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How Does Miss Maudie Show Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ shows the trial of Tom Robinson, an innocent black man through the eyes of the young, eight year old narrator by the name of Scout Finch. Atticus, her father and Tom’s lawyer, goes against society’s expectations and beliefs as he valiantly defends both Tom and his own ideology. Lee uses characters like Mrs Dubose, Miss Maudie, Atticus and their actions to show the audience that courage is not just “a man with a gun in his hand.” (pg.149) A sampling of each characters actions throughout the novel will be analysed with relations to the recurring theme of personal, social, and moral courage. Mrs. Dubose is an old, bad-tempered and racist woman who lives close to the Finches. Throughout the novel she constantly shouts at Scout and Jem when they pass by. One day in particular, she insults Atticus. As a result Jem bursts out into a furious rampage, destroying her camellias. Jem was then forced by Atticus to apologize and read to her daily in the afternoons. Occasionally during these readings Mrs. Dubose would break out into fits. Unbeknown to the children was that Mrs Dubose had a severe addiction to morphine. Jem was unwittingly staying longer and longer each day and helping Mrs Dubose keep her mind distracted from her cravings …show more content…

He chooses to stand up to everyone including his friends and even family for the sake for what he thinks is right. He is the pillar of strength for all those who would join him in his struggle against the tyranny of racism. Through his words and actions, Atticus attempts to make people realise that unless you "climb into someone 's skin and walk around in it"(Atticus, P.30), you can’t judge them or their actions. Not only does Atticus disregard that fact that he is risking his career and family name by taking Tom Robinson 's case, he defends Tom fiercely, wrestling against the predetermined norms of Maycomb. “"Atticus, are we

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Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird was set in the southern states of America during the interwar period, a place and period of time where racism and sexism were predominant. This story highlights the plight of those that acted out against the dominant ideology. Some brave people began to speak and act upon what they believed in no matter what society said. A few women began to speak up which was very uncommon. Miss Maudie Atkinson, Calpurnia, and Scout Finch showed very strong characteristics.

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Heroes are not invincible, and certainly are not the ones who always win; however, a hero is someone who, despite this, is courageous enough to fight for what is right. Atticus Finch, one of the most inspiring literary characters from the highly acclaimed novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, is an example of such. This classic novel is told from the perspective of Scout Finch, Atticus’ daughter, a young girl who lives in the town of Maycomb County, Alabama, in the 1930s, a town where prejudice and discrimination is rife. Rather than succumbing to societal expectations and adopting the extreme animosity held by the other citizens, Atticus views and treats all with the dignity and respect that they are entitled to, guiding his

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1055 Words | 5 Pages

When certain situations happen to people with good morals, they feel empathy for those who do not understand people as easily. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird, a respectable lawyer and his children are involved in many unique experiences that help them learn necessary life lessons about society during the 1900’s. Scout and Jem learn a particularly important lesson about racial injustice when their father takes on a life-changing case. Upstanding characters show empathy more than others since good morals lead to self-respect and happiness, it allows people to appreciate the good around them. Throughout the novel, exemplary characters like Maudie Atkinson, Atticus Finch, and Scout Finch demonstrate empathy for characters who don’t

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822 Words | 4 Pages

Dubose. Throughout chapter 11, Jem and Scout talk about how much they hate Mrs. Dubose. They claimed she was the mean lady that would yell at them every time they walked by. “Don’t say that to me, you ugly girl! You say good afternoon, Mrs. Dubose!”

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503 Words | 3 Pages

In the beginning of the novel mrs. dubose is written off as a mean, and bitter old woman. On page 133 scout describes her a vicious and disrespectful. Scout also says “ we could do nothing to please her. If i said as sunnily as i could “hey , Mrs.

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Mrs. Dubose’s discourteous actions show us that Jem does have a reason to think of her negatively. Although she was very rude to the Finch family at times, Jem didn’t see her perspective on life, so he did not understand that she had a reason why she was acting this way. On page 114, Atticus explains to Jem that, “Mrs. Dubose was a morphine addict… She took it as a pain-killer for years. The doctor put her on it.

