Examples Of Empathy In To Kill A Mockingbird

Heba lokonoi

Mrs. Richardson

ENG2DI-01

Scout Recognizing Empathy To Kill a Mockingbird is a timeless, southern gothic novel written by Harper Lee. In 1960, Harper Lee decides to write To Kill a Mockingbird in response to the issues that surround racial discrimination, and the civil rights movement. The narrative follows a middle-class family, in Maycomb Alabama, during the height of the Great Depression. The Finch family includes a young girl, named Scout, Jem, Atticus, Aunt Alexandra, and their maid/caretaker, Calpurnia. Scout and Jem spend their childhood days fantasizing about a man named Boo Radley, who they see as intimidating and dangerous, like a monster hiding under a childs bed. As time and their interests move on, they soon

When Boo finds and saves Scout and Jem from Bob Ewell trying to kill them, Atticus invites Boo onto the porch to talk: “I led him to the chair farthest from Atticus and Mr. Tate. It was in deep shadow. Boo would feel more comfortable in the dark” (364). Scout jumps into the skin of Boo Radley and offers him a seat in the shade, understanding he would be far more comfortable there. Further along in the novel, Scout get quite custom to Boo’s actions and feelings, and knows he will not ask for things he secretly wants: “He turned to me and nodded towards the front door. ‘You’d like to say goodnight to Jem, wouldn't you[?] [...] Boo’s hand came up, but he let it drop to his side. ‘You can pet him, Mr. Arthur, he's asleep’” (372). Scout looks at things in Boo’s perspective and offers him things she knows he is too shy to ask for. Just after saying goodnight to Jem, Scout walks Mr. Arthur home. On his porch steps, she thinks to herself: “Atticus was right. [...] One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough” (374). Scout is able to see and empathize for the real Boo Radley. She no longer sees the man who stabs his father or looks at people sleeping during the night. She sees a shy hero. She is now able to climb into his skin and understand his perspective and

With the help of her friends, family, and many others in Maycomb county, Scout is able to understand how to show empathy and compassion. Scout starts as a young, naive little girl who is uneducated on many topics, including empathy, to a young lady who understands a lot more about her town, and how to treat the people of Maycomb. Watching the experiences and challenges Scout faces, the readers of To Kill a Mockingbird are able to grow and learn along side Scout. The readers can also understand how to climb into the skin of others and hopefully put these lessons into action. To Kill a Mockingbird is referred to as a ‘timeless classic’ because the lessons and meaning of the novel never grow old. Everyone will always need to follow the rules of empathy, equality, love for others, and kindness, which are just some of the actions and feeling the novel