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To Kill A Mockingbird Examples Of Courage

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The novel To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee in 1960, deals with many aspects of courage in a difficult time for many of the characters. The novel takes place in Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression. It follows Scout Finch’s life as she navigates a community of people dominated by laws and customs that serve to separate and oppress black people. Along the way, she encounters several people who are able to summon the courage to try to improve the lives of some in this small community. Courage is the ability to overcome something even in the face of danger or pain even with the knowledge that failure possibly awaits. The main theme of courage is shown in this story through Atticus’s actions to defend Tom Robinson, Mrs. Dubose’s …show more content…

Atticus, a lawyer, faces the difficult task of defending Tom Robinson, a black male, against the accusations of rape. Judge Taylor asks Atticus to defend Tom and he accepts, knowing that his decision will cause chaos around him. Tom Robinson deserves a defense under the law and Atticus knows he is the best or only person to provide that defense. Scout asks Atticus why he took the case if some believe he shouldn’t, and he responds by saying, “if I didn’t, I couldn’t hold up my own head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again” (Lee 86). Atticus, aware of the racial tension and disapproval in Maycomb’s white community, chooses to do the right thing. He dares to risk the safety of both himself and his kids to defend Tom Robinson. Atticus’ actions of defending Tom Robinson against the accusation of rape, display his …show more content…

When Jem and Scout are walking home from the Halloween pageant, they are attacked by Bob Ewell. However, Boo Radley Intervenes and fights off Bob Ewell, ultimately saving the children’s lives. After Boo Radley gets the kids back to their house, Heck Tate Tells Atticus that Bob Ewell has died. Heck Tate insists on Boo’s innocence and states, “I never heard tell that it’s against the law for a citizen to do his utmost to prevent a crime from being committed” (Lee 317). They both know that Boo had killed him but Heck Tate insists that Bob Ewell fell on his own knife. Boo Radley’s act of heroism shows that he is not the cowardly and dangerous figure that the town has made him out to be, but rather a brave and selfless

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He puts his leadership efforts on display to make a change in his community by defending a black man in court, which was often frowned upon in the 1900s: “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to win” (Lee 87). With this in mind, defending an African-American man in court shows that he does not care much for the ‘normal’ in society. As a result, an angry mob attempts to lynch Tom at the jailhouse, but Atticus stays put, sticking to his beliefs about a fair trial. Atticus’s defense of Tom Robinson represents his leadership and perseverance; most people disagreed with him and even knew the verdict before it was announced, but Atticus kept fighting diligently. An angry mob attempts to lynch Tom, but Atticus stays put, sticking to his beliefs about a fair trial.

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How Does Lee Show Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird

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“[Courage is] when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what” (Lee 112). When courage is mentioned, one may think of “a man with a gun in his hand” (112). This is a myth that Harper Lee debunks in her book To Kill A Mockingbird. Courage is a recurring and vital theme in her book because many of the characters show the other townspeople what courage looks like.

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How Does Lee Show Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird

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When Scout asks him why he is doing this, he explains that “… if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again.” (75). Tom Robinson, a black man, is accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman & one of the children in the (poor) Ewell family. When Atticus is visited one night, he is asked to represent Tom in the case, and Atticus accepts. Representing a black man is a serious thing to do.

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How Does Lee Show Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Courage is a common occurrence everywhere in the world, especially back in the 1900s when colored people were thought to be different because of their skin color. In the book “ To kill a mockingbird” By Harper Lee, courage is shown all throughout the book, from Scout, a 8 year old girl, to Jem and Atticus, her brother and her father. Courage allows them to protect the ones they love, grow exponentially, and to stand up for what they believe is right. First of all, Jem demonstrates courage when Scout claims to have found a snake under her bed, she says “ I think there’s a snake under my bed, can you come look?”(Lee,185)

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How Is Atticus A Good Role Model

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Tom Robinson was being charged with rape and everyone in the town was against him. Atticus saw the injustice and did his best to defend Tom. “... if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature” (Lee 75). Atticus is explaining to Scout why he couldn’t leave Tom without any help. Atticus is always looking out for his children.

