Definition of Courage in Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird
..., visits her relatives at Aunt Alexandra’s house, Francis, her cousin, criticizes Atticus. “Francis grinned at me…..‘I guess it ain’t your fault if Uncle Atticus is a niggerlover…’ ” (82-83). Atticus is endangering his reputation as a lawyer for defending a black man. He also risks losing the respect of the community. As the story continues, Atticus displays his true bravery once more when he is confronted and threatened by Mr. Ewell after humiliating him during the trial. “…this morning Mr. Bob Ewell stopped Atticus on the post office corner, spat in his face, and told him he’d get him if it took the rest of his life. ‘I wish Bob Ewell wouldn’t chew tobacco,’ was all Atticus said about it’ ” (217). Atticus did not retaliate, but instead offers a reasonable excuse to show that he was not going to fight. Even though he was risking his own safety, Atticus’s strong belief that fighting was wrong allows him to act upon his values. Atticus’s courage gives him the strength to defend his beliefs even though his own safety and well-being is threatened. Mr. Boo Radley, or Arthur, endangers his safety and privacy in order to defend his beliefs. He believes that people should live in harmony with each other. He reveals true bravery and acts upon his values while caring for Jem and Scout so that they may have peace. In the beginning of the story, Boo Radley is a mysterious character that has not been seen in the public for fifteen years. One cold night, Miss Maudie’s house catches on fire and Jem and Scout, Miss Maudie’s neighbors, are rushed to safety. Boo Radley, seeing that the kids are shivering from the cold weather, comes to their aid and places a blanket on Scout without being seen. When Scout realizes that she had a blanket on, her father tells her that it was Boo Radley’s blanket. “ ‘Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you didn’t know it when he put the blanket around you’ ” (72). Boo Radley risks his safety and privacy in order to help those that were in need of comfort. His concern for people supports his values and gave him the strength to take a risk. As the story comes to a conclusion, Boo Radley sees Mr. Ewell try to murder Jem. Boo displays real courage once more as he steps out of the security of his house and kills Mr. Ewell, a di...