To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee :: To Kill a Mockingbird Essays

People have different perceptions of courage all the time approximately think it is a man with a gun in hand some see courage as mental strength to persevere and live danger, fear, or difficulty others think courage is an ordinary person, doing extraordinary things or even standing up for what is right, even if you are standing alone. In harpist Lees To Kill a Mockingbird, courage is illustrated through the characters of genus Atticus Finch, Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose, and Bob Ewell. Atticus and Mrs.Dubose share some of the same characteristics of courage. They both begin an impossible labor but give it their all until the end, even if they dont succeed. On the other hand, Bob Ewell shows an immense lack of courage throughout the book by not having the courage to accept the consequences of his own wrong doing. Atticus, Bob Ewell, and Mrs.Dubose each reveal courage in different authoritys, even if that way is not showing any courage at all. Atticus Finch feels true courage is when " you know youre licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through to the end no matter what." (p.112) With this definition of courage, Atticus would be considered an extremely courageous man. Tom Robinson was being accused of raping a white girl during the 1930s in atomic number 13. Because of the way blacks were treated then, obviously the chances of Tom Robinson walking out of the courthouse innocent were slim to none. When Atticus takes the case of Tom Robinson he says it is the "one case in his life-time that affects him personally." (p. 76) If he didnt take this case, he felt he couldnt "represent this country in legislature" additionally he said, "I couldnt hold up my conduct in town I couldnt even tell you and Jem not to do something again."(75) Taking this case took a great deal of courage and made Atticus a target of ridicule for Maycomb County. He was standing up for what he felt was right, and he was almost stand ing solo. The majority of Maycombs citizens do not ensure with Atticuss actions whatsoever. He was "running a still" in Maycomb, he was referred to as a "nigger lover" which was not accepted in society of Alabama in the 1930s(75). In Atticuss own home he was put down for defending a black man. Although Mrs. Merriweather never stated it, she did make her point lay down that she felt there were "some good but