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Loss Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee

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Dubose. Atticus shows courage by standing up for someone, or something, that no one else would stand up for and Mrs. Dubose shows courage in getting over an addiction no one thought she would be able to get over. Atticus shows courage through the Tom Robinson trial by going “against the stream” or standing up for an African-American in a time of great prejudice. In Atticus’s closing he says, “I'm no idealist to believe firmly in the integrity of our courts and in the jury system — that is no ideal to me, it is a living, working reality. Gentlemen, a court is no better than each man of you sitting before me on this jury.

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How Does Lee Show Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird

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The novel To Kill a Mocking Bird is written by Harper Lee in 1960. The story takes place in the tired old town of Maycomb, during the Great Depression. It is inspired by the author's own experiences growing up during these hard times. During the novel, Scout and Jem mistake physical strength for courage. However, true courage is the inner desire to do what is righteous, no matter the consequences that result from your decision.

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How Does Lee Show Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Atticus felt responsible for Tom’s death, “Cal, I want you to come out with me and help me tell Helen.” (238) Atticus shows real courage defending Tom Robinson despite all of the adverse opinions from Maycomb County. He fought for what was right regardless of whether he won or

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Examples Of Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Courage is a huge theme in the book “To Kill a Mockingbird”. Most of the characters in the book show some courage during certain times. Some of the characters are very important while others are not so much of main characters, but they still show courage. There are many examples of courage in the book “To kill a Mockingbird”.

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To Kill A Mockingbird Coming Of Age Quotes

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“It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare,” said Mark Twain. The novel To Kill a Mockingbird is a coming of age story about two young children, Jem and Scout Finch, growing up in Alabama in the 1930s and learning what real courage is through their father, Atticus, and the people of Maycomb. They learn to see the world from other points of view, which is also how they express empathy towards others, persevering and standing up for what you believe in, and putting yourself in danger to help others. One message that Harper Lee provides us with is that courage is when you persevere to do something even when it gets more difficult.

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To Kill A Mockingbird Quotes Courage

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What one may not know is that courage comes in many different forms. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee introduces the reader to a variety of different types of themes such as courage. The theme of courage in the book To Kill a Mockingbird teaches the reader that different types of courage are needed to try to make what may seem impossible, possible as shown through moral, physical, and mental courage. To begin, moral courage is an inspiring theme that makes the characters try to make the impossible,

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To Kill A Mockingbird Chapter 1-10 Analysis

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In the passage Jem and Scout walk home during the dark hours,giving Bob Ewell an opportunity to stage an attack. As Bob Ewell attacks them Boo Radley rushes in to rescue Jem and Scout. After this Scout now understands what Atticus meant it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. The killing of a mockingbird is much like killing the innocent. It is beyond a crime and worse than the most heinous atrocities.

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Symbolism Of Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird

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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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To Kill A Mockingbird: A Virtuous Character Study

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Atticus, a lawyer and father, is asked to represent an African American, Tom Robinson, who is accused of beating and raping a white woman. Even though the entire town of Maycomb, Alabama, judged Tom guilty even before his trial began, Atticus knew Tom had the constitutional right to a fair trial and refused to withdraw from the case even after receiving threats towards himself and family. Atticus had a strong sense of right and wrong that he strived to pass on to his children. He applied his sense of right and wrong to his daily life by performing actions that coincided with his beliefs. For example, the night Atticus was warned that numerous towns people were headed to the jail to murder Tom.

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Examples Of Moral Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Jem further understood the true meaning of moral courage when he saw Atticus defending Tom Robinson, a black man. Although Atticus was hugely outnumbered and even cornered by Mr Cunningham and some other people, he did not back down from them. Instead, he seemed even more determined to win the case and prove Tom Robinson 's innocence to all of Maycomb County. Almost everyone in Maycomb County had criticised Atticus and his children for taking up the case of defending Tom Robinson and they were even called "nigger lovers" by many. At first, Jem did not understand why his father chose to defend Tom Robinson when he knew that people would whisper and gossip about it and that the possibility of him winning the case was very low.

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