They say it's a shame to kill a mockingbird because all they do is create music for us to listen to. In Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird there are characters such as a mockingbird who are harmed. A mockingbird was Tom Robinson and how he was accused of raping Bob Ewell's daughter, Mayella Ewell. Another mockingbird was Atticus Finch because all he did was find the good and believe what he thought no matter what anyone else said. Lee shows that the best lessons are often learned outside the classroom. Courage means overcoming obstacles to do what is right, Atticus is a generous person who is a great role model and knows courage. Atticus demonstrates courage every day of his life. Once, while Atticus was talking to Jem and Scout after telling the children that Mrs. Dubose was dead. He said true courage is "'It's when you know you're defeated before you start, but you start anyway and make it no matter what"' (Lee112). In this quote Atticus sets a great example of courage to Scout and Jem. When he talks about Mrs. Dubose. In the process he reminds himself why he took the Tom Robinson case, knowing he had no chance of winning. He knew that if he took the case he wouldn't be as close to his friends and neighbors until the trail was completed. In the end, Atticus stood up for what he thought was right against the common people, and that's true courage! Another character who shows courage by overcoming obstacles to do what is right is Mrs. Dubose. She had been sick for so long that she wanted the pain to go away, and once the pain was gone she abused the medicine. When Atticus explains this to the children, he says “'She said she would leave this world indebted to nothing or anyone. Jem, when you're sick as hell...middle of the paper...she appreciates it more,"' (Lee 69). Atticus knew that Miss Maudie loved that old oak rocking chair. Atticus puts himself in the situation of Miss Maudie and realizes that, of all things in her house, she would like to save her rocking chair because she considered it far more important than anything else in the burning house. The best lesson anyone can learn from is outside of school .on your own. Scout learns how to use empathy towards others and how he would feel if this happened to them. Scout also learns what courage is and how to use it to overcome obstacles also learns that if you hurt, hurt or kill a mockingbird it's a shame because mockingbirds don't do anything to hurt anyone, instead they make music for everyone to hear is why mockingbirds are a shame if you kill one, they are as if an innocent person were killed.