Jean Louise Finch, or Scout, is one of the youngest and most important characters. She contributes greatly to Harper lee’s definition of courage. During her first years of school, Scout expresses courage through her acts of defiance and standing up for other students. The first grade students got a new teacher named Miss Caroline, so she was not aware of the circumstances and knowledge of the families that went to the school. When Miss Caroline confronts Walter Cunningham about not having lunch, Scout stands up for Walter by informing her teacher about his family’s lifestyle and telling Miss Caroline that he did not and would not accept the money she was offering. Scout told Miss Caroline, “The Cunningham’s never took anything they can’t pay …show more content…
Similarly, Jem also shows childlike courage when he was dared by Dill to touch the side of the Radley house. Jem ran quickly to the side of the house, touched it, and ran back (Lee 15). This was a courageous act because although Jem had heard the multiple frightening stories of the house, he went and touched the house anyway. To most people, touching a house would not seem very courageous. Due to the circumstances and because the children were so young, this was a very courageous act for Jem to accomplish. Additionally, courage shines through Jem when he goes to the Radley house with Dill and Scout one night. The three characters went up to the Radley house to see inside. In the process of trying to look inside, Mr. Radley thought a black person had come into his yard instead of the children, so he fired a shotgun to scare the uninvited visitors away. This was very courageous for Jem, as well as the two younger children, to go to the house. They all had heard many stories about the house, but they went anyway. They had heard tales such as “When people’s azaleas froze in a cold snap, it was because he had breathed on them… Radley pecans would kill you… a baseball hit into the Radley yard was a lost ball…” (9). Those stories would keep almost anyone away from the house, but Jem showed courage and snuck up to the house anyway. While running away from the …show more content…
His children learned a great deal about courage from him. Atticus was a widower and had a job, so raising kids on his own would not have been easy. He made sure his kids had everything they needed and learned the lessons of life, with a little help from the house maid Calpurnia. A great deal of courage would be necessary to raise his kids on his own. Also, most people during this time believed that a woman usually took care of the children, and were very shocked to hear that Atticus didn’t remarry, although it was suggested that he should. He didn’t immediately look for another wife but instead showed courage and took the task of raising Jem and Scout into his own hands. In addition, Atticus showed courage by doing things for other people. Miss Maudie’s house caught on fire one night. Running into a burning house alone is courageous. He went in to save her most valued piece of furniture, her rocking chair. “I saw Atticus carrying Miss Maudie’s heavy oak rocking chair , and thought it sensible of him to save what she valued most” (Lee 69). He did not put himself in unneeded danger by trying to save other objects that could be replaced. This is the more mature side of Lee’s definition of courage, but it is still very important. Perhaps the most courageous thing done by a character in part one is the decision Atticus made to defend Tom Robinson in court. Maycomb was not particularly fond of blacks. Although
Those who have courage in the novel risk their safety and reputation. While many characters in the book show bravery, the actions of Atticus, Jem, and Scout Finch remain the most prominent. Out of all the characters in Lee’s book, Atticus demonstrates the most courage. He commits to defend Tom Robinson, a black man, in court, a deed that costs him the respect and social status he once had with many whites in the town. He helps Tom outside of court as well, going so far as to face a mob of angry men to protect him.
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)
He shows human courage, which gives us the idea that Atticus is a common and inconspicuous man he is represented from the eyes of the children, who are getting some heat from all his actions. There is an idea in the novel that children have a sense of justice and become prejudice only under the influence of others. This idea comes from a lawyer Atticus, a man of honor, who is doing good although he isn’t expected to. His arguments for heroism are “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”(Lee 115).
“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.
Ewell spat on him and threatened to kill him but Atticus responded,”If spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell an extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take”(292-293). It took courage to stay tranquill while a drunken man was losing his temper but Atticus undertood his point of view and took the threat with courage to possibly save Mayella’s life. Moreover, everytime he shows his courage Jem and Scout learn to act more like thier father. Atticus not only uses his real courage to challenge society’s code and create equality, he also fights with is brain to pursuade others to understand all
Just going outside has to take courage for Arther Radley. He is in such a poor condition that being around anyone would hurt him. Despite knowing all of what could go wrong, Arthur still goes out of his way to help Scout. The second example that Arther Radley exemplifies courage in To Kill a Mockingbird is exhibited when scout and Jem get attacked by Bob Ewell. After the court case Bob’s life starts to fall apart.
