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Examples Of Empathy In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Empathic Ways Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. In the Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird many of the characters experience empathy. For example, Atticus Finch, the father of the main character, shows feelings of empathy through his ways of payment with the Cunningham. Similarly, his daughter, and the main character, Scout Shows empathy with her being able to finally understand how Arthur (Boo) Radley feels and thinks. Finally, Tom Robinson, the man sent to court for the accusations of raping a white woman, would help Mayella Ewell, the woman he was accused of raping, whenever she needed it because he felt sorry for her. Atticus, Scout, and Tom are just a few of the many characters that show empathy in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. …show more content…

Atticus shows much empathy in the way that he allows the Cunninghams to pay in methods other than money. At one point, Scout asked Atticus “if Mr. Cunningham would ever pay [them]’ (Lee 27), when responding, Atticus told Scout that they would be paid, but “not in money” (27) and saying that it’s the “only way [Mr. Cunningham] can pay [Atticus Finch]” (27). They would be payed with things such as “a load of stovewood… a sack of hickory nuts… a crate of smilax and holly” (27) and “a crokersack full of turnip greens”(27). Mr. Finch is showing that he understand the problems that Mr. Cunningham has to deal with and is accommodating to his

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In the novel, Scout shows empathy during the Mayella Ewell and Tom Robinson case. Atticus tries to teach Scout a lesson about seeing life through the eyes of others and understanding other people's insecurities or flaws and treating them with respect without assuming. During Mayella’s testimony Scout realizes how isolated she is, how hard Mayella’s life must be with no friends, and a constant fear of her own father. This trait relates to me and my personal life because when I’m at school, out with my friends, or even at home, I constantly make sure to be aware of other people's feelings and make sure to put other people before myself. “Summer was the swiftness with which Dill would reach up and kiss me when Jem was not looking, the longings we sometimes felt each other feel” Scout stated (Lee 116) when she is remembering how much she misses Dill and all the fun they had especially in the summer.

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863 Words | 4 Pages

To Kill a Mockingbird is full of heart wrenching and painful moments that shaped and defined each and every inhabitant of Maycomb, Alabama. Atticus Finch, the father of the main protagonist, once said, "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view--until you climb into his skin and walk around in it," (Lee 51). This was a lesson he taught to Scout, the narrator and main protagonist of the story. Scout never fully grasps the idea of this concept until the very end of the story, but throughout the story she exhibits this lesson and is empathetic without even knowing it. No character felt others emotions quite like Scout, even if it was right away, a little while after, or even the whole book.

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This novel also shows us people that are, and are not empathetic to things. It is the main example the children have to learn themselves. In the first few chapters, Scout, Dill and Jem are playing in front of the Radley house. This scenario is the first instance where empathy arises.

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820 Words | 4 Pages

To Kill A Mockingbird Literary Analysis As defined in the dictionary, empathy is “the ability to share someone else’s feelings” (Merriam -Webster). Empathy is portrayed through emotions such as pity, compassion, and understanding. In the book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, empathy can be found consistently in the actions and words of the characters. This repetition establishes kindness and sympathy towards specific characters, while building up hatred towards others.

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"You never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them”(Page 798). This is a very important lesson to know in life because it explains why a man does the things he does. If this lesson of empathy is applied to life, the true characteristics of man will be revealed. To Kill a Mockingbird is the perfect example of empathy. The novel plainly states empathy all thought out the book and the examples can easily be applied to our lives.

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It is very important that writers are able to send a message to their reader with their book. Authors best do this by bringing about empathy. In order to send this message, authors often develop strong characters that go through various problems and struggles. The book, To Kill a Mockingbird, shows this very well with its characters Scout Finch and Tom Robinson. This book helps the readers learn from the character’s reactions to their problems.

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In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, one crucial theme is compassion. Being the responsible parent that he is, Atticus Finch teaches both Scout and Jem to show sympathy. He acts as a good example by telling them that they will “never really understand a person until [they] consider things from [their] point of view… Until [they] climb inside of [their] skin and walk around in it” (Lee pg. 30). Atticus models this by defending Tom Robinson; he is aware they have a slim chance of winning, but he attempts to help him anyway. Because Tom is innocent, Atticus feels sympathy for him.

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Empathy is the ability to share and understand someone else's feelings. In the story "To Kill a Mockingbird,"we are presented with the theme of empathy. Characters in this book show almost little to no empathy, as we see them acting discriminatory, racist, and can make hostile comments. However, some characters in To Kill a Mockingbird

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Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. To me the word empathy in “To Kill A Mockingbird” means “putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.” Harper Lee’s novel “To Kill A Mockingbird” suggests that empathy is a universal feeling, but everyone experiences it in different occasions and in different ways. Many people empathize through real life experiences. Scout is one of those people.

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This affects Scout because he realizes he shouldn’t be scared of Boo Radley anymore. This teaches Scout to think twice about a person before treating them differently. This lesson that Scout learned ended up making the two friends and Scout matured about his views on Boo Radley. Empathy is often evident in literature, as well as in life. This is illustrated with the character of Scout in to Kill a Mockingbird, through her interactions with Miss Mayella, Dolphus Raymond, and Boo Radley.

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When reading To Kill a Mockingbird a fiction novel by Harper Lee,there are atrocities that will cause the reader to empathy for the people,because the people are misunderstood and disliked , this going for almost every character in the book in their own ways To have empathy is to understand what somebody is going through, being able to understand because you probably have been through the same or similar things. I think that a man more so a child should never go throw some of the things that Tom Robinson and Walter Cunningham go through , there misunderstood by everyone,mistreated by the other folks, both live and are victims of poverty . Tom Robinson and I are both misunderstood , hurt and victims of poverty making him one of

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954 Words | 4 Pages

In To Kill A Mockingbird, by the late Harper Lee, examples of some of these individuals become evident through characters like Ms.Maudie, whose empathy transpires through her behaviors/actions, expression of opinions, and her relationships with

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That's where Atticus Finch comes in. Not only does he defend Tom but, he puts himself in others shoes and tries his best to teach his children, Jem and Scout, to do the same. The book focuses on the theme, you never really understand someone, until you walk in there shoes. Throughout the book there are countless of examples that show the characters considering others feelings.

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722 Words | 3 Pages

To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Plan Thesis: The three main protagonists of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird (Scout, Jem, and Dill) both learn and demonstrate empathy through the story. Directional Statement: The characters demonstrate empathy to Boo Radley both after the trial and after Scout walks him back home, and they learn about empathy during Tom Robinson's testimony. Body Paragraph 1: Point: Jem demonstrates empathy towards Boo Radley after Tom Robinson is convicted of raping a white woman. Proof: Right after the trial, and Tom Robinson has been convicted of raping Mayella Ewell, Jem starts to understand why Boo Radley doesn't come out of his house: "I think I'm beginning to understand why Boo Radley's stayed shut up in the house all the time...

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Through To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee teaches us the righteousness of empathy. Harper Lee 's technique of writing and coinciding Christian beliefs weaved through emphasizes the importance of the story 's moral and themes. It is through Scout, the young dynamic and protagonist, that Lee opens the reader 's eyes to a realistic world of prejudice and inequality during the 1930s. Though introducing many characters throughout the novel, it is through Lee 's wise father character, Atticus Finch, that she further helps teach her readers life lessons, one being empathy. While narrating in first person, Lee further details her novel with the setting and use of style and diction.

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