Theme of Cowardice in To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Example

To Kill a Mockingbird was published on July 11, 1960, by Harper Lee and became an instant classic read by schools across the country today. The Novel takes place during the great depression and follows Jean Louise ‘Scout’ Finch as she watches a racist and unjust rape trial against Tom Robinson, a black man. Throughout the novel, Harper Lee depicts what it is to be cowardice and how that is an unacceptable and repulsive way to live. She expresses the idea of cowardice through the people in Scout’s hometown: Maycomb. She shows the opposite of cowardice with Atticus Finch, Scout’s father, and depicts the true meaning of cowardice through Bob Ewell, Mayella’s father, and the real person behind Tom Robinson’s case. 

To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama. It’s made up of cityfolk and farmers, who live further away from the town. No matter who they are or where they come from, the majority of people in Maycomb can’t stand up for what’s right or what they believe in. After the Tom Robinson trial ended, Scout described, “The kitchen was loaded with enough food to bury the family” (22.24). The citizens of Maycomb appreciated what Atticus did for Tom, but despite this gesture, none of them did anything to help when Tom’s life was still at risk. They called Atticus nasty names and acted as bystanders during the unjust trial. Some of the Maycomb citizens were so cowardly about doing the right thing, that they made certain situations worse. In the situation of Boo Radley, Scout stated, “Although the culprit was Crazy Addie, people still looked at the Radley Place, unwilling to discard their initial suspicions” (1.44). Their prejudice and unjust fear of the Radleys created a reputation for Boo who did not deserve to be judged the way he was. This is a prime example of how the citizens of Maycomb are cowardly in doing the right thing, and how that easily affects others. 

Instead of just showing what it means to be cowardice, Harper Lee also displayed the exact opposite through Atticus Finch. Atticus displayed what true courage and morals looks like and even taught that to Scout and Jem. Atticus represented Tom Robinson during his case, despite all the risks- because it was the right thing to do. In chapter 15, Tom Robinson’s employer Link Deas states, “You’ve got everything to lose from this, Atticus. I mean everything” (15.20). Atticus knew the stakes of taking this case. Despite this and what everyone thought of him, he took the case anyway. He stood up and fought when no one else would, because Tom Robinson deserved justice. When Scout asked why he decided to defend Tom Robinson, Atticus stated, “For a number of reasons. . . . The main one is, if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again” (9.17). Atticus has a strong sense of justice and honor, he felt that if he didn’t do the right thing, but held his children to do so, he would be a hypocrite, which to Atticus- is dishonorable and unacceptable. Atticus isn’t afraid to stick with his values and what's right, despite the people of the 1930’s telling him he’s wrong.

Bob Ewell is the embodiment of a coward and a horrible person. After he caught his daughter forcing herself on Tom Robinson, he beat her and to cover this fact, he unjustly had Tom Robinson taken to court for rape. This is clear through the evidence Atticus revealed and the body language of the people in the movie adaptation. Scout stated, “Mr. Ewell could have beaten up Mayella. That much I could follow. If her right eye was blacked… it would tend to show that a left handed person did it” (17.159). By revealing the true story, we learn just how cowardly Bob Ewell is. He was afraid of anyone finding out about what he or Mayella did, so he threatened someone’s life to cover up what actually happened. He doesn’t care that Tom is kind, gentle, or most of all, innocent- all he cares about is that Tom knows the truth, he is black and can be easily tried against. Bob doesn’t care about Tom, Mayella, or anyone else- he just cares about himself. Harper Lee wrote, “Mr. Ewell approached him, cursed him, spat on him, and threatened to kill him. Miss Stephanie said Atticus didn’t bat an eye” (23.1), and later, in chapter 29, Sheriff Heck Tate said, “...wasn’t crazy- mean as hell. Low down skunk with enough liquor in him to make him brave enough to kill children” (29.31). Bob Ewell winning the case against Tom Robinson wasn’t enough. He still felt the need to attack Atticus and try to kill his children. This is because Bob Ewell is cowardly. He was so afraid of getting caught that he pointed to an innocent black man he knew couldn’t beat him in court. He was so afraid when Atticus revealed what could have actually happened to Mayella, and he got angry. It didn’t matter that Tom already died or that he won the case, because for a second during the trial- Bob Ewell was scared. Famous playwright, George Bernard Shaw stated, “Hatred is the coward’s revenge for being intimidated” Bob was afraid of Atticus and what he could do, and that turned into rage. So much so, that he tried to kill Atticus’ children. Bob Ewell is selfish, angry, evil, and most of all, a coward. 

Throughout the entirety of To Kill a Mockingbird, cowardice is depicted as something to be frowned upon, while characters like Atticus, Scout, Jem, Tom, and Judge Taylor showed what it means to be brave; what is means to stand tall and fight, even when no one else will. On page 128, Atticus tells Jem, “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” (11). Harper Lee teaches the audience about ethics, and the courage it takes to stand up for what’s right. This is a major theme in To Kill a Mockingbird, producing a message that still has extraordinary impacts today.