The clearest example of emotional courage throughout the novel takes place in Chapter 11. Mrs. Dubose, the community's most outspoken racist, upsets Jem as he is walking past her home, prompting him to destroy her camellia bush. Jem's punishment is to read to Mrs. Dubose every day, except for Sunday, for two hours for a full month. Shortly after Jem's punishment is over, Mrs. Dubose passes away. Atticus tells his children that Mrs. Dubose was the bravest person he'd ever met because she chose to break her addiction to morphine before she died. Atticus explains that Mrs. Dubose suffered from a chronic illness, and the morphine numbed her pain. She told him that "she was going to leave this world beholden to nothing and nobody" (Lee 69). Jem's reading occupied Mrs. Dubose for a long enough time to take her mind off of the pain, and she eventually was able to break her addiction. Mrs. Dubose displayed emotional courage and resolve by enduring the pain to die free from addiction.
Another scene throughout the novel that depicts emotional courage takes place in Chapter 20 when Atticus addresses the jury during his closing remarks. Atticus courageously challenges Maycomb's prejudice by revealing the truth and commenting on their systemic racist beliefs. By defending Tom Robinson, Atticus knows that he is alienating himself from his community members, but he chooses to do the right thing and follow his conscience.
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