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Examples Of Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird

1595 Words7 Pages

Kayla Shea
Mrs. Esposito
Honors English 10 (5)
26 May 2023
Defining Oneself
A person's character is defined solely by their courageous actions throughout society. Whether they choose to use their courage to advocate, inspire, or influence, they continue to express themselves. The story, To Kill a Mockingbird, accurately and thoroughly represents this idea of courage throughout the entirety of the novel. It is told through the perspective of a young and impressionable girl named Scout who experiences a variety of significant events based on a time period of segregation and gender roles. The Tom Robinson trial is one of the most impactful events of the story, in which an innocent black man is accused of harassing a young white woman. The time …show more content…

When Scout and Jem find themselves in a fight, Scout kicks the raging man off of Jem harshly and insists that "ain't nobody gonna de Jem that way" (Lee 204). Scout decides to stand up for Jem in physical circumstances even when she is at a physical disadvantage. This proves that she is willing to do whatever she can for others, even when there is a risk. Overall, her character is thoroughly displayed through her courageous advocacy for others. This is displayed furthermore when Aunt Alexandra tries to force Scout into the polished woman society expects her to be, but Scout advocates for herself through her "reluctance to grow into a young lady" ("To Kill" [Hill & Lee] 301). Though Scout knows society's expectations for her, she continues to stay true to herself. Her advocation for herself displays her true inner courage and confidence to abide by the person she is inside, therefore proving the importance of fighting against society's standards. Scout continues to advocate for herself and others as she recognizes society's cruelty and expresses that children's moral culture is superior to a society that encourages cruelty and segregation ("To Kill" [Hill & Lee] 314). Her young understanding of such a complex society and determination to spread the power of the youth shows that she is not afraid to go against the norms of society. She …show more content…

To Kill a Mockingbird. New York City, Grand Central, 1960.
"Themes and Construction: To Kill a Mockingbird." EXPLORING Novels, Gale, 2003. Gale in Context: High School, link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ2111500040/SUIC?u=pott50179&sid=bookmark-SUIC&xid=56765977. Accessed 25 Apr. 2023.
"To Kill a Mockingbird." Novels for Students, edited by Melissa Sue Hill and Michelle Lee, vol. 60, Gale, 2019, pp. 295-321. Gale eBooks, link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3670000025/GVRL?u=pott50179&sid=bookmark-GVRL&xid=d1b692f7. Accessed 25 Apr. 2023.
"To Kill a Mockingbird." Novels for Students, edited by Diane Telgen, vol. 2, Gale, 1997, pp. 285-307. Gale eBooks, link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX2591500024/GVRL?u=pott50179&sid=bookmark-GVRL&xid=62c62d64. Accessed 25 Apr.

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