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Moral dilemma of characters in the novel To Kill A Mockingbird The way people handle moral dilemmas are often different. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird Harper Lee show various moral dilemmas and how different characters deal with it. Scout chose to be different in handling with her moral dilemma and change for the better while Mayella does not change and does wrong.

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949 Words | 4 Pages

“I want you to understand that courage isn’t a man with a gun in his hand,” (Lee 112). This is a quote spoken from a courageous man who put himself in other people’s positions and did not believe he was superior to African Americans like many in that time period. Atticus Finch is a lawyer, and also the father of Jem and Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. The finches live in a small town called Maycomb during 1933, also known as the Great Depression era. Throughout the book, the town faces many racial discrimination issues, especially when an African American man named Tom Robinson is falsely accused of rape of a white female.

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Courage in To Kill a Mockingbird Throughout history, courage has been seen as a gallant knight saving the day or an explorer traversing the world in hopes of treasure, however, acts of courage can be seen in everyone. In To Kill a Mockingbird, a historical fiction novel by Harper Lee, the Finch family shows their courage by standing up for what they believe in. From the daughter Scout’s perspective, the story centers around an innocent black man, Tom Robinson, who goes on trial for rape. The case hits the small town of Maycomb especially hard since Scout’s father Atticus, a white lawyer, works to properly defend him. The character’s compassion for others plays into their courageous acts since their empathy pushes them to preserve for the goodwill

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Essay In the novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee, there are many important messages shown throughout the book. However the primary focus was set on racial prejudice that existed in the 1930s-1940’s in the fictional town of Maycomb County. The racism in the novel was very much a reality in 1930s-1940s America. A very good example of the racial prejudice that existed was in the courtroom during Tom Robinson’s trial, an innocent Negro man held against his will for a crime he did not commit.

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Final Essay Outline: Thesis Statement/opening paragraph: In the story To Kill A Mockingbird, discrimination and the act of being prejudice is common among the main characters, on both the receiving and serving end. Certain characters, like Scout and Jeremy Finch, Bob Ewell, and the town folk truly create the main problem and set the theme of the story. For example, when Bob Ewell accuses Atticus Finch of being an african-american lover, because he is defending Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson was accused of raping Mayella Ewell, according to Bob. Boo Radley is accused of being dead by Scout, Jem and Dill.

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1317 Words | 6 Pages

Harper Lee wants to tell us that it takes courage NOT to kill a mockingbird Courage and the symbol of the mockingbird are two of the most important, or in fact in my opinion the most important themes, which are addressed and displayed in the highly praised, but also controversial novel “To Kill A Mockingbird” written by Harper Lee. I will try to interpret these two motives and show how they are strongly connected to each other. There are many different types of courage and many people who all show it in their own personal way. If people talk about bravery and courage, they mostly think of the physical kind of courage. But there are also other kinds, which are often forgotten or cast aside by their big brother: moral and emotional courage.

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1334 Words | 6 Pages

He is not only doing it for Tom Robinson, he is doing it for himself as well. Secondly, Atticus stands up for what is right because the moment he is asked to take Tom Robinson’s case he doesn’t think twice. He knew that someone who is innocent should not have to go to trial for something they did not do. He thinks racism should have an end. By taking this case he not only opens the eyes for his children, he opens the eyes of his peers and community members.

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965 Words | 4 Pages

"Jem, I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It 's when you know you 're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what. " This insightful statement was told by Atticus Finch to his son, Jem Finch. Many people in Maycomb had to deal with racism, hatred, and discrimination because of their skin color or because of the court case.

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822 Words | 4 Pages

Atticus 's strong sense of morality and justice motivates him to defend Tom with vigor and determination, giving it all he 's got with one mission in mind. He wants the people of Maycomb town, whether they believe it or

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