How Does Harper Lee Show Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird

Jean Louise Finch, or Scout, is one of the youngest and most important characters. She contributes greatly to Harper lee’s definition of courage. During her first years of school, Scout expresses courage through her acts of defiance and standing up for other students. The first grade students got a new teacher named Miss Caroline, so she was not aware of the circumstances and knowledge of the families that went to the school. When Miss Caroline confronts Walter Cunningham about not having lunch, Scout stands up for Walter by informing her teacher about his family’s lifestyle and telling Miss Caroline that he did not and would not accept the money she was offering. Scout told Miss Caroline, “The Cunningham’s never took anything they can’t pay

Similarly, Jem also shows childlike courage when he was dared by Dill to touch the side of the Radley house. Jem ran quickly to the side of the house, touched it, and ran back (Lee 15). This was a courageous act because although Jem had heard the multiple frightening stories of the house, he went and touched the house anyway. To most people, touching a house would not seem very courageous. Due to the circumstances and because the children were so young, this was a very courageous act for Jem to accomplish. Additionally, courage shines through Jem when he goes to the Radley house with Dill and Scout one night. The three characters went up to the Radley house to see inside. In the process of trying to look inside, Mr. Radley thought a black person had come into his yard instead of the children, so he fired a shotgun to scare the uninvited visitors away. This was very courageous for Jem, as well as the two younger children, to go to the house. They all had heard many stories about the house, but they went anyway. They had heard tales such as “When people’s azaleas froze in a cold snap, it was because he had breathed on them… Radley pecans would kill you… a baseball hit into the Radley yard was a lost ball…” (9). Those stories would keep almost anyone away from the house, but Jem showed courage and snuck up to the house anyway. While running away from the

His children learned a great deal about courage from him. Atticus was a widower and had a job, so raising kids on his own would not have been easy. He made sure his kids had everything they needed and learned the lessons of life, with a little help from the house maid Calpurnia. A great deal of courage would be necessary to raise his kids on his own. Also, most people during this time believed that a woman usually took care of the children, and were very shocked to hear that Atticus didn’t remarry, although it was suggested that he should. He didn’t immediately look for another wife but instead showed courage and took the task of raising Jem and Scout into his own hands. In addition, Atticus showed courage by doing things for other people. Miss Maudie’s house caught on fire one night. Running into a burning house alone is courageous. He went in to save her most valued piece of furniture, her rocking chair. “I saw Atticus carrying Miss Maudie’s heavy oak rocking chair , and thought it sensible of him to save what she valued most” (Lee 69). He did not put himself in unneeded danger by trying to save other objects that could be replaced. This is the more mature side of Lee’s definition of courage, but it is still very important. Perhaps the most courageous thing done by a character in part one is the decision Atticus made to defend Tom Robinson in court. Maycomb was not particularly fond of blacks. Although