This quote comes at the end of Chapter Eleven. In the chapter, Atticus tells Jem the real reason he had him read to Mrs. Dubose. When the elderly woman was alive, she was a morphine addict. Towards the end of her life, she fought an excruciating mental and emotional battle to overcome her addiction. Because she died victorious in her quest, Mrs. Dubose will always be a 'great lady' in Atticus' mind.
Jem isn't too...
This quote comes at the end of Chapter Eleven. In the chapter, Atticus tells Jem the real reason he had him read to Mrs. Dubose. When the elderly woman was alive, she was a morphine addict. Towards the end of her life, she fought an excruciating mental and emotional battle to overcome her addiction. Because she died victorious in her quest, Mrs. Dubose will always be a 'great lady' in Atticus' mind.
Jem isn't too thrilled at Atticus' verdict of Mrs. Dubose's character; he still remembers all the vitriol the old lady hurled at Atticus when she was alive. However, Atticus counters with the above quote; he maintains that courage isn't always evident and overt. Someone with a gun isn't necessarily brave; intrinsically, courage is a mental decision unrelated to the amount of firepower at one's disposal. Mrs Dubose exhibited this truth magnificently when she fought courageously through overwhelming physical and mental pain to overcome her crippling addiction to a powerful drug.
The above quote is also significant in that it highlights Atticus' own courage when he later represents Tom Robinson, a black man, in court. Like Mrs. Dubose, Atticus lives the courage of his convictions without apology. Despite his community's anger and disapproval, he fights to acquit Tom. The above quote supports the theme of courage or grace under fire; both Mrs. Dubose and Atticus display great courage in spite of insurmountable challenges. They live 'beholden to nothing and nobody' and their lives are a demonstration of their true characters.
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