Courage can be categorized into an abundance of meaning according to each person. It could entail fending off a bully during lunch or stepping foot on the diamond during a baseball game. In the novel, “To Kill A Mockingbird”, by Harper Lee, courage was what grounded the characters. The characters were able to fight battles using words, face their fears, and decide their own fate.
One of the greatest indications of courage in the novel, was when Mr. Atticus remained calm and went on with the trial even when threats of being killed were arising everyday. He knew what was right, and stuck to his morals. He also taught his children not to fight with fists, but with words. For example, Scout (Jean) was taunted because her father, Atticus Finch, represented a black man during trial.“I drew a bead on him, remembered what Atticus had said, then dropped my fists and walked away”(Lee 76). Scout wanted to confront the bully, but walked away because she felt ashamed for backing out of a fight. That feeling subsided once she realized she had obeyed her father’s wishes. It took courage for Scout to back out of that fight.
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For example, Jem was asked to touch the side of the Radley house. He didn't want to do it, because he was terrified of what lived beyond the perimeters of the house. His friend Dill said ”You're too scared even to put your big toe in the front yard”(Lee 13). Jem was being made fun of because he was too scared to touch the side of the house. He was scared because of the mystery surrounding the house and the people that lived in it. This remark urged Jem to act courageous because he wanted to set the right example for his sister, Scout, even if it meant he had to face his