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To Kill a Mockingbird

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Many people in To Kill a Mockingbird confuse courage with strength and believe that courage is the ability or willingness to use strength to get one’s way. However, the novel makes it abundantly clear that this understanding of courage is immature at best and is possibly wrong altogether. Instead, the novel proposes that courage isn’t about winning. Instead, it’s about thinking about something and choosing to do what’s right, even if doing so is difficult or guaranteed to fail.

When the reader first meets Scout , she believes that she’s very courageous: she’s hotheaded and consistently gets in fights to defend what she believes is right. Though Jem is a little old for fights like this, he, too, thinks of fighting as a more or less appropriate way to demonstrate one’s courage. This is supported as time goes on and Jem in particular, who loves football, is mortified that Atticus is the only father in town who doesn’t play in the inter-church football game because of his age. In Jem and Scout’s understanding, Atticus isn’t as courageous or as admirable as the other Maycomb fathers, simply because he’s a lawyer, which means that his contribution to the world isn’t something entirely tangible, unlike other fathers who are farmers or shop owners. In this sense, Scout and Jem tie a person’s worth to what they can do, but only if their capabilities are immediately visible to others.

This understanding of what courage means and what worth is begins to break down in February, before Tom Robinson ’s trial. When Scout and Jem discover what turns out to be a rabid dog heading for their neighborhood, Mr. Tate forces Atticus to shoot the dog—which shows Atticus’s children that he can do things—he just chooses not to. At the same time, Atticus begins to encourage Scout in particular to not fight people who taunt her for Atticus’s role in the trial. Though Scout characterizes not fighting as cowardice, Atticus insists that it’s courageous to take the moral high ground and make the choice to not try to appear powerful with one’s fists, something that he embodies as he embarks on Robinson’s case.

Atticus knows full well that Robinson won’t win his case. In Maycomb, a small, Southern town in 1935, the idea that a black man accused of rape wouldn’t suffer consequences (no matter the truth) is far-fetched. Despite this, Atticus insists to Scout and Jem, and to other adults alike, that he has to take Robinson’s case and do his best to clear Robinson’s name. He feels he must do so even if he knows he’ll be unsuccessful, something that even Scout suggests at one point is actually silly and misguided, not courageous. Atticus, however, makes the case to Scout that courage doesn’t mean winning at all. Rather, courage, in Atticus’s understanding, means taking a stand for what’s right and seeing it through, even though he knows he won’t be successful. On the day of Tom Robinson’s death, Scout begins to embody this when she begins to understand that being a lady—something she previously found unappealing and boring—actually means doing exactly that. Scout begins to see that it takes courage and poise to navigate a roomful of opinionated, racist ladies, keep the conversation focused on inoffensive topics, and keep everyone’s refreshments in order, all while experiencing major emotional turmoil and trying not betraying that to her guests. In this situation, there is no winning to be had—Scout’s courage results only in a smooth meeting of the local missionary circle, which isn’t disrupted and made ugly by news of Robinson’s death. But it’s nevertheless a turning point in Scout’s understanding of what it means to be courageous, as it represents a form of courage she previously hadn’t thought worth considering.

In this sense, Mockingbird suggests that courage is playing the long game rather than focusing on immediate wins, something it illustrates clearly when Mr. Ewell , the man who accused Robinson, attempts to murder Scout and Jem. His attempt to murder children (and for that matter, his harassment and attempted crimes against Helen Robinson and Judge Taylor ) is undeniably cowardly and morally reprehensible, but it’s possible that his attempt at violence was, in his mind, an attempt to salvage his family name by bringing down Atticus. The novel offers an example of true courage, meanwhile, when Boo Radley leaves his house for the first time in 25 years to save the children, something that clearly causes him distress, even if he knows it’s the right thing to do. With this, the novel makes allowances for the fact that at times, courage does mean acting out with one’s strength, as Boo does by killing Mr. Ewell in defense of the children. But in order to be genuine courage within the world of the novel, it must still happen only in times of great need, and must be in service of the greater good.

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To Kill a Mockingbird PDF

Courage Quotes in To Kill a Mockingbird

Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it

There was no hurry, for there was nowhere to go, nothing to buy and no money to buy it with, nothing to see outside the boundaries of Maycomb County. But it was a time of vague optimism for some of the people: Maycomb County had recently been told that it had nothing to fear but fear itself.

