Ben Barnett
Mr. Campbell
Honors English
12 December 2011
Courage Accomplished
The ability to face danger, pain, or uncertainty without being overcome with fear is the definition of courage. Courage is not just facing danger but facing decisions. From protecting to destroying, courage is a huge action that everyone has experienced. In Harper Lee’s book, To Kill a Mockingbird, various characters display courage in these interesting forms.
The first of the many characters to exhibit courage is Dill. His words, ” ‘s not any funnier’n yours. Aunt Rachel says your name’s Jeremy Atticus Finch.” (7) showed that after only saying six sentences to Scout and Jem, he has enough guts to insult Jem without the tiniest flicker of fear or doubt. Throughout the story Dill says what he is thinking with courage and strength. When he comes to Maycomb county for the summer he proposes to Scout, showing that no matter what others think, he is willing to do what he thinks is correct.
To be courageous for yourself is something but being courageous on another person’s behalf is greatest act anyone can accomplish. Link Deas and Boo Radley accomplish this when they stand up and stop Bob Ewell in their own ways. Within the courtroom of Maycomb County, during the silence following a statement given by Tom Robinson about why he ran, Mr. Deas rose and spoke without the permission from the judge. “I just want the whole lot of you to know one thing right now. That boy’s worked for me for eight years an’ I ain’t had a speck o’trouble outa him. Not a speck.” (195) That statement from Mr. Deas took courage because back then and even now, speaking in a court room during the trial and looking towards the jury is a fineable offense and the case might have to be retried. Mr. Deas knew that by doing this he would get in trouble but he did what is right, and not for his own gain but for an innocent man’s. Boo Radley helped Scout and Jem when they were attacked. This Action put him at great risk of getting killed. Anyone can say that if someone is in danger of being killed, they will try to save them. But it takes a strong will and courage to follow through with it. Although the book did not mention it, Boo would have done anything to protect the Jem and Scout from harm.
The Essay on Jem And Scout Things Quote Folks
(Jem And Scout) To Kill a Mockingbird: Character Analysis Imagine just two young kids maturing within a matter of years. Imagine that same two kids, experiencing or understanding things that they aren't meant to at a young age. Jem and Scout were just like that. They have experienced many things that they shouldn't have at their age. Scout on the other hand, seems to be the one maturing the most. ...
Finally, the person who throughout the book exhibits the most courage is Jem. The one act of courage that Jem is remembered the most for, is when he stands up for what he believes in at the jail. Although there were strangers all around him who were willing to harm him to get what they wanted, he stood strong. Another noteworthy event was when he went and destroyed Ms. Dubose’s flowers. Throughout his childhood he and the rest of the children of the town were scared to go near her because she supposedly had a confederate issued revolver under the shawls on her wheelchair and other fabled tales.
In books courage, is a hard stone to hold on to with the infinite amount of monsters of fear attempting to crush it. Many characters are strong enough to maintain hold on this precious stone in the realm of fear. But few are able to walk out with it like Dill, Mr. Deas, Boo, and Jem.
Bibliography
1. Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. Philadelphia: Warner Books, 1969. Print.
2. “To Kill a Mockingbird – Courage.” 123HelpMe.com. 06 Dec 2011
<http://www.123HelpMe.com/view.asp?id=15920>.
