qutoesand explanations from to kill a mockingbird
...proved by a weapon. “ 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 know your licked before you begin but you see it through no matter what.” (Chapter 11, page 124) The morphine addict, Mrs. Dubose, bad mouths Atticus by saying, “Your father is no better then the niggers and trash he works for!” (Chapter 11, Page 113) When Mrs. Dubose badmouthed Atticus, Jem decided that the best way to settle things was to ruin her camellias. After Atticus learned of his son’s actions, Jem was made to apologize where he was made to read to Mrs. Dubose every afternoon, for a month. Mrs. Dubose was an extremely ill elderly lady, and tended to take morphine to ease her pain. As a result, she became addicted, but it wasn’t till after she died that Jem understood the courage Mrs.Dubose had when Atticus explained to him that she was dying but was still determined to die free of morphine. She fought against great odds, even in the hardest of times. Atticus explains: “She said she was going to leave the world beholden to nothing and nobody. Jem when you’re sick, as she was, it’s all right to take anything to make it easier, but it wasn’t all right for her. She said she meant to break herself of it before she died and that’s what she did.” (Chapter 10, Page 111) The greatest demonstration of courage, in my opinion, is Atticus’ fight for Tom Robinson’s life. He is wise enough to know that the prejudices of people will never allow justice to be done, but at the same time, he is determined that the truth be told so that those who convict Tom Robinson will be aware that they are convicting an innocent man. Just like Mrs. Dubose, he knew that he could never win the case, but he tried anyway. “This case, Tom Robinson’s case. Is something that goes to the essence of a mans conscience-Scout. I couldn’t go to church and worship God if I didn’t try to help that men.” (Chapter 11, Page 116) The realization of “The essence of man” helps Scout to stop fighting with her fists and try to overcome opposing opinions with her head, rather then with physical violence, which portrays the moralistic value Atticus helps to bestow on his kids making them just as courageous as he. “Courage is when you know your licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.”(Chapter 10, Page 115) According to Atticus Finch “real courage” is when you fight for what is right regardless whether you win or lose. Atticus fits perfectly into the definition of “real courage” and demonstrates it relentlessly through the novel. “The only thing we’ve got is a black man’s word against the Ewells.” First of all, Atticus demonstrates courage when he undertakes the task of defending Tom Robinson, a black man wrongly accused of rape. Atticus knows he won’t win, he is “licked” before he begins. Nevertheless, Atticus knows Tom is innocent and that he must fight for him because no one else will. Atticus’ strong sense of morality and justice motivates him to defend Tom Robinson with determination, with one mission in mind. He wants the citizens of Maycomb town to hear that truth about Tom Robinson. “That boy may go to the chair, but he’s not going till the truth is told.” Atticus showed true bravery when he went against the prejudice Maycomb citizens. He ...