Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird

In modern society, courage is a difficult trait to find. For many people, it takes a while to learn what courage truly is and display it throughout whatever troubles come their way. This was the case for some of the characters in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Two of the main characters learn the true meaning of courage throughout the story. At the start of the novel, Jem believes bravery is never turning down a dare, or touching the side of the Radley house, but as the story progresses he learns what it means to be brave by the courageous actions of the people around him including his father Atticus, and neighbor Mrs.Dubose. Scout also learns lessons of courage throughout the book as Atticus agrees to represent Tom Robinson …show more content…
Dubose is first introduced, she appears a cranky, negative old woman with nothing positive to say. However, shortly after Jem fulfills his punishment of reading to her, she passes away. It is then that the reader realizes just how courageous Mrs. Dubose is when Atticus explains her addiction to morphine. As he puts it, “She said she was going to leave this world beholden to nothing and nobody. Jem, when you're sick as she was, it's all right to take anything to make it easier, but it wasn't all right for her. She said she meant to break herself of it before she died, and that's what she did." Atticus was referring to Mrs. Dubose’s determination to break her addiction to morphine, despite the fact that to continue taking it would ease the pain. When Jem asks Atticus how he can still respect her enough to call her a lady, he responds, "She had her own views about things, a lot different from mine, maybe...son, I told you that if you hadn't lost your head I'd have made you go read to her. I wanted you to see something about her- 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 you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do. Mrs. Dubose won, all ninety eight pounds of her. According to her views, she died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew.” Atticus’ explanation to Jem shows that courage can be demonstrated by anyone regardless of their size, age, or weight. Mrs. Dubose was only 98 pounds, clearly weakened by illness. But she overcame an addiction that was bigger than herself, because she was mentally strong enough to have the courage to battle