Essay Empathy in to Kill a Mockingbird - 743 Words

Empathy in To Kill A Mockingbird Empathy is the theme which connects the reader with the characters in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird; the experiences of the characters in this novel show us the significance of empathy as a theme. Harper Lee writes about the experiences which Scout and Jem undergo in learning to be empathetic, while Atticus and Tom Robinson are two of the key characters who, at the time of the novel already possessed the ability to be empathetic. Atticus is the character who displays the most empathy towards others in the novel, and he is a primary example of the importance of this theme in the novel. Harper Lee writes about empathy mainly through Atticus and his ability to feel empathetic to others even in a situation†¦show more content†¦307, 308. We can truly observe the maturing and the obtaining of new knowledge in Scout as a character while she begins learning about empathy Empathy is a recurring theme that is represented in the learning experiences of Jem. For example, when Jem sees Scout hurting Walter Cunningham, he takes a real look at Walter and realises that he couldn’t help being in the condition he is in and he deserves to be treated better. â€Å"Walter looked as if he had been raised on fish food†¦ he fingered the straps if his overalls, nervously picking at the metal hooks.†pg. 25. One small gesture can communicate to the reader the true influence of empathy. One small gesture that Tom Robinson made was immediately questioned by the majority of the court room; being a black man in a white society, he was supposedly in no situation to feel sorry for Mayella who is a white woman. He does not know much about her situation, but he has the ability to understand where she is coming from and see that she deserves help. â€Å"Looked like she didn’t have nobody to help her†¦ yes suh. I felt right sorry for her.† Pg. 217. To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel which deals with many themes; the most dominant of these is empathy, as it is crucial in the relationships between characters as well as in their learning experiences. The way Scout finally learns how to use empathy to see things from Boo Radley’s point of view was very moving to the reader, and the reader canShow MoreRelatedEmpathy in To Kill a Mockingbird1507 Words   |  7 PagesIn the novel ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee, learning to â€Å"walk about in someone’s skin† is a main theme, particularly as two of the main protagonists Jem and Scout learn to do this as they grow up throughout the book along with the reader. Atticus, the children’s father, educates the children on how to treat and comprehend other people. As Jem and Scout grow older in the novel, they begin to understand this lesson and act upon it both knowingly and sub-consciously. Scout empathises withRead MoreEssay On Empathy In To Kill A Mockingbird1109 Words   |  5 PagesSmall town America is a fantasy of friendly neighbors and lovely lives. To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in a small town and is nothing close to the fantasy of friendly neighbors and lovely lives. In a town of rape, racism, and prejudice, the reader watches who falls and who thrives in a small town on the brink of collapse. To Kill a Mockingbird, a coming of age fiction, was written by Harper Lee and published on July 11, 1960. This novel follows two siblings, Jem and Scout, throughout their mostRead MoreTo Kill A Mockingbird Empathy Analysis1458 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"You never really understand a person until you consider things from their point of view-until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.† (p.30) The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee includes a plethora of essential themes that make one think deeply. The story takes place in the 1930’s when segregation tensions were high. The narrative is told through the eyes of a young girl, Jean Louise (Scout) Finch. Scout’s father, Atticus is a lawyer fighting a case for an African American man namedRead MoreTo Kill A Mockingbird Empathy Analysis1174 Words   |  5 PagesTo Kill A Mockingbird Joni Smith Grade 9 One of the most important themes in this powerful text is that of empathy and understanding. Maycomb, as is shown in the text, is a society that is clearly split through class, race and numerous other distinctions. In such an environment of inequality, Atticus teaches his children the importance and value of empathy, and of trying to see the world through the eyes of other people. In the novel â€Å"To Kill A Mockingbird† by Harper Lee, learning to â€Å"walk aboutRead MoreTo Kill A Mockingbird Empathy Analysis863 Words   |  4 Pages Human interaction is important in todays society. It allows each of the species to communicate and share what they feel. But, wny for people struggle with the concept of empathy? To Kill A Mockingbird is a great example of the struggles of empathy. People struggle with empathy because they have different experiences. Characters who show this are Scout, Mayella, and Aunt Alexandra. Scout is a child who is playful and curious. Since she is still young, Scout doesnt have a lot of experienceRead MoreEssay On Empathy In To Kill A Mockingbird871 Words   |  4 PagesThroughout the course of To Kill a Mockingbird, the siblings Jem and Scout torment a man named Boo Radley because they think that he is a malevolent ghost. Boo still loves them like a father would and keeps them under a watchful eye even though they treat him like a caged animal. Jem and Scout do not realize this and continue to torment him. The relationship between Boo and Jem changes in the middle of the book, when Boo gives them gifts, Jem realizes what he has done and learns that Boo is a personRead MoreTo Kill A Mockingbird Empathy Essay1115 Words   |  5 PagesIn the novel â€Å"To Kill a Mockingbird† is about a man the south named Atticus who demonstrates empathy. As time goes on there are a lot of problems that create Atticus as a character. The story takes place in the 1930†™s which is during the Great Depression, when the people in Maycomb have a hard time making money so they pay them with ever they got. Atticus has two children Jem and Scout.Atticus is trying to teach them a lesson. Lee uses the character of Atticus Finch to teach the reader the importanceRead MoreEmpathy and Social Change in To Kill a Mockingbird, Milk, and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner1519 Words   |  7 PagesEmpathy and Social Change in To Kill a Mockingbird, Milk, and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner Empathy: â€Å"The action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experiences fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner† (according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary). When we think of socialRead MoreAnalysis Of Kill A Mockingbird By Har per Lee1248 Words   |  5 PagesrRealistic fFiction novels because it helps the reader understand what the author is trying to convey. In this novel with the title To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee used that to her own advantage;, the techniques in this book were very clear to the eye and it helped the reader more to understand the part that they were reading. In the book To Kill A Mockingbird the story is about a little girl named Scout who lives in the south in a little town called Maycomb, Alabama and during the Great DepressionRead MoreSympathy Of A Mockingbird By Harper Lee926 Words   |  4 Pagesbecause you know what it is like to have those feelings. This understanding of how someone feels is empathy which among other things is the main idea in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Empathy is shown greatly in To kill a Mockingbird whether it be a person feeling for another person or a simply a person towards an insect. The best and most obvious example of empathy in To Kill a Mockingbird is that of scout towards Boo Radley. In the book scout says, â€Å"Atticus was right. One time he said you