"To go against the dominant thinking of your friends, of most of the people you see everyday, is perhaps the most difficult act of heroism you can perform."
             This perfectly describes various characters in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. The novel relives the life of an eight year old girl named Scout, in a county called Maycomb. She goes through and deals with obstacles while trying to learn from her father, Atticus, and her experiences. Throughout the novel, the people around Scout, including herself, demonstrate significant acts of courage. Because of those characters, Harper Lee illustrates courage as doing what is right while facing the challenges and sacrifices made through her characters' dialogue and actions, and symbols.
             Throughout the novel, Harper Lee's characters perform many different acts of courage. Atticus is one character that demonstrates one of the acts of courage. Regardless of what society will think or say, Atticus defends the Negro man, Tom Robinson, when he is accused of having carnal knowledge of a white woman. During that time, society thought associating with the African-American community was unacceptable because they do not have the same color skin. Atticus also helps Tom Robinson by watching guard of the jailhouse when Tom moves to the city jailhouse. While the men of Maycomb County want to execute Tom, Atticus confronts them, while trying to stop them from hurting Tom, risking himself to protect another. Mrs. Dubose, an old lady, who lives next to Scout, is another inspiring character because of her one, true courageous act. Mrs. Dubose is a morphine addict, and is going to pass away shortly. She decides since she is going to die she should do so peacefully and cleanly, without the morphine, even though it would be painful and intricate for her. Knowing the society's attitude, they would have never acted the sa
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