Empathy In 'To Kill A Mockingbird'

Cierra Lorenz

Ms. Maupin

English 1H

2 May 2023

Boo Radley’s Shoes

Empathy is the human ability to embody another’s situation. One relies on empathy in order to better understand situations they can not relate to, whether it be a person of a different race or a different gender. To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee is a book narrated by a young girl named Scout. Scout lives in a small town, in the deep south, called Maycomb, Alabama. The story is set in the 1930s when Scout and her brother, Jem, watch as their father, Atticus, defends the unrightfully accused Tom Robinson. While overwhelmed with the case, Jem and Scout begin to mature and face unjust affairs throughout Maycomb. One of the most complex affairs is the peculiar case of Jem and

Summer just began and Jem, Scout, and awkward little Dill are already tired of rehearsing the same plays. Jem decides to develop a new one based on the infamous Radley family. When explaining why Mrs.Radley doesn’t have a right forefinger in the play, Jem explains that, “Boo bit it off when he couldn’t find any cats and squirrels to eat.); she sat in the livingroom and cried most of the time, while Boo slowly whittled away all the furniture in the house”(Lee 44). Jem is an observant character who commonly acts on his own intuition. Harper Lee displays Jem as an omniscient observer because it allows the reader to understand that Jem developed an image of Boo Radley on his own. Through stories and imagination, Harper Lee forces Jem to view Boo Radley as one who acts insane. Harper Lee also includes the fact that Jem never cared to truly encounter Boo Radley or learn about his true situation. Harper Lee wants to develop a dynamic of Jem having his own perception that Boo Radley is loony without truly understanding his situation. Later in To Kill a Mocking Bird, Jem and Scout are stranded out in the cold as they watch Miss Maudie’s, their neighbor, house get burned to ashes. When they return Atticus realizes that Scout has been covered with a blanket, one supposedly from Boo Radley. Jem, afraid that Atticus might think Boo hurt them, states Boo, “...ain’t ever harmed

The same night that Jem reveals his newfound empathy for Boo, Scout realizes that Boo was watching them the entire night. When Scout finds out that Boo Radley was the one that gave her the blanket her, “...stomach turned to water and [she] nearly threw up when Jem held out the blanket and crept toward [her]”(Lee 82). Scout’s reaction to finding out that Boo Radley was right behind her is utter disgust and fear. Harper Lee creates a picture of terror within Scout by saying she “almost threw up” because it gives the reader an uneasy feeling. Harper Lee’s decision to have Scout’s and Jem’s reactions contrast helps illustrate her viewpoint of empathy. For instance, when Jem views Boo Radkey’s situation with empathy. Harper Lee has Jem protect Boo. In contrast, Scout is still completely fearful and alarmed by Boo’s presence. Jem, through empathy, is able to view Boo’s actions as considerate. While, Scout doesn’t find the action thoughtful, because she is blinded by her own misconception of Boo. Overall, Harper Lee’s stark contrast between a viewpoint with empathy and a viewpoint without supports her belief that empathy helps one better understand a situation like Boo’s. Nearing the end of To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout finally encounters Boo Radley when Jem breaks his arm. Scout is exhausted by her day's encounters but is curious about the man who helped