“I wanted you to see what real courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.” – Harper Lee, "To KIll a Mockingbird," p. 112.
"To Kill A Mockingbird" (TKAM) by Harper Lee is built around the thematic thread of Courage versus Cowardice. Courage versus Cowardice leaves a lasting value on this work of merit that compliments it like no other. Of course "TKAM" is built around numerous themes, but to me Courage versus Cowardice is unlike any other. In "TKAM," courage isn’t just physical bravery, but it also requires mental toughness.
What about cowardice? In chapter 10, Atticus uses a gun to kill a mad dog named Tim Johnson that no one could or would kill. To Jem and Scout this is courage. To Atticus, this is not. So, with Atticus being who he is, he intended to exhibit real courage to his children, so they wouldn’t grow up with the wrong idea. Atticus wanted to show Jem and Scout real courage as opposed to what they’d been exposed to that silent day in the street. Jem retaliates to the insults of Mrs. Dubose by destroying her flowers. In consequence of his immature actions, he is sentenced to read to her. While at this point Jem believes this is a pointless punishment, it’s not until after Mrs. Dubose dies that he fully understands what Atticus was trying to show him. Atticus didn’t use himself as an example of real courage. He wanted Jem and Scout to experience courage on their own.
This brings me to chapter 15 and the passage that begins with, “It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin…” As you continue reading, you will come across a case against a Negro man named Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson is accused of raping a white woman named Mayella Ewell. Atticus Finch is the attorney that everybody knows and respects around town. He is the attorney appointed to the case, and he takes it.
What about courage? Atticus knows everyone in Maycomb will disagree with his decision to defend Tom Robinson, a Negro man, in the case against Mayella Ewell and Bob Ewell: “… but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.” Atticus has grown up with the farmers in the county. Although they have disagreed with his decision to defend Tom Robinson, they have begun to come against him. He continues to finish what he’s started, by defending Tom that night on the jailhouse steps when the mob of farmers comes to slaughter him. The correspondence linking such powerful scenes shows the lasting value of this work. Atticus believes that people, Mrs. Dubose as an example, will say any and all things to get you down and keep you down if you oppose what they believe is right. Prejudice is a pollution that has contaminated everyone, from the adults down to the younger children, in Maycomb County. Jem and Scout are being raised around cowardice exhibited by the actions of their neighbors, such as Mr. Raymond. Mr. Raymond pretends to be an alcoholic by carrying around a paper bag with Coca-Cola inside in order to let the town exercise his choice to marry a black woman. Mr. Raymond knows his lifestyle will not be accepted by his surrounding neighbors, so instead of standing up for what he believes in, he’d rather pretend. Atticus, on the other hand, is teaching his children to treat everyone equally. Atticus wants his children to walk in another man’s skin.
One day during class, Scout notices this when learning about the Holocaust. Her teacher explains that such oppression of one group of people could never happen in the United States and Scout is shocked. She heard Miss Gates outside the courthouse during Tom Robinson's trial saying that she thought it was, "time somebody taught them a lesson, they thought they was getting' way above themselves, an' the next thing they think they can do is marry us." Scout sees Miss Gates' statement about blacks in clear conflict with her statement about the equality in America. Atticus wants his children to experience firsthand what it feels like to be in a truly democratic country. Atticus wants his children to bring change upon the generation that’s coming in the near future and to not be afraid of taking a stand. He has high hopes that the teachings he’s instilled in Jem and Scout will change Maycomb as a whole and that the ones who have something to say will stand up with courage and make a change.
Misjudging people is a known disease in this county of Maycomb. Everyone knows it is wrong and inhumane, but no one will stand up and make a change. Two little children raised by their father are taught that it’s not what you look like on the outside, it’s who you are on the inside. In Maycomb county, that’s not the case. But it’s up to them to change it.
The literary device in "To Kill A Mockingbird" that works well with Courage versus Cowardice is opposition. An example of the use of opposition would be childhood and maturity. I say childhood because when Atticus killed the mad dog, Jem and Scout believed that was courage, but they didn't yet know the meaning behind such a word. As time progresses, Jem finally understands. The idea of maturity is captured the following way: During the Tom Robinson case, Jem and Scout are exposed to the reality of Maycomb county and its disease. As the case begins to conclude, Scout asks Jem a question that upsets him. It is then that Jem begins to comprehend actuality and what Atticus was teaching him not to do. He is forced to come to terms with the trial and forced to ease the unfairness of it all. Atticus explains to Scout that you never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view — until you climb into his skin and walk around in it. For Atticus, climbing into someone’s skin and walking around in it represents true courage.
Courage is an important literary device in "TKAM." One likes to think a hero is strong, brave, and can meet all challenges head-on. All of the characters have a different view as to what courage is, and they all show it a different way; however, they do show courage in their everyday lives. Jem and Scout see the physical aspect of courage, whereas Atticus believes this to be an extremely weak form of courage. He believes in the mental quality of courage; he admires Mrs. Dubose for her attempt to rid herself from some of the evil that still grasped at her life as she died.
Having your whole life known as a lie? Putting on a front in front of others is not what you are supposed to do. If you run, you will continue to run — run into time.
