To Kill A Mockingbird Courage

In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, one of the most significant themes is that real heroes do not always use weapons. For example, Atticus says Mrs. Dubose is the bravest woman he knows because of how she continued to fight her drug addiction till her death. She knew she couldn't beat the addiction and she didn't have to fight it but she still wanted to so that she could die with a clear conscience. Atticus was telling Jem that he ‘“...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 you see it through no matter what”’ happens along the way (Lee 149). Mrs. Dubose isn't a man in the military with a gun, but merely an old woman fighting an internal battle of drug addiction.

Dubose’s personal actions that lead her to being one the bravest women Atticus knows. Furthermore, Calpurnia goes with no fear to the Radley's house to warn them that the mad dog is coming because people were either too scared of the Radleys or the mad dog. Calpurnia may have been afraid on the inside but she stays calm, cool, and collected in the face of danger. She asks Jem if the ‘“Radleys got a phone?” Jem looked in the book and said no… “I don’t care, I’m gonna tell ‘em… Mr. Nathan, Mr. Arthur, mad dog’s comin‘! Mad dog’s comin’” right behind their house (Lee 124). Once again Calpurnia is not like Atticus who actually shoots the mad dog, but instead she takes the courage inside her to go out and warn the Radleys. Even though they may not even answer the door, Calpurnia takes the risk just so that she can try to keep everyone safe and be a good person. Finally, Atticus takes a risky move unbuttoning his vest at the courthouse during his final speech because this could be perceived as unethical in the courthouse. All Atticus is really trying to show is that he is a man just like the men on the jury and that he should not be