There are various ways people define what courage is. It could be public speaking or saving a life. Many people believe that courage means risking one life to save another. Soldiers are also considered synonymous with courage. However, not everyone saves a life or gives a speech every day. But what is the true definition of courage? In the book To kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee courage is: "When you know you've been hit before you start, but you start anyway and keep going no matter what." (Lee pg.149) This quote defines what true courage is. Mrs. Dubose, Boo Radley, and Atticus show courage and teach others a lesson on how to be courageous in a civilized manner. They all knew that they had a high probability of losing compared to their goals, yet they tried their hardest without ever giving in to the pressure. Dubose, for example, wanted to correct his defect before he died. To Jem and Scout she was a wicked, wicked witch. Every time they passed her house she insulted and taunted them. He criticized how Scout is unladylike and how Atticus is a disgrace and a nigger lover for protecting Tom Robinson. When her insults finally reached Jem, he flew into a rage and destroyed all his camellia bushes in anger. As punishment, Jem was forced to go read to her and Scout accompanied him. There they discovered that Mrs. Dubose was addicted to morphine. ""Mrs. Dubose was a morphine addict," Atticus said. "She took it as a painkiller for years.(147) "She was in the last stages of her cancer and didn't have much time left. She could have continued taking the morphine until to death, but instead wanted to get rid of it and die clean, without her flaw. Mrs. Dubose used Jem's reading to distract herself from the pain. “No, sir,” said Jem, “but it's so bad. She... middle of paper... remained locked in his house and he became very weak. So there was a good chance that he could have been seriously injured, but he still intervened to save his beloved children. Furthermore, Boo knew that his act of courage would take away the reclusive life he was leading. “When I pointed at him, his palms slipped slightly, leaving streaks of greasy sweat on the wall, and he hooked his thumbs into his belt. (pg. 362)” This quote illustrates Boo’s utter terror of being noticed. Being the savior of Atticus' children would bring him into the limelight of the town. Everyone would want to talk to him and all the ladies in town would leave food on his porch steps. All this sudden attention would drive Boo crazy. He has been missing from society for seven years and could not respond with his sudden fame. This is true courage, Boo saved lives knowing everything he had was at stake.