Courage Found In Those Labelled Weak: Various Works Essay

Courage Found In Those Labeled Weak

One October day, my cousins and I decided to go on a camping trip in Hocking Hills. It was a lovely day; the foliage could not have been more beautiful. While hiking one day, my cousins and I were so mesmerized by the woods exquisite beauty around us that we were completely oblivious to an enormous ditch ahead of us. The next moment, we realized we were all on top of each other in a ditch that was 15 feet below the ground. The one who did not fall in was my youngest cousin, Bill. He was a scrawny, weak, young boy who was often the punch line in our family's jokes. We had no faith in him to save us; we all thought we would never escape. To make matters worse, a bear approached our way. The five of us had backpacks full of honey and fish from our camping trip, causing us to be the perfect victims. Suddenly, Billy fought off the bear and used the dead body to help us get out of the ditch. Bill is a fine example of courage coming from those labeled weaker by fighting off the bear and coming to save us even though we treated him with no respect. Besides my own life, the theme of courage is shown in Antigone, by Sophocles, and To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. The theme of courage can be found as well in American history in World War II when the African Americans proved themselves as fighters and workersas well as the women; and also in world history when Mandela risked his life for his true morals. Finally, the theme of courage reoccurres in sports when Jimmy Braddock, during the Great Depression made his comeback in the ring and in the home.

The theme of courage shown in those labeled weaker is shown in Antigone when

Antigone goes against the kings rule to bury her brother honorably and when Ismene comes to take the blame for her sisters disobedience. Antigonein the story Antigoneplays a sister who has just found out her two brothers have died in a civil war. Because the king favors one brother over the otherdue to him fighting in his armyhe orders him a proper burial, whereas the other brother is to be left to rot. The kings order appalls Antigone, for she cannot understand how he too could not die in an honorable way. She knows the consequences if she tries to bury her brother: This is no idle threat; the punishment for disobedience is death by stoning, so now you know. And now is the time to show whether or not you are worthy of your high blood (Sophocles 3). Despite this order, Antigone is ready to go bury her brother herself. In the story, she asks her sister, Ismene, if she will go along and helpbut offers quickly rejected, for Ismene is too afraid of the crucial punishment. When Antigone finally comes to accept that she will be doing it alone, she does not give up her intentions. Antigone displays courage because she has full knowledge of the consequences if she is to perform the burial herself, yet does not change her motive. Also, Antigone is just a young woman who has no noble power, causing the king to look upon her as inferior. While Antigone buries her brother, she is caught by the kings watchmen and is taken to court. It is there that Antigone takes the blame and does not regret any of her actions to the king. While speaking, she is abruptly interrupted by her sister Ismene: I did ityesif she will let me say so. I am as much to blame as she is (Sophocles 5). Antigone is shocked by her sisters behavior, as well as surprised, but she tells the court that the testimonial is false and it is only she who did the burial. Ismene represents courage from within the weak because earlier in the story she is very nervous, and is scared to go against the kings orders. She shoes courage, however, in order to save her sister.

In To Kill a Mockingbird, the theme of courage coming from those who are seen as being weaker is displayed in various incidentswhen Boo Radley saves Jem and Scout and when Scout stands up and speaks out to the men who were out to lynch Tom Robinson. In Chapter 28, Jem and Scout are walking through the dense forest behind their towns elementary school after a holiday production for the town by the local kids. Scout, who is in the pageant, is wearing an awkward ham costume that obstructes her visionit is not clear in the woods to begin with. She is nervous, for it is late and eerie outside. Swearing that she keeps hearing noises around her, Jem keeps reassuring her that they are fine. Suddenly, the two are both attacked. Scout is lying helplessly, struggling to get up with the costume hindering her ability to see as the anonymous assaulter repeatedly attacks Jem. Scout is told to run back to the house by the abused brother. However, as she does, a man unexpectedly comes and fights off the assaulter to help Jem. When they reach the house, Scout comes to the realization that the hero is in fact Arthur Boo Radley, the man they are terrified of while growing up: His lips parted into a timid smile, and our neighbors image blurred with my sudden tears. Hey, Boo I said (Lee 270). As a child, he is extremely bright, but was emotionally abused by his father, causing him to never come out of his house. Putting his life on the line for children he barely knows, and gaining the confidence to step out of his house for them demonstrates courage. Jean Scout Finch also displays courage coming from within one who was once viewed as weak. One night, during Tom Robinsons court trials, Atticus Finch decides to camp outside the jailhouse to protect Robinson. Scout, Jem, and Dill are hiding in a distanceafter sneaking outto see what he is doing. While watching from afar, they see a mob form outside the doors that Atticus was guarding, trying to lynch the innocent negro. Scout, Jem, and Dill all approach the scene to see what was going on. There is when they come to the understanding of what the reality is behind their fathers case. Realizing the tension, Scout tries to lighten the mood by starting up a conversation with a familiar face: Atticus had said it was the polite thing to talk to people about what they were interested in, not about what you were interested in. Mr. Cunningham displayed no interest in his son, so I tackled his entailment once more in a last-ditch effort to make him feel at home (Lee 153) Scouts courage to speak up ended up spilling a tremendous amount of guilt of the mob and led them to all go home, potentially saving her fathers and Toms life, while being just a child.

Other than literature, the theme of courage being found in those labeled weaker can be found in American history through the African Americans and Women during the time of World War II. Women during World War II stepped out of their comfort zone as the stereotypical wife and mother, and opened up the world of combat to the females forever. Outside of being a homemaker, women rarely ever workedunless they were young and single. Through many protest and organizations, women worked their way into auxiliary corps. For many however, that was not enoughsome wanted to be in the actual army and face the enemy. The government over time allowed it to happen and women worked their way into the official army of the United States of America.

