J.F. Clarke once said, “The bravest of individuals is the one who obeys his or her conscience.” True bravery is defined through siding with one’s self morals and beliefs even against the disapproval and ridicule of others. This quote defines the true definition of bravery in that bravery is embracing and listening to one’s conscience. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee exhibits the true definition of bravery when Atticus took on the trial and when Dolphus Raymond and Boo Radley make sacrifices in their own lives.
Atticus Finch exemplifies the true meaning of bravery. In the novel Atticus is appointed to take on a case defending Tom Robinson, a black man falsely accused of rape. Atticus faced great hatred and ridicule for his choice to try and be
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Dolphus Raymond exhibits bravery in that he sacrifices his reputation among society to follow his morals and conscience. Dolphus Raymond is a “disgrace” to Maycomb because he lives among African Americans and had mix raced children. The people of Maycomb believe Dolphus does this because of the influence of whisky which they believe he carries around all the time in a bag. Scout and Dill converse with Dolphus outside the court house and they find out Dolphus does not carry around whisky and that in fact he chooses to live that way. Dolphus puts it like this “I try to give ‘em a reason, you see, It helps folks if they can latch onto a reason… folks say Dolphus Raymond’s in the clutches of whiskey—that’s why he won’t change his ways… that’s why he lives the way he does” (Lee 268). Dolphus does this because “they could never, never understand that I live like I do because that’s the way I want to live” (Lee 268). Dolphus was not afraid to live his life the way he wished to, because society insulted and gossiped about him. Dolphus Raymond is a noble symbol of bravery, sacrificing his reputation to live out his conscience and the life he wished to
“Real courage is when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” Atticus Finch. This quote is proved to be true in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee as it demonstrates the true definition of courage. The book takes you along the journey of young girl, Scout Finch, during a time where colored people are thought less of. She experiences this first hand as her father, Atticus Finch, has been assigned to defend a colored man who has been accused of raping a white female. Scout along with her elder brother Jem, learn the definition of courage through some of the characters and how they act to the events that occur before and after the trial. In Harper Lee’s, To Kill a Mockingbird, many characters are great examples of trusting yourself when all odds are stacked against you. Throughout the novel the characters that display courage are Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson and Boo Radley.
Atticus shows courage when he defends Tom from the lynch mob when he is going to jail, which could have ended in Tom being killed, brutally beaten and furthermore, could have lead to Atticus’ death and torture. In the novel, Atticus is sitting in front the jail doors reading a newspaper. He was opening, closing and folding it as if he was expecting a group of citizens to arrive. A massive group of men departed from their cars and began moving towards the jail doors. One man confronted Atticus and said "You know what we want. Get away from the door, Mr. Finch." "You can turn around and go home again, Arthur," Atticus said pleasantly. "Heck Tate's around somewhere”.(pg 202) This segment of quotations exemplifies that Atticus knew this group of men were going to arrive and he positions himself outside the jail doors ready to defend Tom.
In the book, “To kill a Mockingbird”, Harper Lee explores the concept of moral courage. It's the courage of one family who begins to overcome the gossip and prejudice in one small town. To me this means, for example, Atticus left his towns bubble which was very racist and old fashioned to stand up for what is right. Atticus is the father of Jem and Scout, he is the town lawyer and he believe that everyone should be treated equally. Jem is the son of Atticus he is maturing and follows in his father's footsteps. Scout is the narrator of the story and she doesn't understand a lot of things but her father's quote “you never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view till you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” helps her understand why people do things a lot better. Boo Radley is the…. Tom robinson… Bob ewell….Mayella…
Nelson Mandela once said, “I learned that fear and courage was not in the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.” This quote relates to Harper Lee’s Atticus Finch. In the novel, Atticus Finch is a symbol of bravery in Maycomb. His children, Scout and Jem, learn from him, and that is what causes them to lose their innocence, and focus on how people are acting in Maycomb towards racism. Atticus defends a black man, named Tom Robinson, even though people that supported his opponent, Bob Ewell, were mean to him. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus portrays the theme of courage in the face of evil through defending Tom Robinson, the confrontation with Bob Ewell, and when the men came to hurt to Tom Robinson in his jail.
