Courage means the ability to do something that frightens one. Everyone has had a tough time in thier live when they needed to have courage. Scout and Jem are in the middle of a rough time in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee where they live in Maycomb with their father, Atticus. Maycomb is a place that suffers from a lot of prejudice and racism. Jem changed throughout the story as he learned that it’s important to have courage especially when it gets hard. First, Jem learns about the basics of courage through the teachings of Atticus. Jem had just got done reading to Mrs. Dubose after he destroyed her flowers. Mrs. Dubose died about a month after and Atticus is explaining what the importance of him reading to her was. Atticus explained, …show more content…
Atticus had mysteriously escaped in the night so Scout and Jem went out and searched for him. They found him at the jail and they hid nearby and watched as a gang of men approached Atticus. Mr. Cunningham ordered, “You know what we want, get out of the way Mr. Finch” (Lee 202). Atticus is not letting up or moving from the door even though it is frightening. He is doing this because he knows it is not right to kill Tom Robinson just because he is black and he was accused of a crime. Atticus is showing Jem how to be courageous by basically being the definition of courage, which is doing something that frightens one. This is a very severely scary circumstance because they are threatening Atticus and Tom’s life. But, Atticus remains courageous anyway. Moreover, Jem and Scout were at a school event and they started walking home in the dark by themselves. They heard something around them but did not know what or where it was so they kept going home. Then they got attacked by someone. Luckily for them, another mysterious person saved them and brought them home to Atticus who called the doctor and the sheriff. Scout explained, “ Then all the sudden something grabbed me an’ mashed my costume… think I ducked on the ground… heard a tusslin’ under the tree sort of… they were bammin’ against the trunk sounded like. Jem found me and started pullin’ me towards the road. Mr. Ewell
In To Kill A Mockingbird, a novel describing a Southern town of Maycomb, Harper Lee, the author, illustrates a picturesque image of courage, through numerous characters, their dialogue, and, of course, their actions, much different to our very superficial glimpse and understanding of courage. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Lee exemplifies courage through the character of Atticus, the father of Scout and Jem and the defense attorney in the Ewell vs. Robinson case. The first instance courage is displayed occurs when Atticus faces a mad dog named Tim Johnson. As seen in the instance, both Mr. Heck Tate, the sheriff of Maycomb
One occasion was when Scout was beating up Walter Cunningham and Jem stood up for Walter. On another occasion, when people from their hometown were badmouthing and criticizing Atticus, Jem bravely reminded Atticus to have courage
“It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare,” said Mark Twain. The novel To Kill a Mockingbird is a coming of age story about two young children, Jem and Scout Finch, growing up in Alabama in the 1930s and learning what real courage is through their father, Atticus, and the people of Maycomb. They learn to see the world from other points of view, which is also how they express empathy towards others, persevering and standing up for what you believe in, and putting yourself in danger to help others. One message that Harper Lee provides us with is that courage is when you persevere to do something even when it gets more difficult.
TKAM Essay Courage could mean a man with a gun in his hand, but real courage is something you fight for what is right whether you win or lose. In To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, it’s a book that involves courageous acts, demonstrated by certain characters. Atticus, Scout, and Mrs. Dubose all exhibit courage throughout the book To Kill a Mockingbird. Throughout the book To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus demonstrates courage through his actions.
Scout sees what her father is doing and many wonder why Atticus sees the case through, but by his definition, Atticus is portraying courage. Previously in the book, Atticus states Mrs. Dubose is courageous for giving up her morphine addiction, which puzzles Scout, so he explains Courage as, “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”(Lee 128). With his definition of courage in mind small aspects of the book can be seen as courageous. The most prominent example of Atticus’s courage is when he stands up for Tom.
Courage is being afraid of something, but having the bravery to go against it. Jem Finch started his life off not really understanding this true meaning. He saw courage as doing something no one else would do, like running up to Boo Radley’s house and hitting the wall. Throughout the novel, he learned that this was only childish, and true bravery is harder to come by. Atticus helps show him the real meaning through examples that happen in their lives, and Jem begins to grow up.
Atticus explains that “Real courage is when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway, and you see through no matter what. (Lee 149) Armed with this new definition of authentic courage, Jem grows closer to
Courage is not strength or skill, it’s simply standing up for what you believe in and what is right. This is the theme that was enrolled after Jem destroys Mrs.Dubose’s camellias and after she died in chapter 11. This passage also reveals Jem’s coming of age moment. After using conflict, symbolism, and point of view, Harper Lee was able to connect the theme with Jems coming of age moment.
Throughout the story, Jem (taken from the word gem meaning a cherished and prized person) is used by Harper Lee as a representation of courage. In the beginning, Jem’s first act of courage occurs when Jem accepts Dill’s provocation to go and touch the Radley house. In the story, Scout says, “In all his life, Jem has never declined a dare” (Lee 16). This quote shows how Jem would never demur any sort of challenge, even if it involved stupid or childish acts like going to a forbidden place. Scout also shows how Jem even accepted a dare from her to jump off the roof of the house as a kid.
Jem and Scout took conscious of the world around them thanks to Atticus. Scouts wants to be just like Atticus and since small, she stood up for what she believed, which was the way she grew up. As a result, Scout and Atticus have both the quality of having real courage because the put the most important things
Having courage opens a window of infinite possibilities. Courage is maybe doing something that others will not do, or pursuing dreams no matter what obstacles stand in the way. Atticus, Jem, and Scout, all show great courage for the situations they are put in. “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view … until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” A quote by Atticus Finch.
Tom uses all his might to prove his innocence and stay with his family. And Jem is always standing up for and taking care of scout. Almost every single character in this book shows at least a little bit of courage. As I stated before Courage appears so much in this book throughout so many characters.
Atticus displayed courage by putting his life on the line and killing the rabies infected dog as well as standing up for Tim Robinson when no one else would. Like Atticus, Jem displayed a great amount of courage when he touched the Radley house and by defending Scout against Mr. Ewell. Scout showed courage by putting herself before a lynch mob ,in the process she saved both Atticus and Tom Robinson, as well as walking Boo Radley home .This instantaneous bravery that arises within a person in dangerous or threatening situations helps people step out of their comfort zones for the better. Courage is the ability to perform even if all your instincts are screaming for you not
Jem showed courage because telling Scout that school was always be bad he did the right thing and told her what she needed to hear. Later in summer Jem and Dill want to talk to Boo
Character Analysis Essay Jem represents the idea of bravery in the novel, and the way that his definition changes over the course of the story is important. The shift that occurs probably has as much to do with age as experience, although the experiences provide a better framework for the reader. When the story begins, Jem's idea of bravery is simply touching the side of the Radley house and then only because "In all his life, Jem had never declined a dare." But as the story progresses, Jem learns about bravery and being helpful from Atticus facing a mad dog, from Mrs. Dubose's fight with addiction, and from Scout's confrontation with the mob at the jail, among others.