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“If you shouldn't be defendin' him, then why are you doin' it?”

“For a number of reasons,” said Atticus. “The main one is, 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.”

"Atticus, are we going to win it?"

“No, honey.”

“Then why—”

“Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win,” Atticus said.

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After my bout with Cecil Jacobs when I committed myself to a policy of cowardice, word got around that Scout Finch wouldn't fight any more, her daddy wouldn't let her.

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It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived.

“Atticus, you must be wrong…”

“How's that?”

“Well, most folks seem to think they're right and you're wrong…”

“The one that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.”

“It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do.”

Dill's eyes flickered at Jem, and Jem looked at the floor. Then he rose and broke the remaining code of our childhood. He went out of the room and down the hall. “Atticus,” his voice was distant, “can you come here a minute, sir?”

Beneath its sweat-streaked dirt Dill's face went white. I felt sick.

Jem was standing in a corner of the room, looking like the traitor he was. “Dill, I had to tell him,” he said. “You can't run three hundred miles off without your mother knowin'.” We left him without a word.

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Exploring Themes of Courage in to Kill a Mockingbird

This essay about “To Kill a Mockingbird” explores how courage is depicted through the novel’s characters who face racial prejudice and uphold their moral values against societal expectations. Highlighting Atticus Finch’s ethical stances, Scout’s interactions with Boo Radley, Mrs. Dubose’s personal struggles, and the black community’s dignified resilience, it portrays courage as a complex moral endeavor. The analysis suggests that true bravery involves maintaining integrity and justice, challenging traditional views on courage.

How it works

In Harper Lee’s seminal work, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” the concept of courage unfolds through the actions and decisions of the characters, revealing deep insights into moral strength and ethical resolution. This essay delves into the diverse portrayals of bravery in the novel, showcasing how the characters grapple with racial prejudices, uphold personal values, and confront societal expectations, thereby enriching our understanding of what it truly means to be courageous.

Atticus Finch serves as the epitome of valor not through physical acts of heroism but through his unwavering moral compass.

His commitment to defending Tom Robinson, an African American wrongfully accused of raping a white woman, epitomizes his dedication to justice and equality. Atticus imparts to his children that true bravery is to fight a battle you know you’re going to lose, but to stand up and fight regardless because it is the right thing to do. This perspective on courage as a moral challenge rather than a physical confrontation forms the ethical backbone of the novel.

The younger Finches, Scout and Jem, also encapsulate different dimensions of bravery as they navigate their formative years amidst complex social dynamics. Scout, for instance, demonstrates a unique brand of courage through her interactions with Boo Radley, a reclusive neighbor enveloped in local folklore. By ultimately choosing to see Boo as a person rather than a figure of fear, Scout challenges and overcomes the town’s stigmatization, exemplifying personal bravery that defies societal norms.

Mrs. Dubose, another character, illustrates courage on a more personal and introspective level. Atticus admires her for her struggle to overcome a morphine addiction, which he describes to Jem as an act of great personal courage. Her fight against her dependency, fraught with physical and emotional pain, is portrayed as a profound act of bravery, reflecting that true courage can also lie in confronting and conquering one’s innermost battles.

The black community in Maycomb also embodies a collective form of courage. Their solidarity and support for Tom Robinson, coupled with their composed demeanor in the face of systemic racism, highlight a communal strength that speaks volumes about their integrity and moral fortitude. This portrayal of courage is less about overt actions and more about maintaining dignity under oppression.

“To Kill a Mockingbird” thus presents courage not as a single act or choice but as a series of decisions that are morally complex and often internally driven. From Atticus Finch’s principled stand, Scout’s transformative interactions, Mrs. Dubose’s private victory over addiction, to the black community’s dignified resilience, Harper Lee crafts a nuanced narrative that challenges traditional notions of bravery.

In sum, the novel proposes that the essence of true courage lies in the moral endurance to pursue justice and integrity, regardless of the outcome. Through its characters, the story advocates for a deeper appreciation of courage as a fundamental human virtue, essential for confronting and rectifying the injustices of society.

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To Kill a Mockingbird - Courage Essay

“Courage is when you know you are licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.” (P.149) Courage, the spirit and soul of virtue, is one of the most significant themes in To kill a Mockingbird. Harper Lee uses many of the characters and circumstances in the book, as well as her own deed of writing this novel to demonstrate all facets of courage.

