Courage Cm107

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Courage |

and Crossing the Threshold |

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4/8/2011 |

CM107-08 |

Courage to me is the ability to do something that frightens one. I feel that this is the best definition of the word because it really gets the point across, to be courageous you have to have the strength and personal willpower to do something the ordinary person wouldn’t, even when others say you can’t. To cross the threshold means to do something unheard of and to take a significant step forward and into a new phase. The historical figure I feel shows this definition best is Joan of Arc. She was born in 1412, and led an army at the age of 17. I feel she shows this best because, in the 15th century no one would have imagined a woman leading an army, and succeeding at that. She showed courage because she was still a teenager and was part of a very serious war. Also, being a female commander, in that time period, would be terrifying to any woman. She had a lot of thresholds she had to cross, including, talking to the king and convincing him that she was fit to command an army, taming the men in her army showing them the power of religion, and convincing people that even though she was a woman she held a position of power, and succeeded. Joan overcame adversity by doing everything she did. She commanded an army, defeated English soldiers, and captured countless cities and people. The main idea of what I have written is that just because people say “you can’t do this,” or “you’re not fit to do this,” doesn’t mean you should stop trying. If you muster up the courage to do something you feel is right, than you can do anything, even if everyone says you can’t.

Williamson, Allen. Joan of Arc, Brief Biography. 30 March 2010. Joan of Arc Archive. 5 April 2011 < http://archive.joan-of-arc.org/joanofarc_short_biography.html>