In Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird," Atticus Finch makes the statement that Mrs. Dubose was more courageous than "a man with a gun in his hand" to teach his children, Scout and Jem, an important lesson about the nature of true courage and morality.
Atticus explains that Mrs. Dubose, despite her many faults and the pain she endured due to illness, showed remarkable courage in her battle against morphine addiction. She made a conscious choice to overcome her addiction and die free from the drug's influence. Atticus wants to convey that courage isn't always about physical strength or bravado; it can also be found in the moral strength to confront one's weaknesses and make difficult decisions for the sake of one's principles. Mrs. Dubose's struggle exemplifies this kind of courage, which Atticus values highly.
Atticus wants his children to understand that the world is not just black and white, and true courage often resides in the quiet battles people fight within themselves. This lesson is an essential part of their moral education.