What is the message and theme of this quote from To Kill a Mockingbird? "I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that...

This quote
comes at the end of Chapter Eleven. In the chapter,tellsthe real reason he had him read to Mrs.
Dubose. When the elderly woman was alive, she was a morphine addict. Towards the end of her
life, she fought an excruciating mental and emotional battle to overcome her addiction. Because
she died victorious in her quest, Mrs. Dubose will always be a 'great lady' in Atticus'
mind.

Jem isn't too thrilled at Atticus' verdict of Mrs. Dubose's character;
he still remembers all the vitriol the old lady hurled at Atticus when she was alive. However,
Atticus counters with the above quote; he maintains that courage isn't always evident and overt.
Someone with a gun isn't necessarily brave; intrinsically, courage is a mental decision
unrelated to the amount of firepower at one's disposal. Mrs Dubose exhibited this truth
magnificently when she fought courageously through overwhelming physical and mental pain to
overcome her crippling addiction to a powerful drug.

The above quote is also
significant in that it highlights Atticus' own courage when he later represents Tom Robinson, a
black man, in court. Like Mrs. Dubose, Atticus lives the courage of his convictions without
apology. Despite his community's anger and disapproval, he fights to acquit Tom. The above quote
supports the theme of courage or grace under fire; both Mrs. Dubose and Atticus display great
courage in spite of insurmountable challenges. They live 'beholden to nothing and nobody' and
their lives are a demonstration of their true .