Examples Of Empathy In To Kill A Mockingbird

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"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."- Atticus Finch. This famous quote teaches Jean-Louise Finch (Scout) an important lesson about empathy from the beginning with Miss Caroline and reoccurs throughout the novel, anding aiding her coming-of-age in the end as she walks Arthur Radley home. Not only does Scout learn to “walk in another man's skin” but Atticus is forced to teach Scout’s older brother, Jem, the same lesson. The concept of empathy is important to Scout’s and Jem’s and the County of Maycomb coming-of-age because they must learn that they cannot judge a person or fully understand one until they have showed some sort of empathy towards that person. …show more content…

In the third chapter, Scout is first introduced to her first grade teacher, Miss Caroline. Scout is punished for correcting her and talking back for trying to explain the a student by the name of Walter Cunningham could not afford a lunch and wouldn’t accept the money given by Miss Caroline. Outraged, Scout assaults Walter and Jem manages to pull her off of him and after school Atticus discusses with Scout that she must learn to walk in Miss Caroline’s and Walter’s shoes. Later on, Scout finally understands the importance of empathy after Arthur(Boo) Radley saves the children and Scout talks with Boo in person and walks him home. She had finally realised that if the white community had shown empathy towards Tom Robinson and Mayella, Tom would have been set free and Bob Ewell arrested. In the end, throughout the novel, Scout is taught a prolific amount of advice, but most importantly