What is Bravery? Number the Stars

Here is a paper I wrote about bravery after reading the book Number the Stars.  Enjoy!

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Bravery

Shouts ring throughout the dank alleyways of Denmark, Copenhagen, as Nazi soldiers bellow orders.  Sirens blare and the cobblestone streets quake at the horrific noise.  Above the soldiers stands a faded brick apartment building, thin and narrow.  Inside, a family of four huddles together, hoping and praying for the lives of their Jewish friends.  A fair-haired girl of ten squeezes her little sister, attempting to comfort her.  Annemarie was an ordinary girl growing up during the Second World War.  She was not uniquely bold or extremely courageous.  Nothing out of the usual ever happened to her.  Until the soldiers came.  That changed everything.  Annemarie and her family lived in uncertain and frightening times.  Annemarie never liked to think about whether she was brave or not; why would she care?  But Annemarie soon found out that she could be brave and stand up for others when her friend faces great peril.  Her uncle Henrik describes bravery as, “…not thinking about the dangers.  Just thinking about what you must do.”  (Lowry, 123)  I believe that bravery is not the absence of fear.  Rather, it is having the full knowledge of the fact that what you are doing is dangerous, and doing it anyway.

               Bravery was easily and correctly defined by uncle Henrik when he stated that bravery is, “…not thinking about the dangers.  Just thinking about what you must do.”  (Lowry, 123)  Uncle Henrik explained to Annemarie that bravery does not mean that you are not afraid, it simply means that you choose to face uncertainty for the benefit of others.  Even though she did not know it at the time, Annemarie was brave when she took her friend’s necklace when the Nazis “searched” their apartment.  If she was found with a necklace with the star of David on it, the consequences would be serious.  Yet, she was not afraid for herself, only for the safety of her friend.  Thus, Annemarie did what she needed to do to protect Ellen, without thinking of the risk in doing so.

               Therefore, I agree with uncle Henrik’s definition of bravery.  Because there are many ways to elaborate on his description, numerous examples of bravery are portrayed in Number the Stars.  For example, Annemarie’s older sister, Lise, sacrificed her life for the potential freedom of others by working in the Resistance.  She knew that the punishment for rebelling against the Germans was serious peril or death.  Even though she was probably frightened at times, she bravely stood up for what she believed was right.  Likewise, Annemarie, unaware of the extreme importance of her mission, delivered the handkerchief to her uncle Henrik, saving her friends.  Truly, bravery can be expressed as, “…not thinking about the dangers.  Just thinking about what you must do.”

               Consequently, bravery is not the absence of fear.  Rather, it is having the full knowledge of the fact that what you are doing is dangerous, and doing it anyway.  Anybody, great or seemingly ‘insignificant’ has the option of being brave or not.  When fear tempts us to just give up, we must be ever confident that the truth will set us free, even if it means risking our own lives.     



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What do you think bravery is?  Have you ever been brave when the odds were not in your favor?