There is a physical courage which is demonstrated by several characters. Atticus Finch accepts the appointment to Tom Robinson’s case, and he knew he would certainly lose. During that particular period of time, defending a black man made Finch family become a target for Macomb ’s people. “The main one is, 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. […] Scout, simply by the nature of the work, every lawyer gets at least one case in his lifetime that affects him personally. This one’s mine, I guess.” (P.101) The only reason Atticus takes this case is because he won’t do things that disobey his conscience. Townspeople turn their anger toward Atticus for defending Tom, but this doesn’t stop him.

During the court trial, any reasonable person could see that Ewells’ testimony was full of holes, and could realize Tom didn’t commit the crime. The racial prejudices in 1930s let most whites mentally judge this black man guilty. It takes courage for Atticus to do the right thing. Also, Atticus’s deed let Jem learned what the true courage is. At the beginning of the novel, Jem’s idea of bravery is just touching the Redley house, but as the story progresses, he shows his courage by facing the mob and refusing to obey Atticus for the first time in his life. “In the midst of this strange assembly, Atticus stood trying to make Jem mind him. ‘I ain’t going,’ was his steady answer.” (P.204) Another person who showed courage was Boo Radley. After all the years hiding in his house, Boo eventually came out and did the final act of courage in the book by saving Scout and Jem from Bob Ewell.

Alone with Atticus, Jem and Boo Radley, few female characters showed their courage in a different way. It’s not a physical kind of courage like facing down a mad dog. Harper Lee did a great job to show the mental courage by creating Mrs. Dubose’s character. This rude, prejudiced old lady, who is addicted to morphine, showed a great courage by succeeding in stop her morphine right before she died. Unlike Mrs. Dubose, Miss Maudie has her own inner strength. “Stephanie Crawford even told me once she woke up in the middle of the night and found him looking in the window at her.

I said what did you do, Stephanie, move over in the bed and make room for him? That shut her up a while.”(P.60) When Miss Stephanie tries to spread the tales, Miss Maudie rather uses her sharp tongue to fight Miss Stephanie back than just refuse to listen. Such courage is demonstrated by her words. “ Yes Ma’am. They’d burn right with me. They thought I spent too much time in God’s outdoors and not enough time inside the house reading the Bible.” (P.59) Miss Maudie has no fear of others’ gossip, she even talks about it just like a jock.

Furthermore, Harper Lee showed her own bravery by writing the novel. In 1940s, there is no single person, group, or institution put civil rights on the national agenda. Challenging racial prejudice in the United States was a daunting undertaking. Harper Lee manifested courage when she was in collage. She wrote short stories and other works about racial injustice, a rarely mentioned topic on such campuses at the time. Lee moved to New York City in 1950, and spent two and a half years writing To Kill a Mockingbird. In her creation process, Lee had become so frustrated for a while. She tossed the manuscript out the window into the snow, and her agent made her retrieve it. Finally, the book was published on July 11, 1960, but the editorial team said that Lee could probably sell only several thousand copies.

Moreover, In 1966, Lee wrote a letter in response to the attempts of a school board to ban To Kill a Mockingbird as “immoral literature”: “Recently I have received echoes down this way of the Hanover County School Board’s activities, and what I’ve heard makes me wonder if any of its members can read.[…] I feel, however, that the problem is one of illiteracy, not Marxism. Therefore I enclose a small contribution to the Beadle Bumble Fund that I hope will be used to enroll the Hanover County School Board in any first grade of its choice.”

Therefore, in To Kill a Mockingbird, courage is a prominent quality among the characters. Harper Lee used her own way to show the readers that courage is the strength in the face of pain, is the inner desire to do what is righteous.

Erica Morris

Author: Erica Morris

Sarah

101 To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Titles & Examples

If you struggle to find “To Kill a Mockingbird” essay topics on prejudice, race, the characters’ courage, or any other issue, look no further. Our team has prepared a list of titles and essay writing tips for this book.

🏆 Best To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Topics & Examples

📌 most interesting to kill a mockingbird essay titles, 👍 good to kill a mockingbird research topics, ❓ to kill a mockingbird essay questions.

Before we will talk about the do’s and don’ts in essay writing, let’s clarify the types of essay.

