Focusing your answer on the two given extracts discuss how real courage is shown in ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’.

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Focusing your answer on the two given extracts discuss how real courage is shown in ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’.

In this novel, Harper Lee explores a range of different themes. From prejudice and segregation due to race and class to societies beliefs to the right and wrong. The major theme which runs through out this novel is courage. Courage is demonstrated in many ways, such as physical courage, standing up to what you believe in, overcoming personal fears and even childhood dares are all a form of this theme. I would like to determine what ‘real courage’ means to both Harper Lee and to the characters of this novel. I will do this by analysing two extracts which represent the courage shown in this book.  

        The death of Mrs.Dubose shocked Jem as he had no thought to the pain Mrs.Dubose inflected upon her body as she tried desperately to rid herself of her morphine addiction. Jem had always regarded her as an utterly revolting person who was barely fit to be called a lady. He never considered her as his father’s role model or the bravest women his father had ever known. In this extract courage is displayed by two characters. Firstly Mrs.Dubose, who had the courage to make an attempt to disregard her horrid addiction. She had the courage to stand up to what she believed in and it was very important to her that she at least made an effort to try. She did this knowing clearly that she was very unlikely to succeed and even after realising this she still insisted that:

“        She was going to leave this world beholden to nothing or

                                                 nobody.        “

Her desire was to die free. Mrs.Dubose had no intention of leaving this world owing thanks to anything or anybody. This is the main reason why she tried so hard to rid herself of the addiction. This is a very courageous act because she had the determination to try and attempt the impossible whilst others would probably think, ‘what is the point when I have only a few months to live’ and they would most likely give up before they started. But not Mrs.Dubose. She stuck to her belief because she was so determined that she had reached a point where her whole body and mind relied upon an alarm clock. She was fully aware of the risk she was taking and that she would experience a lot of physical and emotional suffering, but she still took her step. This is why Atticus portrays her as the bravest person he ever knew.

Mrs.Dubose was not the only character in this extract to display such bravery. Jem had also shown courage by overcoming his personal fear of Mrs.Dubose. He did not fear her as such, but he was sickened by her and this is the reason why he was so reluctant to go and read to her. He had no intention of doing so, but was forced upon by his father. He felt nauseated by her because of her revolting looks, which both Jem and Scout found quite hideous.

“        She was horrible. Her face was the colour of a dirty pillow case and the corners of her mouth glistened with wet…….                “

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The readers are given a very graphic description of  Mrs.Dubose’s appearance. She is portrayed as an extremely revolting and dirty women who’s skin colour is beyond normal and there are puddles of saliva emerging from the corners of her mouth. This indicates exactly why the children were disgusted by her. Despite Jem’s dislike for this women and her hideous looks he had to overcome these thoughts and proceed with his punishment which was to read. Jem had never viewed her from a different point of view. He always saw her as an old, ugly women and never imagined that ...

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