Integrity In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee

459 Words2 Pages

Throughout the story, Jem grows and changes significantly mentally and physically, and develops integrity through his acts of courage. In the book “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, she shows how a person can change. The author develops the idea that an individual's acts of courage develop integrity. In the book Mrs. Dubose has an addiction to morphine, but attempted to quit because she knew it was bad for her. It takes a lot of courage to quit an addiction. Mrs. Dubose shows courage by trying to stop her addiction. Doing this goes against an addicted individual's urges and requires a lot of self-will and courage. In the book Atticus says to Jem “She said she meant to break herself of it before she died” on page 148. The author shows how Mrs. Dubose’s acts of courage in trying to quit her addiction, turns into her developing integrity. Her integrity shows how much effort she is willing to make to try and quit her addiction because she knows it for her own good. The author shows us how an individual develops integrity through acts of courage, through Mrs. Dubose. Another example of this was when Atticus protected Tom Robinson from the town people. …show more content…

When Tom Robinson was locked up, he was unable to defend himself and was left helpless. Atticus knew this and went to sit outside the jail all night just to protect Tom from the town people. Jem and Scout eventually came to help Atticus protect Tom, this was a courageous act as they were outnumbered. The author shows the audience how Atticus demonstrates courage by protecting Tom Robinson, despite knowing he would be outnumbered. Atticus’s courage shows how he has integrity by not leaving Tom’s side because he knew what the town people would do to him. He demonstrates the same courage and integrity when defending Tom in