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How Does Tom Robinson Respond To Courage

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To Kill A Mockingbird : Underlain Courage

"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen."
— Winston S. Churchill

Courage, a test of heart and independence, a humble exhibit of what people are willing to fight for. Courage is having bravado, fearlessness, spirit, dauntlessness, valor, pluck, and intrepidity no matter the outcome or consequences. Though many of the characters in the 1930’s Alabama of Harper Lee’s: To KIll A Mockingbird, three stood out further than the rest. Calpurnia, a black woman who works with the Finch family, Tom Robinson, a black man that must put his word on trial against two white people in the height of racism in America, and lastly Mrs. Dubose an old woman …show more content…

Who had the odasity to feel sorry for a white woman.His valor was more visible to the town. Brought against the word of white persecuters because of a guilt that was not his own, still stood his ground with his life in the line. Nevertheless, Tom, accused of rape by one Mayella Ewell, a young white woman. Mayella, lying was not raped, but she tempted a strong black man. Now she feels that she must get rid of her evidence, Tom. Nevertheless,he faces his accusers he still does not feel hate, he stands by the truth. Even if that means telling the jury that he feels sorry for a privileged white person. This in itself is a crime to some in Maycomb, “‘Yes, shu. I felt right sorry for her, she seemed to try more than the rest of em’-’”(197). Though saying something like this is socially unacceptable, Tom said it anyway. He knew that people would take what he was saying the wrong way. Yet he courageously stood in front of the court and told them his truthful story. “‘ Then your saying she’s lying, boy’... ‘I don’t say she’s lying Mr. Gilmer, I say she’s mistaken in her mind’”(197). As a result Tom was a black man in the 1920’s got convicted of a crime he didn’t …show more content…

Dubose, an old woman, confined to her bed in sickness, addicted to morphine to help her pain. In her last months she displayed her courage. Her devotion to become free of her addiction is what made this old woman so notable. Before her death Jem and Scout thought she was a old woman who had gone mad over the years. Until Atticus showed them what Mrs. Dubose's real identity was. He explained to his children that she was one of the bravest people to live in that town. “‘ Mrs. Dubose won, all ninety-eight pounds of her. According to her views she died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew’”(112). This woman died without a care in the world, her mind was free, and because of that so was she. As she died she was happy. Eventually, the children realized what a wonder Mrs. Dubose was “‘Did she die free?’ asked Jem ‘As the mountain air,’ said Atticus”(110).In the end Mrs. Dubose won her war as courageously as she could.

As Maya Angelou stated "Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently". without courage nothing is possible. Calpurnia, Tom Robinson and Mrs. Dubose embody courage in all its glory. Throughout the book they display their courage some bigger than others. Although Tom, Calpurnia, and Mrs. Dubose may have not gotten what they wanted or needed they were steadfast in their beliefs. Each showing their worth in a different way to the small back

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