To Kill A Mockingbird Essay On Courage

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Courage is an attribute that few people possess, and most long to have. Courage is the ability to stand up for what is right in the face of adversity. Without men having courage, evil will always triumph. As Edmund Burke said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” Later, Einstein would repeat this in reference to Adolf Hitler. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus portrayed his courage time and time again throughout the novel. He showed his bravery and will to do what was right when he took the Tom Robinson case. Tom was a negro (sic) man accused of raping the daughter of Mr. Ewell. Atticus took the case because he needed to uphold his sense of justice and self-respect to model for his children. Since the story took place in the thirties, racism was heavily prevalent and even children as young as six use the “n” word. Atticus was a lawyer and when word got around town that he planned to defend Tom to the best of his abilities, the town turned on Atticus like a pack of wolves. He…show more content…
In the film, Mrs. Dubose was present for all of thirty seconds. She was a flat character who’s only purpose was being the mean old lady in the neighborhood. The scene she was in had the kids run past her while she heckled them, and into Atticus’ arms. Atticus strolled up to her porch and made small talk, and called her a “picture.” Scout and Jem joked behind his back, and Scout retorted, “He never says a picture o’ what.” Atticus swatted at her behind his back with his hat. Although Mrs. Dubose brightened up a little when Atticus was polite. That is all of Mrs. Dubose’s screen time. Jem didn’t destroy her garden and have to read to her as punishment. It is never revealed that she was a morphine addict, and the viewer never finds out if she dies. That one short scene is the only mention of Mrs.
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