How to Overcome Struggles in Life: Bravery in The Hate U Give

Introduction

In the novel, many characters displayed bravery. Within the story, Maverick, DeVante, and Starr demonstrated bravery, which much illustrates that bravery is actually about overcoming extraordinary challenges. Bravery didn't come easy to the characters. They had to overcome challenges to gain the courage and braveness needed to face adversity. This underscores the importance of learning how to overcome struggles in life to cultivate true bravery.

Overcoming Challenges with Bravery

DeVante was a member of the King Lords at the beginning. His brother was killed by a gang and King at the Big D party. King expected him to take care of the situation. He struggled to turn away from the gang, but then he instantly decides that he has to. DeVante steals from King to help his mother and sister leave Garden Heights, and then goes to Maverick for help on getting out of the gang. After the fire of the shop, when King and his members are arrested for arson. DeVante decided to speak to the police and offer information to keep them in prison for a long time.“Devante nods for a moment. “Then I guess I will turn witness.””(Thomas 430). He was able to overcome his fear of King and was available to step back from the gang and help his neighbourhood be rid of the King Lords. Also Maverick was a big help for getting rid of King.

Maverick was also a big part of the novel. His dad was one of the greatest street pharmacist in Garden Heights, Maverick was once a gang member too, but Maverick chose to abandon gang life because he was having kids. He went to jail for a long time for King, in return for getting out the King Lords. After Starr did the interview King targeted Maverick and his family because she dry snitched. Lisa wanted to leave Garden Heights but Maverick denied it. After some time he decided to move away from Garden Heights for a better life for his children and himself too. When riots started again, Maverick’s store got on fire. Mr.Lewis said that it was King, and Maverick decided to help Mr.Lewis. He got some braveness and decided to snitch on King, “He turns around to the cop who’s holding Mr.Lewis and says, “He ain’t lying. King did start it, Officer.””(Thomas 424). He had to overcome the fear of King to speak up and change his life. In the novel Maverick conquered the horror of King and the anxiety he had to change his life.

Starr's Struggles in Life

The main character Starr overcame a lot of challenges to speak up. Starr witnessed her friend Khalil get shot. She was in shock for a long time. Starr was afraid of speaking out because she thought she would get criticised. Starr's parents supported her, took her out to eat and embraced her to help her through the tough time after the shooting. After visiting Khalil's grandmother, it gave her a sense of conclusion. She finally decided that it needs to be done. She overcame the fear of getting criticized and got some heroism which made her go to her first interview which was displayed on the news. That interview got to King, he targeted her and her parents. She conquered the fear of King and decided to go to the grand jury, “Another security guard leads us through the courthouse. The farther we go, the fewer people we pass in the halls. Ms.Ofrah waits beside a door with a brass plate that says Grand Jury Room”(Thomas 331). At the end Starr demonstrates bravery by protesting in the riot where she was standing on a police car and gave a speech, created a chant and even threw a can of tear gas back at the police. Even though the officer who shot Khalil didn’t even go to trial, Starr still overcomes her fear of speaking up and resolves to continue doing so. Starr shows that you have to overcome a lot of challenges just to do something you were scared of all this time and she also shows that doesn't matter what age you are you can still do what you think is right.

Conclusion

Inside the story, the characters Maverick, DeVante and Starr showed that bravery is really conquering difficulties. DeVante and Maverick had to overcome the fear King and Starr had to overcome the fear of being criticised. This novel demonstrates that bravery is actually overcoming challenges. There is a lot of parts of what bravery is, but one of most important parts is conquering challenges and threats. Without overcoming challenges no one will become brave.  

Works Cited

1. Thomas, Angie. The Hate U Give. Balzer + Bray, 2017.