Many people presume that courage is simply a person who accomplishes a grand feat rather than having the quality of mind that enables a person to face difficulty or danger without fear. However, true courage depends on the eyes of the beholder. Courage is many things. Slyly embodied in both reticent and vital characters, Harper Lee in To Kill a Mockingbird and Reginald Rose in 12 Angry Men both create a broad representation of courage. In both works of literature, the idea of courage that is being conveyed is the ability to do something that one knows is right or gracious, even though it is extremely difficult. Courage is not alway found in a Superman-like deed, but instead a smaller act that has just as much emphasis positive consequences
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Juror 8 used his brain and common sense to place a vote. Later in the play, Juror 9 also votes innocent and is harshly criticised by the other 10 jurors. To their demanding questions, Juror 9 simply replies, “Well, it’s not easy to stand alone against the ridicule of others” (Rose, Act I, pg. 28) referring to how Juror 8 was courageous to stand up for what he believes is right. Throughout the play, Juror 8 is shown to act on his conscious and value of human life to come to conclusions on the trial of events rather than to judge defendant based on his background which is how the other jurors proceed to come to conclusions. Similarly in the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee, Atticus does not just defend Tom Robinson, an African American accused of rape, at his trial, but instead does what he believes is right; he defends equality and civil rights. When he accepts the offer to defend Tom Robinson, Atticus not only puts himself in danger, but his family as well. Days before the trial, Atticus is confronted by a mob at the …show more content…
A person who showed exceptional courage in To Kill a Mockingbird was elderly Mrs. Dubose. In the novel, Mrs. Dubose is depicted as an elderly, racist woman who is struggling with a long lasting morphine addiction. Months leading up to her death, she shows a plethora of courage when she attempts to break her addiction to morphine. Even when she realizes chances of this happening were slim, she still strived for her goal which was to die clean. Atticus describes her to his children as one of the bravest ladies he ever knew. He uses her as an example to describe courage as “when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.” (Lee, pg. 128). This is exactly what Mrs. Dubose did. She accepted the great challenge of breaking her morphine addiction before she died and even though she knew it was nearly impossible she completed it and died as clean as mountain air. She made the mistake of becoming addicted to morphine, but eventually made amends by dying clean. Juxtaposing, Juror 3 shows courage in the play 12 Angry Men when one by one the other jurors are swayed to vote innocent. He stands by his verdict and strongly defends himself. Even though he was unconsciously judges the defendant based on prior experiences with children, he still stands firm in his decision that the boy
Juror 8 used his brain and common sense to place a vote. Later in the play, Juror 9 also votes innocent and is harshly criticised by the other 10 jurors. To their demanding questions, Juror 9 simply replies, “Well, it’s not easy to stand alone against the ridicule of others” (Rose, Act I, pg. 28) referring to how Juror 8 was courageous to stand up for what he believes is right. Throughout the play, Juror 8 is shown to act on his conscious and value of human life to come to conclusions on the trial of events rather than to judge defendant based on his background which is how the other jurors proceed to come to conclusions. Similarly in the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee, Atticus does not just defend Tom Robinson, an African American accused of rape, at his trial, but instead does what he believes is right; he defends equality and civil rights. When he accepts the offer to defend Tom Robinson, Atticus not only puts himself in danger, but his family as well. Days before the trial, Atticus is confronted by a mob at the …show more content…
A person who showed exceptional courage in To Kill a Mockingbird was elderly Mrs. Dubose. In the novel, Mrs. Dubose is depicted as an elderly, racist woman who is struggling with a long lasting morphine addiction. Months leading up to her death, she shows a plethora of courage when she attempts to break her addiction to morphine. Even when she realizes chances of this happening were slim, she still strived for her goal which was to die clean. Atticus describes her to his children as one of the bravest ladies he ever knew. He uses her as an example to describe courage as “when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.” (Lee, pg. 128). This is exactly what Mrs. Dubose did. She accepted the great challenge of breaking her morphine addiction before she died and even though she knew it was nearly impossible she completed it and died as clean as mountain air. She made the mistake of becoming addicted to morphine, but eventually made amends by dying clean. Juxtaposing, Juror 3 shows courage in the play 12 Angry Men when one by one the other jurors are swayed to vote innocent. He stands by his verdict and strongly defends himself. Even though he was unconsciously judges the defendant based on prior experiences with children, he still stands firm in his decision that the boy