To Kill a Mocking Bird Essay: Courage
To Kill a Mocking Bird, by Harper Lee is a story about a single father raising two children, teaching them right from wrong, while fighting the biggest case of his lawyer career. To Kill a Mocking Bird shows readers that one definition of courage is fighting for what you believe in and making sacrifices even though the result may not be what you wish, as evidenced by Ms. Dubose, Arthur “ Boo” Radley, and Atticus. When Ms. Dubose overcomes her drug addiction, when “Boo” Radley comes out of his safety zone and when Atticus takes on a case that no one else wants, all these events teach Jem and Scout about courage. It shows that courage isn’t always a knight in shining armor. That courage can be found in a dying old woman, a child-like adult, and even a “ not so tough” father.
Ms. Dubose shows courage as she overcomes her morphine addiction, and reaches her goal of dieing beheld to no one. She was an old lady that was often rude and harsh to Jem and Scout, her only joy lying in her beautiful flowers. She spent the last of her years trying to break the addiction, a hidden secret that almost no one knew about. “She said she meant to break herself of it before she died, and that’s what she did.”(p. 111) Jem and Scout were shocked to hear the proud and stubborn lady that had yelled at them daily had been so sick, that she chose to break the addiction when having a painless death would have been easier. Atticus talks to Jem and Scout about her courage, and her fight to overcome the addiction. He tries to get them to understand that “[Courage is] when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyways and you see it through no matter what.” (p. 112) That courage isn’t only “ a man with a gun in his hand.” (p.112) It’s also an old lady that didn’t take the easy way out; instead she followed her morals and views. For some “ she is the bravest person [they] ever knew.” (p.112)
Arthur “Boo” Radley is a myth, a scary...