How Does Atticus Finch Show Courage

In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee vividly illustrates the real meaning of courage, both physical and emotional, through various situations and characters. Jem and Scout mix up courage and strength. They think courage is the ability to use strength to get your way. But c courage in the novel is not about winning or losing. It’s about doing what’s right even when it may be hard and people may not be on your side.

Throughout the novel, Atticus Finch demonstrates bravery and courage both mentally and physically. A small form of courage is shown very early in the book, when he shoots the rabid dog that is bringing danger to his neighbors and children. Atticus kills the dog with not even a flinch. This was the one of the first times Atticus shows his bravery and courage. It takes a very courageous man to face the negative pressures of society within Maycomb. During the 1930’s, when the novel takes place, racism is a harshly

Dubose, we see examples of bravery through her experiences of her addiction to morphine and her racial prejudice. She is the perfect model of courage because she recognizes she has a problem that she has to fix before she dies. Atticus states, “(Courage) is knowing 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.” (pg.128) Atticus says this about Mrs. Dubose and how she is an example of what true courage is. He says that what she was trying to do takes a great amount of self-confidence and humbleness. Atticus hopes his children can both see this and what matters.

In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee vividly illustrates the real meaning of courage, both physical and emotional, through various situations and characters. The author explains the real meaning of courage through Mrs. Dubose, who in the novel wasn’t really seen as a main character, but as we dissect the novel in its entirety we uncover