The Theme of Courage in To Kill a Mockingbird
By: Jessica, Chloe, Mikayla Capel and Couture
Chloe- Courage is doing something that may challenge you or get you out of your comfort
zone.
Jess- We think that the whole novel is based on courage. The characters in the book do
things that challenge them and make them step out of their comfort zone. In this book
courage was shown in big ways as well as smaller ways.
Capel- Acts of courage can be seen in big and small ways throughout the novel. A big act
would be defined as Tom Robinson standing up to Mayella in the courtroom, while a smaller
act would be something as simple as Aunt Alexandra giving Scout her overalls. In some
cases, acts of courage are quite obvious but in others they can be hard to find. Tom
Robinson was an obvious act of courage, because he knew that even though he was going
to not be found innocent he still provided everyone with the truth, which in turn was
courageous because Mayella would have been found to have been lying. Aunt Alexandra
was courageous by giving Scout her overalls because even though she felt that Scout
shouldn’t be wearing “men’s” clothing, she allowed her to wear it during rough times. It took
a lot of courage for her to stray from her beliefs so that Scout could be happy.
Who showed courage:
MEEE-Boo Radley: Boo showed courage when he left his house in order to save Jem and
Scout. Boo risked his life in order to help the finch kids which he didn’t have to do. Boo
hasn’t been seen in many years and seemed to be shy, so by bringing Jem to the house
after defending the kids he showed that he is a caring courageous person. Boo also showed
courage by staying in the room where Jem was even though he didn’t want to be seen.
Capel-Tom Robinson: Tom displayed courage when he stood up in the courtroom and
stated that Mayella was lying. It was wrong in those days for a man of colour to argue the
opinion of a white person. When Tom told the truth he was completing a courageous act
because he was telling the truth even though he knew the jury would not believe him; it was
the right thing to do. He told the truth because it was the right thing, and although he would
still be found guilty, it was courageous of him to stand up to a person of higher status than
him in the community.
Jess- Jem: Jem showed courage when he stood up to Atticus outside the jail cell. “Go home
I said. Jem shook his head. Son I said go home. Jem shook his head. I ain't goin.” (page
203).
Jem also showed courage when he went back to the Radley place to retrieve his pants. He
was terrified to go back, but he knew that that`s what he needed to do so he faced his fears
and went back.
Chloe- Atticus: Atticus showed courage by defending a black person. Tom Robinson was
accused of taking advantage of Mayella Ewell. Atticus knew he was innocent but he also
knew no one would believe him. He still fought for Tom and protected him when the men
came to get him at the county jail. He also taught his children what real courage was by
defending Tom Robinson and by giving them lessons along the way. For example, he
taught Scout not to be so aggressive and fight with her head instead.
Quotations:
MEEE- “You just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody
says to you, don't you let them get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change.”
(page 101)
This quote is said to Scout by Atticus after Scout had gotten into many fights because of the
rude comments people made about her father. Most people think courage can only be
shown by your actions on the outside while courage can also be shown inside. Without
saying a word you can emphasize the act of courage in your own way. Courage on the
inside is just as great as showing it on the outside. By listening to Atticus's advice Scout
showed courage.
Chloe- “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're licked before you begin, but you begin
anyways and see it through no matter what.” said by Atticus. (page 149)
What Atticus means in this quote is that courage is not just based in your physical actions
by intimidation, by also is maybe not doing something or doing something you are unsure or
uncomfortable with. For example Scout and Jem at the beginning of the book thought
Atticus was brave for shooting the mad dog. But Atticus wants to show them that you can
also be courageous but not getting into a fight, like Scout not getting into a fight with Cecil
Jacobs for calling her dad names. And in the end Scout and Jem realize that Atticus is also
brave for defending Tom Robinson with his case even though he knew he was “licked”
before he began.
Jess- Quote by Winston Churchill: “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak.
Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” Atticus is a great example of this.
Atticus shows courage when he decided to defend Tom Robinson and stand up to the jury,
but he also showed courage by not doing anything at all. Atticus took all of Bob Ewells
insults and even the spit to the face without fighting back.
Doc:
Well done, and thank-you for doing your presentation first! I just wanted to add Mrs.
Dubose’s name to the “Courageous of Maycomb” list. Read the rest of Atticus’s
comment about courage, which you partially quoted above:
“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're licked before you begin, but you begin
anyways and 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 ever knew”(Atticus’s
comment to Scout and Jem 149).