COURAGE

Many people, including Jem and Scout when they're young, mix up courage with strength. They think that courage is the ability and willingness to use strength to get your way. But Atticus defines courage as "when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what."

Courage, in To Kill a Mockingbird, is not about winning or losing. It's about thinking long and hard about what's right instead of relying on personal prejudice or gut reaction, and then doing what's right whether you win or lose. To Kill a Mockingbird is filled with examples of courage, from Mrs. Dubose's fight against her morphine addiction, to Atticus's determination to face down the racism of the town, to Mr. Underwood's willingness to face down his own racist feelings and support what he knows, in the end, is right.

-courage used to overcome childish fears like running past the Radley place

-Atticus' physical courage in facing the mad dog

-Scout shows courage when not retaliating to the taunts of her friends when they call Atticus names

-Atticus has the courage to defend Tom Robinson, which he knows will end in failure

-Mrs Dubose attempts to rid herself of her drug addiction even though she knows she will die, Atticus calls her "the bravest person" he knows.

-Bob Ewell shows no courage, he chooses to strike in the dark, rather than face them in daylight

-Boo Radley shows courage rescuing the children

To Kill a Mockingbird Themes