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To Kill A Mockingbird Heroism Analysis

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Heroism Shown in To Kill a Mockingbird
“I was in uniform for four years, and I know heroism doesn’t occur from taking orders, but rather from people who through their own willpower and strength are willing to sacrifice their lives for an idea”, said Thor Heyerdahl. Thor Heyerdahl was an author, an explorer, and someone who liked to create quotes. Thor’s quote means that true bravery and heroism isn’t someone who does what they are told, but instead someone brave enough to help others and fight for an idea knowing the possible consequences. Heroism was shown in this quote, but is also shown in the book To Kill a Mockingbird. In the book, the theme of heroism is illustrated through Atticus, Jem and Boo Radley.
I will first talk about Atticus and the ways that he showed heroism. The first example is when Scout asks, “ If you shouldn’t be defendin’ him, then why are you doin’ it?” (Lee, 75). Atticus says he took the trial because if he didn’t he wouldn’t be able to hold his head up or represent the county in the legislature. The reason this shows heroism is because he stood up for what he believed …show more content…

“ Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you didn’t know it when he put the blanket around you,” said Atticus ( Lee, 72). Boo risked being seen for the first time just to help out Scout by putting a blanket around her. He stayed out of sight for all of that time and went out into the cold with the possibility of being seen. That showed bravery because he risked what he believed in to help somebody out. Another example is “ Bob Ewell fell on his knife. He killed himself,” said Heck ( Lee, 273). Boo Radley saved the kids the night that Bob Ewell attacked them. Boo killed Bob and Heck knew it, but he told Atticus Bob killed himself. If Boo hadn’t killed Bob then Scout and Jem would have probably died that night. Boo took a life to save two young lives and that is why Boo showed heroism in the

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Boo Radley saved the lives of Scout and Jem. 39. He said Ewell died by his own blade, even though Boo killed him,

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To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is a controversial novel about rumors and innocence, which Lee shows through Arthur “Boo” Radley with his poor image, when he puts a blanket on Scout’s shoulders to keep her warm, and when he gives presents to Jem and Scout and later saves them. For example, Lee shows that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird using Boo’s image and how he is a worthy person with a poor image given to him based on rumors from other people’s opinions, just like a mockingbird, Boo is innocent. Scout states: “Jem gave a reasonable description of Boo: Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall, judging from his tracks; he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch. That’s why his hands were always bloodstained-if you ate an

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In To Kill A Mockingbird novel, Scout learns what does courage mean. When Atticus signs to speak for Tom Robinson, both Scout and Jem acted peacefully with racial invectives and offensive slurs by the townspeople. As mentioned before, Atticus teaches Scout that doing the right thing does not always mean going along with everyone else. Furthermore, Atticus tries to teach Scout how important it is to look at things from the other person's perspective . As the novel starts to end , Scout is able put herself in Boo Radley's shoes, the person she is scared of the most throughout the novel.

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