When working on “To Kill a Mockingbird” essay thesis, you can focus on the facts of the book or concentrate on your attitude towards its key issues and characters. According to your approach, we can divide essays into two main areas:

  • Objective essay: you set out your personal thoughts on a chosen issue and provide supporting arguments and evidence;
  • Subjective essay: you express your point of view on a specific topic without claiming the truth and strengthening it with facts.

For example, when you choose a “To Kill a Mockingbird” essay topics on goodness, you will state that Atticus is a kind and fearless. No doubt that this character has a positive role.

On the other hand, when you describe Mayella, you will have to choose: will you condemn her or express pity.

As for the essay content, it can be divided into many subcategories:

  • Philosophical essay
  • Critical essay
  • Literary analysis
  • Historical essay, etc.

There are also a few key literary types:

  • Feature article, etc.

Do’s & Don’ts When Writing To Kill a Mockingbird Essays

Now, it’s time to talk about what you should write and what to avoid in your paper. First of all, you have to remember that all “To Kill a Mockingbird” essay titles should reveal the essence of the issue.

Recommendations for essay writing:

  • Do mark your essay subject at the beginning of the text. “To Kill a Mockingbird” essay hooks will help you to catch the reader’s attention. Don’t forget to emphasize the central issue in the conclusion.
  • Do support the style of presentation by your emotions, vision, and opinion. Use the “question-answer” in paragraphs. Make the transitions between paragraphs harmonious and smooth.
  • Do use quotes, historical facts, and observations to argue the thesis statement, solve the main issue, and describe the key subject of the paper.
  • Do stick to the central thesis of your essay. Avoid deepen into philosophical reflections — tell about concrete facts and examples. Here’s an example: don’t include the facts from the author’s biography if you focus on the events of the book and factors that affect discrimination.
  • Do proofread the paper. Read carefully your essay several times and think if your readers will understand your expressions.
  • Do not use specific terminology in “To Kill a Mockingbird” essay. For example, when you write about discrimination, you don’t necessarily have to provide its dictionary definition or use complex law, historical and psychological literature, and samples. Just your own language. However, it doesn’t mean that your opinion should seem ungrounded.
  • Do add your emotions to the paper. Let your readers feel that you believe in your ideas when defending the essay thesis.
  • Don’t choose the header before you write an essay. First, you should write an essay, and only then compile the title of your paper.

Well, now you know about the essay types, what to do, and what to avoid in your essay. Of course, you may ask: “What to write in my own essay?”

The key to success is to start. Check “To Kill a Mockingbird” essay examples on our website to get inspiration. Even the topic seems to you too complicated, start your research, and then you will be able to express new and original thoughts.

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The Courage of Atticus Finch in "To Kill a Mockingbird"

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  1. Courage Theme in To Kill a Mockingbird

    LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in To Kill a Mockingbird, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Many people in To Kill a Mockingbird confuse courage with strength and believe that courage is the ability or willingness to use strength to get one's way. However, the novel makes it abundantly clear that this ...

  2. The Theme of Courage in 'To Kill a Mockingbird'

    The theme of courage can be found in literature as well. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee demonstrates many themes, but one she describes well is courage and how it can come in many different forms and yet be the same, all at once. Harper Lee uses Mrs. Dubose, Atticus, and Boo Radley to demonstrate her view of courage as doing something for ...

  3. Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird: [Essay Example], 519 words

    In conclusion, To Kill a Mockingbird is a powerful exploration of courage and its impact on individuals and communities. Through the characters of Atticus Finch and Boo Radley, Harper Lee demonstrates the importance of moral courage and the ability to stand up for what is right, even in the face of adversity. The novel challenges the reader to examine their own beliefs and prejudices, and to ...

  4. Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird: A+ Student Essay Examples

    2. Argue for or against the idea that To Kill a Mockingbird should be a mandatory part of high school curricula. Example Introduction Paragraph for a Persuasive Essay: Atticus Finch's unwavering defense of Tom Robinson in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird resonates as a symbol of moral courage. This persuasive essay asserts that Atticus's ...