Not only did the women of World War II show courage, but also the African Americans. At the time of the World Wars, the African Americans faced harsh segregation, even in combat. In a country that showed no respect for their own people, the African Americas still gave everything they had in the war to fight their own civil battle. Saunders Redding, an African American writer, helped gain support:

We know that whatever the mad logic of [Hitlers] New Order is theres no hope for us under it. The ethnic theories of Hitler Master folk admit of no chance of freedom. This is a war to keep [people] free. The struggle

to broaden and lengthen the road to freedomour own private and important war to enlarge freedom here in Americawill come laterI believe in this war because I believe in America, I believe what America professes to stand for. (Appleby 952)

In the war, the men proved themselves as true fighters in their repartee unit, known as the Tuskegee Airmen. They received much recognition and started to break the bonds between the races: Although the military did not end all segregation, during the war it did integrate military bases in 1943 and steadily expanded the role of African Americans within the armed forces(Appleby 896). Back at home, the factories were in a crisis from losing all its men and had no choice but to turn to the women of the country. These ladies had no experience, but seized the opportunity for the sake of their families and their country. Another group that took the courage to stand up and work for themselves were the African Americans. Back then, they barely received the chance to apply for jobs. However, when the men left for war, many African American families moved towards the Norths industrial cities; this movement was known as the Great Migration. They were denied jobs in the beginning; segregation stalled their ability to be hired. However, the fight for them was not overAfrican Americans threw rallies, protest, and marches to gain support for their proposition. Their hard work paid off in 1941, when President Roosevelt signed the Executive Order 8802 that began to change ways for the lives for all who were discriminated against in the country: There hall be no discrimination in the employment for workers in the defense industries because of race, creed, color, or nothing origin (Appleby 567). Though discriminated against, the African Americans had courage and worked their way to prove themselves as good worked just as any other citizen of their country.

The theme of courage was also shown in world history when Nelson Mandela tried to resist the apartheid in his country of South Africa and when he stuck to his morals throughout life in prison. Nelson Mandela grew up hearing about segregation in South Africa and knew he had to make a difference: Hearing the elders stories of his ancestors valor during the wars of resistance in defense of their fatherland, he dreamed also of making his own contribution to the freedom struggle of his people (Biography of Nelson Mandela 3). And he did; when he was in his twenties he joined the newly formed ANCAfrican National Congress- in 1942. Mandela proved his commitment to the board leaders and helped out with the ANCYLAfrican National Congress Youth League. By 1952, Mandela was the president of the ANCYL and of the ANC. There, he planned his trips around the country to organize civil disobedience. Throughout that time, he was jailed various times and faced plenty of judges. By 1960, the ANC was banned from South Africa. He was detained for that following year. After however, he continued the fight for his race. In 1962, Mandela fled the country illegally to Algeria for his own military training and for his members, to help build up an army. Upon his return, he was arrested for leaving the country and incitement of strike: He was convicted and jailed for 5 years in November 1962. While serving his sentence he was charged in the Rivoral trial with sabotage and sentenced to life imprisonment (Biography of Nelson Mandela 4). Mandela spent 27 years in jail, but he never contradicted his beliefs in spite of his imprisonment. From jail, he was still changing the world: Robben Island, where he was imprisoned, became a centre for learning, and Mandela was a central figure in the organised political education classes (Biography of Nelson Mandela 3). By the 11th of February in 1990, he was finally liberated and freed from life in prison. On May 11th, 1994, he was the first democratically elected president of South Africa. Mandela showed courage coming from a weaker link because he was looked as inferior to the Afrikaners and British who ran his country. Though not giving up, he fought for his fellow Africans to obtain the justice they deserved.

Jimmy Braddock, a successful boxer, is a clear example of the theme that courage is often found in those labeled weak. Jimmy Braddock was born and raised in New York City. Known for his powerful right hand swing, he became pro in 1924. Success and fame followed him as his name became well known. However, while fighting for the world title of light heavyweight champ, he lost against Tommy Lougran. After, he badly fractured his right hand in many places. Following that fight, he kept losing his matches and was eventually kicked out of the ring by his own manager. Unfortunately, it was at the same time as the Great Depression. He went to work at the docks as a longshoreman-- the pay wasn't significant for him and his family. Embarrassed and ashamed, James turned to government relief money. As time went on, he became significantly stronger in his left hand from his job then he ever was in his right. Braddock knew the fight for a title wasn't over:

In 1934, due to a last minute cancellation, Braddock was given the opportunity to fight John "Corn" Griffin on the under-card fight for that evening's heavyweight championship fight between Max Baer and Primo Carnera. To the amazement of everyone, he went on to upset Griffin with a third round knockout. (The Man 2)

Braddock had the courage to go and fight back into the ring after being at his lowest points of his life, for his family and to himself, and went on to succeed at earning the world title for light heavyweight champion of the world.

This essay has shown that the theme of courage occurs in literature, history, and sportsas well as my own life. Seeing my cousin who was often the center of our jokes save us without holding any grudges demonstrated true courage. In Antigone, Antigone's family showed courage for one another from their infinite love . Scout, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radely are all courageous, brave characters who were all at one point labeled or looked down upon as weak. The women and African American's worked their way through segregation and discriminated in American history. Nelson Mandela kept the fight for freedom during his weakest points in his life while sentenced life in prison, and never compromised his beliefs. Braddock kept the fight up in the boxing ring and at home despite the times and troubles he and his family were facing, and ended up victorious in the end.