The author of "To kill a mockingbird" is Harper Lee. The novel's central theme is prejudice, a significant problem in all societies of mixed races. The book is full of morals and lessons, which are taught by Atticus Finch, a noble and wise father to the children in the book. .
The book is based on the childhood of Jean-Louise Finch - also known as Scout - in 1932. We see how Atticus, her father closely guides Scout and her older brother Jem whenever they stumble upon a problem. In the small town of Maycomb these problems come from all sorts of incidents, resulting in many different lessons, each one as important as the next. .
Among these lessons they learn about true courage, how to respect who someone is, how easily people can be prejudice of and they come upon a severe case of injustice.
They come across the lesson of true courage after Jem is punished for destroying an elderly lady's garden. Mrs Dubose asks Jem to come and read to her everyday for a couple of hours. Scout goes too. They read to her until the alarm clock goes off and it's time for her medication as Mrs Dubose is unfortunately ill. However, the alarm goes off later and later each day and she is always having a fit by this time. She dies on the day that Jem reads to her last. Atticus tells Jem that she was a morphine addict, as she needed the painkillers to help her get through life due to her illness. She was getting her medication later and later as she wanted to stop the addiction before she died and fits were a result of this.
Mrs Dubose is undoubtedly brave. Her bravery and courage is shown because she went through so much to die the way she believed - free. Atticus tells Jem that Mrs Dubose "Wanted to die beholden to nothing and nobody" Mrs Dubose managed or as Atticus says she "won".
"It's when you know you"re licked but you see it through no matter what." .
Mrs Dubose's illness and addiction could have beaten or "licked" her but she was strong and determined.