‘It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived.’ (Chapter 11, p 111)
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Discuss the various ways in which Harper Lee explores the concept of courage in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird.
One of the central issues in Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird is the idea of courage and the very different ways it can be displayed. As each character face their own journeys with courage, not only does the reader learn that even the smallest, most subtle acts of courage make a difference, but Scout and Jem’s idea of true courage is challenged as their minds mature and develop. Atticus and Mrs Dubose play a large part in this for Jem, as he distinguishes the difference between physical courage and emotional courage; while the court case of Tom Robinson teaches Scout how moral courage is sometimes hard to find in Maycomb, however it is the most important type of courage to have.
Firstly, during the orientation of the novel Scout and Jem both have an attitude that the only form of courage is physical; as in being able to use a gun or win a fight. Jem believes that Atticus is less of other fathers as ‘He did not do the things our schoolmates’ fathers did: he never went hunting, he did not play poker or fish or drink or smoke. He sat in the livingroom and read’ – in short, believing Atticus was lacking courage. Atticus somewhat reaches his son’s expectations when he shoots a feral dog, which is shocking to the children who are left in awe of their father’s hidden talent. Overall Atticus is a very courageous man in many ways, and this event is a major milestone in which his children first see him in that light. Furthermore, when the children recollect their fathers distaste for guns do they realise the extent of the courageous act, as in pushing