regularly shown, such as running past the Radley place. “Jem said that all Dill had to do if he wanted to get himself killed, all he had to do was go up and knock on the front door.” Atticus also shows this type of physical courage regardless of his age, when he faces the mad dog out in the street. “Atticus’s hand yanked a ball tipped lever as he bought the gun to his shoulder.” In her own way Scout shows her own different type of courage, when she “keeps her fists down” by not retaliating when her friends call her father names due to his upcoming trial regarding Tom Robinson. An Example of this “moral” Courage is when Scout face Cecil Jacobs in the school yard, he instinctive reaction is to fight back but, swallowing her pride she obeys her father’s wishes. “Atticus had promised me he would never wear me out if he ever heard of my fighting any more.” A weakness is shown in Jem’s character when he fails to obtain that type of courage. This is during chapter 11, when he retaliates to Mrs Dubose’s comments about his father. Both Jem and Scout show a great deal of respect towards Atticus, and when Jem fails his father regarding the damage done to Mrs Dubose’s garden. He feels that it must of be put right even though part of him believes her to be a bad woman and so, does not regret what he has done. “I cleaned it up for her and said I was sorry but I ain’t.” The third and final lesson of courage is the most difficult. This is to have the ability to take on a task even though it is certain to end in failure in the foreseeable future. The most obvious example of this is Atticus’s trail defending Tom Robinson. Atticus shows considerable courage and bravery in defending him knowing that the outcome of the trail will more than likely be unjust. “ I couldn’t hold my head up in town if I didn’t agree to defend him.&...
