ignoring other people’s comments. Atticus also took Tom Robinsons case without hesitating or complaining. He defended him as well as he could while his kids were being harassed with comments about him. Mrs. Dubose stated, “Your fathers no better than the niggers and trash he works for!” (Lee 135). Atticus did not have to take this case, but if he did not take it, he would not be brave or courageous. He was brave to believe in his children, and courageous to take on a case that would bring people to talk. Atticus is a very well respected man, and no matter what people do or say to him, he has the bravery and courage to get over it and move on.
Mrs. Dubose shows bravery and courage in many ways also. She gets off her morphine addiction before she dies so she does not die a morphine addict. Atticus stated, “She said she meant to break herself off of it before she died, and that’s what she did” (Lee 148). Mrs. Dubose was brave and courageous enough to force morphine out of her system. She knew she was going to die but she fought her way through it. She says what she thinks and feels, if it’s mean or not, and does not care what people think. Mrs. Dubose said to Scout, “Don’t you say hey to me, you ugly girl!” (Lee 133). Mrs. Dubose did not care about others feelings or their responses to what she tells them. She is brave to say what she thinks and feels regardless of what it is. Mrs. Dubose had set her alarm later and later without caving in on her morphine addiction. Scout had noticed and stated in the novel, “…I noticed that Mrs. Dubose's corrections grew fewer and farther between…” (Lee 142). She was brave enough to stay off of morphine longer and longer every day. She was courageous for having a goal and sticking to it. Mrs. Dubose showed people in the town of Maycomb that she may be old and on her death bed, but her brave and courageous ways helped her fight on.
Boo Radley was risking many different things that result in him being brave and courageous. He had risked himself of being exposed in society again because he was being brave and courageous. Heck Tate stated, “To my way of thinkin’, Mr. Finch, taking the one man that has done you and this town a great service an’ draggin’ him with his shy ways into the limelight- to me that’s a sin” (Lee 369-370). Boo could have been exposed and taken to court if someone did not care about his being. He was brave for putting himself in a situation like that. Boo Radley was brave enough to give the kids gifts without fear of anyone knowing or exposing him. Scout stated, “As we come to the live oaks at the Radley Place, I raised my finger to point for the hundredth time to the knot-hole where I had found the chewing gum…” (Lee 45). For all Boo could know, Scout and Jem could have told Atticus. Boo Radley was brave enough to leave them gifts knowing the risks. Boo had saved the kids, Jem and Scout, from the dangerous Mr. Ewell. Heck Tate and Scout were having an intense conversation as to who had saved them. “Who was it?...His lips parted into a timid smile, and our neighbor’s image blurred with my sudden tears. Hey, Boo, I said” (Lee 362). Boo Radley was brave and courageous enough to save the children even though Bob Ewell had a dangerous weapon. Boo Radley did not have to risk being exposed, or risk his life, but he did because he was brave and courageous at heart.
It is hard to find true bravery and courage in people, but in To Kill a Mockingbird, there are many examples resulting in mysterious and horrific events. Atticus, Mrs. Dubose, and Boo Radley all had their moments of bravery and courage. Though they did experience them in different ways, they were still courageous to do so. Atticus fought for what he thought was right no matter what anyone said. Mrs. Dubose knew she was dying but she wanted to get off the morphine addiction because it mattered to her. Boo Radley saved the kids no matter what was at stake. In To Kill a Mockingbird, true bravery and courage stands out. Bravery and courage can be shown and viewed in different ways, but it depends on the situation and decisions made throughout the conflict. These characters made the brave and courageous decisions which lead to better things occurring in the novel.
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