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Justin Sun Gahagan Period 4 26 May 2023 Parenting Parenting that emphasizes empathy can directly impact a child’s ability to feel empathy for others. In the book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Aunt Alexandra asks Atticus if “it was wise in the first place to let” Jem and Scout into the courtroom, as Jem cries about the trial of Tom Robinson (Lee 285). Aunt Alexandra tries to protect Jem and Scout from the trial of Tom Robinson and the prejudice of Maycomb. However, Atticus teaches Aunt Alexandra that the adults “made it this way for them, [and] they might as well learn to cope with it” (Lee 285).
In Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, examples of empathy are abundant and constitute much of the novel. Out of the many examples, three of them will be discussed. Empathetic practice is one of the first ideas Atticus explains to Scout in the novel. In the third chapter of the novel, Atticus states “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb in his skin and walk around in it.” This point is reiterated on several occasions by Atticus.
In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, the author, Harper Lee, uses the character of Tom Robinson to give her insight on the recent crime of Emmett Till. The trial was a very controversial case in the 1950s, involving the brutal murder of a young black boy, in racist Mississippi. In the real-life case, there is a woman named Carolyn Bryant who accuses Till of cat-calling and using vulgar language. However, Till was innocent, yet received punishment. Lee also recreated the persona of Carolyn into Mayella Ewell, who is the women that accuses Tom Robinson of raping her.
In the novel, "To Kill A Mockingbird," by Harper Lee, the main character, who is nicknamed Scout, learns the meaning of empathy as she struggles with handling the problems created by her first grade teacher. Over the years, there were many instances where I was required to seek a way to empathize towards others, despite the difficulty I faced while trying to comprehend their issues. However, there is one specific moment out of all these times which I could not relate with more. Two years ago, when I was in sixth grade, my best friend experienced a situation that would not even occur in my nightmares. Every morning, before class, we would meet in front of our first period class.
Atticus, Scout, and Tom are just a few of the many characters that show empathy in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird.
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.
Tom Robinson, unfortunately, acts empathetic to the wrong person and later pays the price for doing so. In the trial, Tom shares that he decides to help Mayella Ewell with simple tasks when he is asked to. Tom Robinson does not understand being empathetic to certain people can affect his life. During his testimony, he states, “‘I was just trying to help her out suh. ’”(Lee 263)
Empathy- something we’ve all given, sought, or been shown in one way or another. In To Kill a Mockingbird and Catcher in the Rye, the author’s clever interplay of characters and characterisation, allows us to see in the eyes of another. Furthermore, through the pervading themes and inherent values involved in the intimate narrative style, we can listen through the ears of another. It is through this, that we, as the audience, are able to empathise with fictional characters.
Empathy. The ability to understand what someone else is going through by putting oneself in their place and situation. All throughout history, people have struggled with the concept of empathy. For example, Jews have been mistreated for hundreds of years on numerous occasions by those of an advantaged position, African Americans have been subjugated by the privileged White throughout much of American history, and this struggle is even seen today with the prejudice towards Muslims across the world. Harper Lee created a timeless piece of literature that has lived on for plenty of years because of its theme of empathy and the challenges that the characters face regarding it.
Imagine if you had a friend who came every summer to fill your head with fantastical stories, go on adventures with you, and maybe even get into a bit of trouble. For Jean Louise (Scout) Finch, Dill is the perfect friend for all those scenarios. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mocking Bird, Dill shows up for the first time in the summer before Scout goes to first grade. He immediately becomes best friends with Jem (Jeremy) and Scout Finch. Every summer after that, Dill goes on countless adventures and runs into far too many mishaps with his friends.
“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.” This quote it from Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird, means that you don’t really know what it feels like to be that person, unless you are them, or have been in a similar situation. This quote applies to the play The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain and the text The Secret to a Happier Life because they all share a common theme of empathy. Empathy is when a person has feelings for another’s situation. In the play and the text, they give an example of empathy and the benefits of using it.
Intro: “Sometimes, the most influential thing you can do is listen.” (Bob Burg) This quote is implying a simple yet blunt way to describe the main point of this essay, empathy. To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel loosely based on true events in the life of the author, Harper Lee. This novel has great significance by inspiring many of at the time young authors and by winning the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the Quill Award for Audio Books.
Understanding and/or Empathy are the most impactful in this story. Atticus is always talking about stepping in someone else's shoes and trying to understand where they come from. Atticus gives the clearest explanation of understanding and empathy when he talks about, climbing in someone's skin and walking around in it. Understanding and empathy are important in my life because instead of judging someone I try to understand things like where they come from, why they’re doing what they are and the things they’re saying. I try and get to know them so I can understand what they’re feeling or experiencing.
Have you ever had any emotional or physical struggles in your life that sometimes made you feel as if though you were caged and unable to achieve your goal? To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a historical fiction novel told in the eyes of a young girl named Scout as her father, Atticus Finch , a lawyer in the 1950’s in Alabama, is burdened with the task of defending a black man, Tom Robinson, of harming a white girl, Mayella Ewell. “Caged Bird” by Maya Angelou is a poem that compares and contrasts a free bird to a caged bird. “Sympathy” by Paul Laurence Dunbar is a poem that explores a caged bird that was once free, and how it is struggling to be free but hasn’t given up his hopes. Harper Lee’s characters Tom Robinson, Atticus Finch,
Harper Lee also uses Tom Robinson to portrait prejudice and racism. In the trial, Tom says, “Yes suh. I felt sorry for her (Mayella), she seemed to try more’n the rest of ‘em”, and Mr. Gilmer responds, “You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her…?” (Lee, 225) and even Scout
