To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a classic coming-of-age novel about the very young protagonist, Scout, and her life in Alabama around time of the 1930s. Throughout this novel, Scout encounters many conflicts in her life, however these trials and tribulations help her become a very intelligent, charismatic, and kind person. Although Lee's novel focuses on Scout's life and the challenges she witnesses and faces, there are many minor characters who also face these same trials as well as many more difficult ones throughout the novel. Atticus, Mrs. Dubose, and Boo Radley are all examples of minor characters who become involved in inconvenient events and must face them with courage. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Atticus, being Scout's father, is one of the greatest and most important minor characters. He is one of the few important role models in Scout's life who teaches her all the necessary lessons she needs to grow, including some about courage. However, Atticus' courage is shown in a very different way than Scout's. While to be brave, Scout stands up to Aunt Alexandra by refusing to wear pants, or will defend Atticus' name by starting fights at school, Atticus is brave by not only taking Tom Robinson's case, but doing his best to help him too . . In 1930s Alabama, a white man helping a black man is tantamount to committing a crime, and even though Atticus is a well-known and respected lawyer, much of the town turns against him after he decides to help Tom. Scout overhears some of the townspeople speaking before the trial, saying, "'you know the court appointed Atticus to defend this nigger.' “Yes, but Atticus wants to defend him. That's what I don't like'” (Lee 218). Atticus is showing his courage by going against what his society thinks and defending a black man because he really wants to step further when a mob of citizens joins in and descends on the prison cell Tom is in and beats him up Atticus shows his courage when he descends into the prison and waits for the mob outside Tom's cell Once they arrive, Atticus stays calm, his only response is "'Tom's sleeping. Don't wake him up." Even though most of Maycomb is against him throughout the entire endeavor, Atticus stays true to his mind, remaining brave and helping Tom as much as he can. Dubose's appearance in To Kill a Mockingbird is abrupt and harsh, but it leaves a major impact on Scout and the rest of the story's plot. When Mrs. Dubose is first introduced, she yells and criticizes Jem and Scout, and seems like a mean old woman. However, later, after Jem is forced to read to Mrs. Dubose every day for some time, Mrs. Dubose dies and Atticus reveals to Jem and Scout how brave Mrs. Dubose truly was. Old Mrs. Dubose was addicted to painkillers and became ill, but promised herself to break the painkiller habit and die free “as the mountain air.” Mrs. Dubose was a woman in the novel who didn't listen to anyone else, but didn't behave radically; Mrs. Dubose “died indebted to nothing and no one,” sticking to her opinions and dealing with all the pain she faced. According to Atticus, he was the bravest person he had ever known, and coming from a Southern white man in the 1930s, that means a lot. The bravest character, but also the one we see least, in the novel is Boo Radley. . Boo Radley is a recluse, he doesn't leave his house and doesn't maintain contact with anyone other than his own.