The most obvious example of courage is conveyed through the novel’s chief protagonist, Atticus Finch. He is brave in both a physical sense, and also strong in an ethical and emotional sense. Despite being nearly fifty years old (“Atticus was feeble…..our father didn’t do anything” [p.95]), Atticus shows he is still as courageous as any man. Firstly, he displays his boldness by facing Tim Johnson, a crazy dog on a wild rampage. Next, he confronts an entire “mob” of angry men intent of hurting him and the man he is protecting (“You know what we want…..get aside from the door, Mr Finch” [p.157]). Finally, he stands up to Bob Ewell, a maniac with a bad reputation, who had vowed to kill him (“Too proud to fight, you n

Another character which secretly holds courage within is Arthur Radley. After being sentenced to prison, and locked up in the house for thirty years by his father, Arthur is shrouded in mystery. He is nicknamed “Boo Radley” by children and is the last person in the world expected to be courageous. Boo Radley is a free spirit, he is not mad as his parents think, nor is he bizarre as the townsfolk believe. People are frightened of the unknown, and immediately stay away. (”Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall, he ate raw squirrels and cats, his eyes popped and he drooled most of the time…..splashing against the screen were Boo Radley’s insane fingers” [p.19]) However, he is actually a gentle, kind (puts blanket on Scout) and compassionate (sews up Jem’s pants) man, merely misunderstood. He has enough courage to defy his brother Nathan and attempt to communicate with the outside world, a world which doesn’t understand him, a world that considers him crazy. Although he is fragile (“He almost whispered it, in the voice of a child afraid of the dark.” [p.284]), in the end, he sums up enough courage to leave the house, just in time to save Scout and Jem from the evil clutches of Bob Ewell.

Some topics in this essay:
Mayella Ewell, Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, HARPER LEE, Boo Radley’s, Bob Ewell, Jem Scout, Ewell Finally, Dolphus Raymond, Scout Jem’s, tom robinson, bob ewell, stand believes, atticus finch, maycomb county, moral values, arthur radley, jem scout, “white” person, courage tolerance,