When Does Atticus Show Courage

Courage is fighting for what is right no matter what the cost. Courage is a human concept that involves the very nature of doing something no matter how difficult it is and having the strength to do it. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus and Mrs. Dubose experience difficult situations but still show bravery. Atticus demonstrates courage by fighting for Tom Robinson despite the racist community he is a part of. Mrs. Dubose demonstrates courage when she decides to die without the use of morphine even if it means she’ll live the last bit of her life in pain. Atticus and Mrs. Dubose are courageous because they do what they think is right no matter the consequences.

Atticus shows courage throughout the novel, especially when he defends Tom Robinson. Atticus defends Tom Robinson as well as he can even though he knows the consequences will be substantial. Atticus is appointed to defend a black man in court whom has been accused of raping a white woman. “ ‘If you shouldn’t be defendin’ him, then why are you doin’ it for?’ ‘For a number of reasons,’ “ (Lee, 100). The novel is set in the 1930’s during the great depression. Back then there was still a massive amount of
Dubose displays courage in the short part of the novel she’s in. “ ‘Mrs. Dubose was a morphine addict,’ said Atticus. ‘She took it as a pain-killer for years. The doctor put her on it. She’d have spent the rest of her life on it and died without so much agony, but she was too contrary-’ “ (Lee, 147). Mrs. Dubose wanted to die free, she wanted to die real. Mrs. Dubose sacrificed dieing in physical pain so she could have mental peace. Mrs. Dubose believed it was more important to die clean that it was to die painless. Mrs. Dubose is courageous because she knew living the last of her life clean would be painful but she still decided to do it because she knew it was the right thing to do. Mrs. Dubose rather have a good mental while she was dying then be on drugs and pain