To kill a mockingbird

TKAM Literary Analysis

Throughout life, people face many troubles and obstacles that they must overcome. People take different approaches on certain obstacles. Some people choose to stand up for what they believe in, and some people chose to go with the flow. Anybody can choose to go with the flow and be a follower, but it takes courage and strength to be the one to take leadership andstand up for your beliefs. Many people decide to just be followers. In To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, many character such as Atticus, Scout, and Jem display such strength to be a leader and stand up even if they are in the minority.
Atticus Finch shows the most courage throughout the book, even if it's not obvious. "Atticus was leaving the post office when Mr.Ewell approached him, cursedhim, spat on him, and threatened to kill him."[...]"Atticus didn't bat an eye, just took out his handkerchief and wiped his face and stood there and let Mr.Ewell call him names wild horses could not bring her to repeat." (Lee 291) Atticus stands his ground, but doesn't do something that he would soon regret. This shows his courage and self-control, that he knows what's right and what hebelieves in, and won't let other people tell him any different. "With movements so swift they seemed simultaneous, Atticus's hand yanked a ball-tipped lever as he brought the gun to his shoulder. The rifle cracked. Tim Johnson leaped, flopped over and crumpled on the sidewalk in a brown-and-white heap. He didn't know what hit him." (Lee 127) This is where Atticus shows his physical courage by takingon a "mad dog". He knows that in order to keep his community safe, he has to kill Tim Johnson, so he did what is necessary. He also shows emotional strength throughout the story. " 'Cal', Atticus said, 'I want you to go with me out to Helen Robinson's house-' 'What's the matter?' Aunt Alexandra asked, alarmed by the look on my father's face. 'Tom's dead.' " (Lee 315) Atticus takes it uponhimself to notify Helen of her husband's death. Who want's to tell someone that? Nobody does, but Atticus has the courage to do it. These points prove what a courageous man Atticus is, and that courage seems to run in the family.
Scout shows a lot of leadership and bravery throughout the story, even though she is only a kid. She showed physical courage, but also emotional and mental courage thatshow signs a maturity. "She waited a few seconds, then called, 'Po-ork?' When nothing materialized, she yelled, 'Pork!' I must have heard her in my sleep, or the band playing Dixie woke me, but it was when Mrs.Merriweather triumphantly mounted the stage with the state flag that chose to make my entrance." (Lee 346) This is an examples of Scout maturing, and accepting the consequences of heractions. It takes courage to go out in front of all of those people being late. She also demonstrated physical courage. "I raised my head and stared at the Radley Place steps in front of me. I froze." (Lee 50) Although she was nervous, she had confronted her childhood nightmare and didn't die. Nothing happened to her, but she still demonstrated courage in the act. She shows self-control andcourage at home, too. "Francis grinned at me. 'You're mighty dumb sometimes Jean Louise. Guess you don't know any better, though.' 'What do you mean?' 'If Uncle Atticus lets you run around with stray dogs, that's his own business, like grandma says, so it ain't your fault. I guess it ain't your fault if Uncle Atticus is a nigger-lover, besides but I'm here to tell you it certainly mortifies therest of the family-" (Lee 110) It takes a lot of self-control to be able to stand there and listen to someone say such a thing about your father. I know Scout wants to hit him right then and there, but she doesn't. Scout proves that age doesn't matter when it comes to having courage. She's very young, but still very courageous.
Jem is also a great example that you don't have to be an adult...