I think that there are four main themes in the book "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee. These being; Benevolence; Predujice; Innocence; and most of all, courage. I believe that courage definitely plays a major role as a theme in scenes througout this novel. For a younger child though, like Scout, courage is most often associated with some type of physical act, which involves danger. It is difficult for younger children to grasp the concept that greater courage is most often required in other aspects of life. Scout learns that the greatest courage can be found in a situation where a person knows that they are going to lose, yet still continues to fight the battle.
"I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that
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."
Screenshot of To Kill a Mockingbird(an American mo...
President George W. Bush awards the Presidential M...
Film producer Alan J. Pakula with Lee; Lee spent t...Chapter 11, Page 124.
Harper Lee portrays the idea of courage by first having Scout observe her father perform a physical act of courage when he shoots the mad dog. Although Atticus didn't consider the act very courageous and was completely uninterested in proving anyhting to his children, Jem and Scout were proud of, and impressed by, his courage in such a precarious situation. But shooting something wasn't really Atticus' idea of courage. He viewed courage on more of an intellectual leve, as a moral thing, not as something that can be proved with a weapon.
Scout and Jem then encounter the seemingly vindictiveness of Mrs Dubose.
"Your father's no better than the niggers and trash he works for!" Chapter 11, Page 113
When Mrs Dubose bad-mouthed Atticus, Jem decided that the bet way...