In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird Jem best exemplifies courage because he showed his fearlessness every time he saw someone else left defenseless. One of the times Jem showed courage is when talks to Atticus about staying and helping him get rid of the big group of drunk men at the county jail. The men are after a black man named Tom Robenson who is accused of rapeing a nineteen year white girl named Mayella Ewell.
Throughout the story, Jem (taken from the word gem meaning a cherished and prized person) is used by Harper Lee as a representation of courage. In the beginning, Jem’s first act of courage occurs when Jem accepts Dill’s provocation to go and touch the Radley house. In the story, Scout says, “In all his life, Jem has never declined a dare” (Lee 16). This quote shows how Jem would never demur any sort of challenge, even if it involved stupid or childish acts like going to a forbidden place. Scout also shows how Jem even accepted a dare from her to jump off the roof of the house as a kid.
People have in mind that courage is about being able to save other peoples’ lives and risking your own, or to climb Mount Everest, or to jump from the top of a high building. In the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, real courage is demonstrated in a different and encouraging way. Real courage is shown as fighting for what is believed in and what is most important, regardless of whether you win or lose. Atticus and Scout are two characters who define courage perfectly. The reasons why Atticus shows courage is that he argued the best he could to defend the innocent man from going to jail since he knew that no one else would.
When Atticus find out that Jem, Scout, and Dill followed him into town, he demands that they go home, but Jem refuses: “We were accustomed to prompt, if not always cheerful acquiescence to Atticus‘s instructions, but from the way he stood Jem was not thinking of budging,” (203). Jem is maturing, and he is starting to understand the situation that Atticus is in because of his defense of Tom Robinson. While he would normally obey Atticus, he realizes that protecting his father against the lynch mob is more important. Jem displays his courage even in his stance, emphasizing that he is doing what he thinks is right in spite of the challenges he faces. As Scout interacts with the mob, Atticus continues to demand that the children go home: “‘Atticus stood trying to make Jem mind him.
In the crowd, Scout spots Mr. Cunningham, Walter’s father. She tries to make small talk with him about his entailment and Walter. Eventually, he calls off the mob and everyone leaves, unhurt. Scout’s courage saves one life, maybe
Ways Courage is Shown Courage is looked at in several different ways. It can be shown in the face of fear, out of love, and against the odds. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, courage is demonstrated by the characters Boo Radley, Jem, and Atticus. First, Boo exercises his courage when he needs it the most and in the face of fear.
Worried and frightened for the two, Scout had no other choice but to join them. Although Scout was scared of coming back to the Radley Place, she gathered her courage and went along with Jem and Dill’s Plan. As the three kids were sneaking out, remaining and maintaining silence was a challenge. Sneaking out of the house took a lot of courage for the three kids because they were already told off by Atticus to ignore how the Radley’s way of living and about Boo Radley. If ever they were caught by Atticus sneaking out to take a look at Boo Radley at night, they would probably have to face the consequences.
(Lee 77). This showed the children’s perception of the Radley Place, a horrifying haunted house. Since it already seemed terrifying in the day, for Jem to visit during the night, it showed his courage, as many children in the neighborhood would not commit such and act. Another form of courage shown by Jem is when he and Scout took items from the Radley’s tree, as explained by Harper Lee: “From then on, we considered everything we found in the knot-hole our property” (Lee 79). This reveals Jem’s courage as he proceeds to the Radley Place when other children would not dare to go near the house, and accepted the items that Boo gave them as a gift.
"Jem, 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. " This insightful statement was told by Atticus Finch to his son, Jem Finch. Many people in Maycomb had to deal with racism, hatred, and discrimination because of their skin color or because of the court case.