"Courage is not an absence of fear. It is doing what you are afraid to do. It is having the power to abandon familiar and move towards new territory. ~John Maxwell. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout (Jean Louise Finch), Jem (Jeremy Atticus Finch), and Atticus Finch demonstrate acts of bravery that contribute to, and in some cases encourage, their righteousness. Harper Lee demonstrates that acting courageously can lead to improved, sustained, or newly developed personal integrity. Jean Louise Finch responds to her own acts of courage by finding her right moral foundation. The Finch girl intervened in a potentially violent conflict between Atticus and a group of male residents of Maycomb. Scout approached the conflict scared and decided to intervene anyway, mistaking her courage for madness. Jean Louise later comes to believe that acting with courage is not acting without fear, but rather facing it knowing the possible consequences. John resolved the conflict by renewing their sense of integrity. By reminding the resident (Mr. Cunningham) of his own son, the kindness Atticus and his family showed him despite how he was usually recognized, and Atticus' dedication to helping him, Scout helped Mr. Cunningham and his accomplices to see the irrationality in their behavior. Her own words helped her sort out her own beliefs; of equality and fairness by reminding her (or rather them) of the morally sound way in which she and her family act. Jean Louise acted with courage, which helped build her integrity. Jem builds his morality on the foundation of courage. At the beginning of the book, Jeremy Atticus Finch views courage as an act of play. For example; Scout, Jem and Dill see touching the side of a house...... middle of paper ...... cistus; Atticus Finch remains true to his beliefs, refusing to allow harm to come to those he believes to be innocent, despite his small crowd of supporters and the huge crowd of his opponents. Atticus continues to stand his ground and act courageously even when his own children are threatened (and harmed) by the plaintiff's father. The hope and gratitude expressed by those aided by Atticus's strong morale are enough to maintain his integrity. Courageous actions helped establish Atticus' personal integrity. Scout and Jem developed rich personal integrity by acting courageously and witnessing such acts. Atticus' integrity was nurtured through his continued acts of courage. Harper Lee uses these characters to display the idea that courage can help create, foster, and shape personal integrity. “I can't and won't cut my conscience to adapt to this year's fashion.” ~Lillian Hellman.