Lee and Conolly shows the audience that courage tend to come in diverge forms. One form is physical courage. In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus demonstrates courage in a physical sense as he finds himself in a face off with a loose rabid dog, only armed with a shotgun. " For God's sake, Mr. Finch, look where he is! Miss and you'll go straight into the Radley house!
Courage is not a man with a gun in his hand. In some cases, courage is using your words instead of your actions. Both statements are a major theme towards the end of To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus uses his words, rather than weapons, to disarm. Sometimes, courage is having a gun in your hand, and sometimes, it is not.
“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen,” said by Winston Churchill. I think this quote relates to Atticus because of the trial, he has to speak up for what he believes in and he also has to sit down and listen. It also relates to what Atticus tells his kids sometimes, like the time with Scout and school. In To Kill A Mockingbird Atticus is a wise father, a clever lawyer, and a brave man.
“To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee is a novel that explores the theme of courage throughout key events and through character. The novel is narrated by Jen-Louise Finch over a two year period revolving mainly around the trial of Tom Robinson.
Dolphus Raymond is one of the many victims of racism in Maycomb, as he is forced to live a life of false impressions. After Mr.Raymond let Dill take a sip of his drink, he discreetly said, “...if I weave a little and drink out of this sack, folks can say Dolphus Raymond’s in the clutches of whiskey...”(Lee, 200). Mr. Raymond is letting the people of Maycomb inaccurately believe he is a drunk to give them a reason to tolerate his decision to be in a relationship with an African American woman. Dill identifies Mr.Raymond in the crowd of colored people drinking out of his sack then commented, “‘Why’s he sitting with the colored folks?’ [Jem then replies]
So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly do” (Lee 292-293). Atticus displays courageousness by receiving the frustrations of the defeated and ashamed Mr. Ewell to teach a valuable lesson to his children about the true definition of courage. Real courage, defined by Atticus, means having the ability to present your views and opinions, whether socially accepted or denied, and stand with them through the most difficult of times because, in the end, good triumphs over evil. Atticus’ will to remain dedicated to his beliefs, despite resentment from the majority of Maycomb, strictly to teach his children how they should think when they one day might stand in his shoes and defend an innocent man who has no chance of winning a one-sided court case, show the courage in his soul in times of need. Lee demonstrates the true definition of courage by spreading a message of kindness and compassion, and by acting in these ways, courage acts a catalyst for positive change in a world where negativity and evil triumphs over positivity and good, and she provided a positive change to the wrongdoers of the white Southern
“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” Said, Winston Churchill, former prime minister of the UK. Throughout the year we have read and learned about many people that showed courage throughout their life. The characters in the novels The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Pianist, and the Shakespeare play, The Merchant of Venice all show great amounts of courage.
“I 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 see it through no matter what” (149). Many people do not do the right things sometimes because they’re not brave enough to do so. To kill a Mockingbird was published July 11th, 1960 by Harper Lee in New York City. This novel was about racial tensions and also involved a court case of rape between an African American man and a white woman. This novel is known all around the world, it has become a classic Modern American Literature and has also won the Pulitzer Prize. In the novel To kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses the story's conflicts and mood of
Atticus, a central character in To Kill a Mockingbird, seems to know the right thing to do in every situation. Whether raising his children or doing his job, he does it to the best of his ability. Sometimes this means risking his safety and popularity. Throughout the story, most of the people in Maycomb think of him as a troublemaker, and few recognize the honorable characteristics he has. The people of Maycomb view his actions through the lense of racial bias and hatred. Atticus tries to demonstrate a new way of thinking to Maycomb and makes his decisions based on doing what is right and showing respect to all people no matter what. Defending a black man in a racially segregated society requires strength and integrity. Throughout the story, Atticus shows incredible virtue through his bravery, level headedness, and dedication.
Bravery is characterized as fearlessness, valor and nerve but there is more to that definition. Bravery is knowing you are going to lose but still get up and give it your best. This lesson is taught throughout the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, through characters plot and motifs.
Courage is defined as "the quality of mind or spirit enabling one to meet danger or opposition with fearlessness." According to Atticus Finch, one of the main characters in To Kill a Mockingbird, "Courage is when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what." (pg.121). Harper Lee clearly portrays the theme of courage in her novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. One likes to think of a hero, as strong, brave, and meeting all challenges head on. All the characters in this book have a different view as to what courage