Courage is an inner drive to do what is more important than suffering in fear. It is this realization that allow people to overcome challenges and, sometimes, exhibit selflessness. However, this realization does not come easily, so some people fight, and others take flight. Those who take flight respond to fear with retreat and sometimes go against their original will or intentions. These responses to fear are discussed in “Thunder on Sycamore Street” by Reginald Rose. Considering that courage and fear are both innate traits that one possesses, there is no need for people to be afraid. However, people make choices for their own sake, so they approach fear differently: overcoming it with courage or evading it.
Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something else has more importance than fear itself. This category of people who possess the ability to overcome difficulties through courage is evidently represented by Arthur in “Thunder on Sycamore Street”. Possessing courage without considering things from different perspectives is not enough; good timing is also crucial. Thus, Reginald Rose illustrates the protagonist, Arthur, as a dynamic character who undergoes a change in his courage level. In the play, Arthur is unable to nerve himself to speak up until the mob of neighbours is in front of Blake’s house, where he tries to deliver his justice, attempts to stop his neighbours from driving Joseph and his family away out of the community, sacrifices himself, and tells the mob to “throw the next stone at [him]” in order to defend what he thinks is right. He has always believed that Joseph Blake deserves the right to live on Sycamore Street, as he is “a quiet guy who minds his own business,” not a monster that destroys the dignity of the neighbourhood. With that being mentioned, Arthur possesses a trait of being willing to bid defiance to fear by acting against it with courage for the sake of themselves.
On the contrary, some people express their fear by fleeing from whatever is causing that fear because they are afraid to face it directly. In some scenarios, despite their personal thoughts, this group of people takes actions against their own will to follow the general trend. This type of people is represented by Phyllis Hayes in “Thunder on Sycamore Street”. The reason why Phyllis does not help Arthur defend Joseph Blake and his family against the mob in “Thunder on Sycamore Street” is that she fears “being the next [Joseph Blake].” Phyllis does not want to be the only one to stand up for the Blake family and seem indifferent to her neighbours’ concern, as she does not want her neighbours to “[look] at [them] and wondering why [the Hayes family are] not like the [neighbours].” It is often said that the scariest thing in life is not failure but not daring to try at all. Thus, it is apparent that Phyllis does not attempt to justify her own will at all, resulting in them being defeated by failure.
In conclusion, no one prefers to bear consistent suffering in fear; therefore, different actions are made to deal with it. Some decide to face their fears head-on and overcome them, while others try to avoid the reality of the situation and go against their will. Certainly, there is no absolute method to use; people can choose whatever way they see fit. Life is like a journey with obstacles that give twists and turns to interfere with your pathway; it can’t be plain sailing all the time. Courage is what brings satisfaction to your journey. It is the inner drive to motivate yourself, and more importantly, it is the ability to make yourself directly face the world.
Source:
https://www.dramaticpublishing.com/thunder-on-sycamore-street
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0741627/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reginald_Rose
