“I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun”
Harper Lee’s novel to kill a mocking bird is a book surrounded by the theme of courage. Other issues are confronted in this text include prejudice and racism for example. But I think that the main subject dealt with is courage. Courage is about stepping out of your comfort zone, not always complying with others, doing what you believe in. Most characters in the novel ‘to kill a mocking bird’ display courage, but there are also others that display the opposite.
Atticus Finch is a defence lawyer living in the small southern town of Maycomb. He shows courage by taking the case of a condemned black man who has been accused of raping a white girl. He knows that his actions will not be kindly looked upon by the townspeople, but he believes in justice for all so he does what he feels is right. Tom Robinson, his client, is to spend a night in jail. Although he doesn’t have to, Atticus stays outside all night to guard him. He is confronted by an angry mob and stands his ground. Also he doesn’t even back off when the encounters the victim’s father, Mr. Ewell who abuses him. When Atticus tries to explain to scout why he is defending Tom Robinson, he says “If I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town” by Atticus saying these words to scout he is showing that he is a man of dignity and if he didn’t help out a man who’s last hope was Atticus, he couldn’t live with himself.
Heck Tate is also a man of courage. Although he wasn’t courageous at first, he finally stepped out of the shadows and did the right thing. He hadn't been able to do it in the Tom Robinson case, but this time he refused to lay down and let an injustice occur. Although he had to lie to protect Boo Radley, he knew that keeping his role in Bob Ewell's death a secret was the right thing to do, and he did it. When Boo saw that "his children needed him," his courage overrode the town's prejudice and he... [continues]
Harper Lee’s novel to kill a mocking bird is a book surrounded by the theme of courage. Other issues are confronted in this text include prejudice and racism for example. But I think that the main subject dealt with is courage. Courage is about stepping out of your comfort zone, not always complying with others, doing what you believe in. Most characters in the novel ‘to kill a mocking bird’ display courage, but there are also others that display the opposite.
Atticus Finch is a defence lawyer living in the small southern town of Maycomb. He shows courage by taking the case of a condemned black man who has been accused of raping a white girl. He knows that his actions will not be kindly looked upon by the townspeople, but he believes in justice for all so he does what he feels is right. Tom Robinson, his client, is to spend a night in jail. Although he doesn’t have to, Atticus stays outside all night to guard him. He is confronted by an angry mob and stands his ground. Also he doesn’t even back off when the encounters the victim’s father, Mr. Ewell who abuses him. When Atticus tries to explain to scout why he is defending Tom Robinson, he says “If I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town” by Atticus saying these words to scout he is showing that he is a man of dignity and if he didn’t help out a man who’s last hope was Atticus, he couldn’t live with himself.
Heck Tate is also a man of courage. Although he wasn’t courageous at first, he finally stepped out of the shadows and did the right thing. He hadn't been able to do it in the Tom Robinson case, but this time he refused to lay down and let an injustice occur. Although he had to lie to protect Boo Radley, he knew that keeping his role in Bob Ewell's death a secret was the right thing to do, and he did it. When Boo saw that "his children needed him," his courage overrode the town's prejudice and he... [continues]
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