Courage is far more than bravery alone; it is the ability to persevere through any obstacle, it is a constant in our lives from learning to walk, to our first separation in school from our parents, to how we muster up the courage to ask for a raise at work and eventually even the courage to face our own mortality. The theme of the poem “Courage” by Anne Sexton is ultimately similar to the theme of courage found within To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee; as both handle how one copes with life along with the challenges of finding our way in the world and conquering the hardships that transpire in the process.
The process of comforting oneself and letting time heal the pain is well-defined within the novel as well as within the verses of …show more content…
Sexton uses a series of metaphors to develop the ways in which human beings are courageous at different times throughout their lives. The first stanza within the poem consists of a poetic explanation of growing up; a time of the first experiences that takes great courage. It is also one of the most vulnerable times in someone’s life. Consequently, vulnerability often leads to suffering, displayed through a metaphor within the lines “you drank their acid / and concealed it.” (Sexton 11-12). The lines portray that the “they” are those who hurt others within the world, and the acid being the hardship faced throughout one’s life. Similarly, Lee writes “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 149). Ms. Dubose shows this exemplary courage that Lee describes as she was addicted to Morphine and made it her personal goal to die free of her addiction. She experienced a time of withdrawal that is extremely difficult to survive without catering towards her addiction. Despite the fact that no one would have blamed her if she had wanted to die with the help of narcotics to ease her pain, she decided to try to do what she felt was right, no matter how
The process of comforting oneself and letting time heal the pain is well-defined within the novel as well as within the verses of …show more content…
Sexton uses a series of metaphors to develop the ways in which human beings are courageous at different times throughout their lives. The first stanza within the poem consists of a poetic explanation of growing up; a time of the first experiences that takes great courage. It is also one of the most vulnerable times in someone’s life. Consequently, vulnerability often leads to suffering, displayed through a metaphor within the lines “you drank their acid / and concealed it.” (Sexton 11-12). The lines portray that the “they” are those who hurt others within the world, and the acid being the hardship faced throughout one’s life. Similarly, Lee writes “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 149). Ms. Dubose shows this exemplary courage that Lee describes as she was addicted to Morphine and made it her personal goal to die free of her addiction. She experienced a time of withdrawal that is extremely difficult to survive without catering towards her addiction. Despite the fact that no one would have blamed her if she had wanted to die with the help of narcotics to ease her pain, she decided to try to do what she felt was right, no matter how