  5. Exploring Themes of Courage in to Kill a Mockingbird

    Essay Example: In Harper Lee's seminal work, "To Kill a Mockingbird," the concept of courage unfolds through the actions and decisions of the characters, revealing deep insights into moral strength and ethical resolution. This essay delves into the diverse portrayals of bravery in the

  6. To Kill a Mockingbird Courage Essay

    To Kill a Mockingbird - Courage Essay. "Courage is when you know you are licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what." (P.149) Courage, the spirit and soul of virtue, is one of the most significant themes in To kill a Mockingbird. Harper Lee uses many of the characters and circumstances in the book ...

  7. What are some examples of courage in To Kill a Mockingbird

    Of course, the biggest example of courage in this scene comes from Scout. She stands up to the men who have come to hurt Tom. She even speaks with such power that she turns the men away. It took a ...

  8. The Theme of Courage in to Kill a Mocking Bird, a Novel by Harper Lee

    To Kill a Mockingbird: Courage. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is the unforgettable novel of a child's story growing up in a sleepy, Southern town and the crisis of conscience that rocked it. The novel takes readers through the many emotions of a motherless family contradicting a century's worth of morals and slaving values.

  9. How does Scout Finch exhibit courage in To Kill a Mockingbird

    Several times in To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout displays courage when faced with fear. Early in the narrative, Scout speaks of a "malevolent spirit" that dwells in a house down the street from her ...

  10. What could be a thesis statement about courage for To Kill a Mockingbird

    In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee clearly suggests that there is a strong connection between a character's integrity and courage because, as Atticus tells his children in Chapter 11, "Courage ...

  11. 101 To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Topics & Samples

    101 To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Titles & Examples. Updated: Mar 1st, 2024. 10 min. If you struggle to find "To Kill a Mockingbird" essay topics on prejudice, race, the characters' courage, or any other issue, look no further. Our team has prepared a list of titles and essay writing tips for this book. We will write.

  12. To Kill A Mockingbird Essay On Courage

    Atticus Finch is by far the most courageous character in To Kill a Mockingbird despite many other characters, such as Mayella and Scout being dauntless. The misunderstood Mayella, simple Scout, and audacious Atticus all show courage in their own way. Courage ranges from the simplest of acts to the most selfless sacrifices, and can be ...

  13. Theme Of Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird Free Essay Example

    Download. Essay, Pages 2 (473 words) Views. 1237. Courage can be demonstrated in many ways ranging from the incredible, as when a superhero saves lives, to the simple, as in getting out of bed to face a difficult day. In her novel To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee also depicts courage in a variety of ways through her characters.

  14. Tom Robinson's Exhibitions of Courage in "To Kill a Mockingbird"

    Tom Robinson's ability to remain sedulous by expressing verbal courage externally and keeping his honesty and while dealing with rape accusations along with law enforcement, the accuser and her father, and every prejudice-minded individual in Maycomb County, demonstrates his courage under conditions nobody else in Maycomb has to undergo.

  15. To Kill a Mockingbird Courage Essay

    To Kill a Mockingbird was written by Harper Lee and was first published on July 11, 1960. Around this time America is greatly struggling with racial discrimination and equality, and in this novel, it explicitly focuses on this topic. The outstanding thematic topic in To Kill a Mockingbird is courage which is found throughout the entire novel ...

  16. Free Essay: Courage in TKAM

    Courage in TKAM. Norman Schwarzkoph, a United States general, once said, "True courage is being afraid, and going ahead and doing your job anyway, that's what courage is.". Harper Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, is set in the early 1900s, a time where racial segregation and the Great Depression happened in a small Alabama town ...

  17. How Does Atticus Show Courage: [Essay Example], 752 words

    Atticus's Defense of Tom Robinson. One of the most striking displays of Atticus's courage is his unwavering commitment to defending Tom Robinson, a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman. Despite the overwhelming racism and prejudice that permeate the town of Maycomb, Atticus takes on Tom's case with determination and a clear sense ...

  18. Is America dictator-proof?

    A would-be dictator could start off without flouting the letter of the constitution, because later laws have created loopholes big enough for troops to march through. As a young country, America ...

  19. The Courage of Atticus Finch in "To Kill a Mockingbird"

    To Kill A Mockingbird, an award winning book by Harper Lee is about Atticus Finch, a lawyer in Maycomb, Alabama trying to defend Tom Robinson. Tom, who was accused of rape by a white woman named Mayella Ewell in the 20th century is having great difficulty in winning the case. Atticus Finch is showing great courage and confidence when he decides ...